#I fear for when I run through Yoshimoto's again

[xenokiryu]

Kanetsugu's POV for Chapter 7 is sending me.

This man is STRUGGLING, he is STRUGGLING so bad.

Someone, please help him.

Someone PLEASE help Kanetsugu, he himself is not getting himself.

[skampi835]

Corolla Promise (Yoshimoto x OC)

This is another contribution for the Unloving Characters Month event, hosted by @the-moonlight-dreams​. Because I had so much fun writing Hell of the Living starring Motonari and I’ve got to say, this turns out way longer than I’d expected (and more challenging) when I had the idea.

Fandom: Ikemen Sengoku

Language: english

Pairing: Yoshimoto x OC

Genre: Romance

Warning: hurt | comfort / angst / heavy thoughts

Prompt: Day 15 - Flower Crowns

Word Count: 2.840

It takes place years after Mitsuhides Dramatic ending. But there are aboslutely no spoilers about the route, so it’s safe to read. I hope you’ll enjoy it!

“Oh, it’s you.” An enchanting smile’s crossing Yoshimoto’s thin lips, while pressing his hand sheepishly against his chest. “My apologies. I didn’t recognize you, Ina.” Still looking a little abashed, he’s repenting his ungracious reaction, when she had reached out for him. But instead to mind his awkward wince from before, she’s gifting him with a smile as radiant as her unusual blue-grey eyes. “You don’t have to, really! I’m sorry I startled you. But it’s such a pleasant surprise, walking into you out here!”

A pleasant surprise, indeed.

Slightly shaking his head, Yoshimoto’s smiling warmly. “Please, don’t feel too sorry. I was just deeply in thoughts. I’m very happy, seeing you all well again. I was deeply worried after our last encounter.” It had been a busy farewell back then and he’ll always remember how weary she had looked. Weary but also smiling like the sun rising among the mountains. Years had passed and he always had hoped that he’ll see her again someday. “I didn’t expect to meet someone I’d actually know, especially in such a reclusive disguise.” His golden eyes wander over her delicate frame, examining the pale and inconspicuous Yukata she’s wearing. It was a waste of her beauty, covering her in such a simple cloth.

“O-oh well... it’s no disguise in particular.” Ina says nervously and for a moment lost for words.

“I see, so is the Kitsune in Shirakawa as well?” Yoshimoto still remains calm while almost watching her tenderly, while he’s questioning her. Even if the mere reference of him, is riling him to the core. Pressing her lips to a thin line while a grievous expression is clouding Inas lovely face, before she’s looking to the ground and breaking the eye contact with him. Seeing her fine expression turning that way, a longing hope is elevating warmly in Yoshimoto’s heart. “No” she answers, sighing exasperatingly. “He’s not even in Shimotsuke. But to be honest, I ran some errands for him out here.”

Absorbed in thoughts Yoshimoto lightly nods, and then stops abruptly. “Wait... All by own?” He asks, his golden eyes widening with disbelief. Hesitantly she’s answering with a nod and a sough is slipping from his lips. “You’re awfully far away from your home, Ina! It’s not safe for a woman to travel that distance alone!”

“Stop scolding me! Besides you’re awfully far away from Echigo yourself!” she retorts, puffing her cheeks in a huff. It almost looks lovingly, but this isn’t the time to falter under her beauty. “I’m not a woman, but a man.” Yoshimoto argues drily, trying to wear those dreadful thoughts down of everything what could have happen to her on such a long journey. Her delightful snickering sounds awfully out of place, ringing like tiny bells in his ears. “You’re fanning too hard, Yoshimoto.”

He didn’t even notice, till she’s mentioning it. Doubting himself Yoshimoto closes his iron-ribbed fan, while she’s going on: “I’m quite aware of the dangers, Yoshimoto. You really don’t have to give me that look.”

“I’m quite unsure about the validity of those words, Ina.” Yoshimoto’s reprimanding her unadorned. Even her calming and confident smile couldn’t soothe him. How could this sly old fox let her travel that far and on top of that, all by herself? An unpleasant wave of chagrin is crawling through his body and clenching his heart with cold grief. Yoshimoto’s hoping that none of these feelings are showing through the surface as he continues. “When you’ve finished what you’re here for, I’ll accompany you for your return.”

“What?” Ina inhales sharply and quickly shakes her head. “No, you don’t have to, really!”

“I won’t accept a no as an answer.” Yoshimoto unusually unfaltering retorts, while he’s giving her an extremely strict look, which silences her. But with a sigh his face is softening and a contrite smile is curving his lips. “I’d like not to argue with you any further on that, Ina. I’d never forgive myself, if anything bad will happen to you on your way back. Besides…” he appends and is tenderly cupping her cheek with one hand “your Kitsune would be devastated.”

Seeing a wounded sparkle in her bright eyes flicker, is filling his heart with sorrow. But before he could ask, Ina’s lifting her hand, lowering it on his, which is still touching her soft cheek. “Okay. Thank you, for your concern and I’m sorry for the trouble tough.” Surprised about her firm grip with which she’s hesitantly shifting his hand from her cheek, Yoshimoto obeys yieldingly. Something in her touch doesn’t feel right, but he couldn’t pronounce it. But it was free from the lightness all of her moves usually accompany. Almost naturally his fingers twine with hers carefully.

As fast as her hurt look has appeared on her face, it’s blurring now with flattering confusion. Her lips curves into a shy smile and her eyes are uneasily darkening, while she’s giving his hand a tender squeeze, before withdrawing. Crossing her hands conscientiously behind her back, she eyes Yoshimoto with lightly rosy cheeks. “So... where is your horse?” she’s asking.

His enchanting smile’s growing slightly distant, however he obeys her intentionally change of subject without opposition. For he’s also wondering about his own daring move.

_____

“I think this is as far as I can bring you, Ina.” Yoshimoto is barely able to hide his disappointment about the fact, as they’re passing a very small village nearby Azuchi. After their departure they’ve traveled for three days by horse with some sufficient stops. Yoshimoto will always cherish these lovely pleasant days and evenings they were spending, in his heart even if they were exhausting. Alas, he challenged his fortune with this journey more than enough and traveling further means risking blowing his cover and he’s not willed to end in the dungeons of Azuchi.

Ina’s looking at him with her charming features atop from her horse, an insecure smile’s clouding it. “What a shame. I’d hoped I could invite you to an inn when we’ll reach Azuchi. They’re serving really some good Manju there.”

A sudden desire shades Yoshimoto's thoughts to simply give in to her request, but it flows by as he’s noticing her blankly expression. “It will bring no good to you, neither me, if I get caught.” He says, hoping to satisfy her. Yoshimoto inclines his head slightly, his golden eyes are wandering thoughtfully over her facial expressions. With a soft honeyed voice he asks: “Maybe it’s none of my concern, but I think it will help you, if you’re telling me, what’s bothering you, Ina?”

Her gaze rambles from him to the way ahead, so he’s admiring her image from the side. His soft smile fades for a mere moment at her taciturnity, nevertheless he’s urging himself to craft it anew and continues tenderly: “I won’t force you, but this may be the last time we'll see each other for a long time and I would abhor it, if my staying impression of you, would be how miserable you’re looking.”

Focusing worried at Yoshimoto with her blue-grey eyes, Ina quietly retorts: “I would hate that, too.” Nodding in the direction above a field she goes on: “Behind this hill is a lake. Let’s water the horses there and then we can talk.”

Relieved Yoshimoto agrees and leads his horse to follow hers to the lake. After they cared about the horses, they rested beneath an azalea. Yoshimoto watches her, while she’s picking up some flowers, which had fallen, into her lap. Patiently he’s waiting, till she was ready opening to him. Surely she’s picking her words thoughtfully. Yoshimoto knew her as a beautiful woman, radiant like light, always wearing her hart on her tongue. Watching her so reticent, is gnawing his heart.

“I have to insist, that what I’m going to tell you now, has to stay between us, Yoshimoto.” Her gaze is determinant, while she’s setting it on Yoshimoto. An unpleasant shiver’s running through his spine as he forebodes the gravely situation. “I see.” He says heavily. “When this is about the war, the rumors seem to be true, I assume?”

Pressing her lips to a thin line and dropping her gaze to the flowers, she had weaved, he fears that she’d stop the conversation. But she doesn’t, as she’s just nodding with weariness in her bright eyes. “Yes. The Mouri Clan is rising from the west, pressing hard against our borders.” Her slender fingers are twiddling the flowers, twining them inexpertly. “When you’d tell someone in Kasugayama Castle, then...”

“Your worries may be justified, but it’s me you’re talking to.” His harsh words are silencing her and with a more gently tone now he adds. “I despise war. I would never dream of implying something to achieve advantage in such cruel doing.” Even after his shattered Imagawa Clan has found shelter in Echigo, he’d never allow himself of getting revenge in such a barbarous way. Even when he’s standing in the debt of Uesugi he could never-...

Yoshimoto draws his iron-ribbed fan from his sleeve, opening it and starts fanning, in the hope it would blow away the dreadful memories that are haunting him. “I know.” Ina says soothing, a gentle smile brightening her clouded face lightly. “Thank you.” A soft, heavy sigh escaping her lips, when she thoughtfully continues, gazing at the flowers in her lap: “Right now, they’re doing a huge effort in Azuchi to prevent the worst. But I have doubts. What if it isn’t enough? What if the Mouri Clan succeeds and turns the tables? They’re going to change the-”

Stopping in her sentence, she’s pressing her lips together again, clenching the twined flowers in her lap, while her eyes are glazing. Seeing her desperate and trembling like that, is aching his heart. Giving in his urges, Yoshimoto grabs her, embracing her fragile body like she was glass. “You mustn’t think like that, Ina.” he convincingly says, pressing her against his chest, feeling her heart pounding in the same rhythm of his own. “Nothing will happen to you.”

“But I’m so afraid, Yoshimoto.” Her silent cry sends shivers over him and it’s getting hard to swallow. Still pressing her slender figure tightly against his chest, which is trembling in his arms while she's crying softly, is robbing his breath. For it were the fearless, brave actions, the easygoing and cheerful smile and the bright beauty of hers, he’s owing his life to. When it wouldn’t be for her, he would have fallen long ago, with the ruins of his shattered clan. Seeing her now in so much pain, hurts his heart. Slightly he’s relaxing his grip on her, drawing little circles over her back, in the hope to soothe her. “I’m sure Azuchi will do everything in its might to repel the Mori. After all the Oda empowers an enormous military force. Trust me.”

Yoshimoto had spoken these words mildly for her and with rising bitterness he knows how very true they are. Even if he despises this enormous power that Nobunaga holds in his palms. His own Imagawa-Clan had faced that domineering might and is suffering till this day from this devastating clash. The reputation of his clan had faded within the flicker of an eye and so many lives were cruelly taken, so much pain unleashed this sharp deep wound, they would never recover from.

When it hasn't been for Ina, he had given gladly his life, to release his Imagawa Clan, whose got haunted by the ghosts of his past, furiously trying impossible tasks to gain their old glory again. But his clan had never recovered, nor will they ever get the chance to recover from this ravaging deep scar Nobonaga had left in their ranks when he had sunk his sword into them.

“And even if they’ll fail…” Yoshimoto continues after a short while. "you still will be safe, Ina. I will make sure of that and this is a promise.” Yoshimoto's whispering in her ear like a secret that nobody should know. On one hand he wished for her to recognize that his feelings for her never faltered since all this time that passed. That she had been the bright light, which had kept him alive. But on the other hand, his selfish wish could force a rift between them, tearing these admirable little moments they're having now, apart.

Surprisingly she responds, in reclining against his chest, allowing herself to relax in his embrace. Her breathes are steadily tickling against his neck, sending warm shivers over his back. “Thank you for comforting me, Yoshimoto.” Ina says and her voice sounds so quiet he just can barely understand. “I… I just don’t know what to say. You’ve waited all this time... wasting your time for someone so ungrateful like me-” She’s swallowing hard in guilt, pressing her head in his shoulders trembling.

No… I should’ve been more carefully with my wishes, my words and my longings. “I would wait forever if it means to wait for you, Ina.” Yoshimoto says gently, before twining his fingers lightly in her beautiful hair, stroking it carefully. He doesn’t ment to make her feel that awful, when she realizes his feelings. Yet his heart’s yearning to say so much more, but Ina is already shedding tears guilty, muffling her weeps in his shoulder. He had hurt her so much with his careless actions and words of affection, how could he ever forgive himself, when he's making her even more cry?

Yoshimoto’s quite aware of the position in which his openly words had brought Ina. Standing, between the man she had given her heart and him who had just doubtingly confessed. He feels riven between his long withheld yearnings and the overflowing guilt. He doesn’t want to make her choose, because he knows her heart belongs to another and the only reason, she’s not shoving him back right now is because of the fears burdening on her shoulders and her mind.

He wished to share soft words of how beautiful she is. How much he adores her for her carefree smile and her kind heart. But alas, he wasn’t born for this cruel, dark world, and so wasn’t she. Yoshimoto would never dream of taking advantage of her state to pressurize her. So he kept silence, comforting her with soothing circles over her back, absorbing the feeling of her warm body against his and listens to her soft breathes.

“Yoshimoto?” she asks, lightly lifting her head to gaze into his golden eyes. “This isn’t right.”

Her words are gruesomely squashing his heart, even if he knows they were so true. “I beg your pardon, Ina.” He croaks, still his arms don’t want to let go of her to give her free. Amazingly she doesn’t intent to let go of him, either. Ina gazes into his eyes with the bright blue-grey eyes of hers deeply into his, that Yoshimoto’s thinking that she’s looking into his very soul. “You don’t fully understand. It’s not just my husband, but it’s so, so unbelievingly cruel for you. Yet you still managed to soothe me, planting an idea in my thoughts. But I could never ask for you to wait any longer.”

His heart is crying loudly and triumphantly, veiling in unbelivingly happiness, as her words are reaching him. With a gentle smile Yoshimoto’s cupping her cheek. His thumb softly wipes a tear from her swollen eye. “Please, don’t think too hart on my account.” With a quiet gulp Ina nods, sheepishly lifting her head. Her bright blue-grey eyes are shimmering strangely determinant. “When the worst is about to come, will you still wait for me?”

His answer comes without hesitation. “Always.”

Ina’s nodding again, rising on her knees to face him. Then she reaches out for him. He doesn’t move, when she’s placing a corolla of red azaleas she had weaved before, onto his head. Yoshimoto is widening his golden eyes bewildered, when she’s lowering her head to him, placing a shy, soft kiss on his cheek. “I promise, to call for your aid, when the time comes. If this happens--”, she pauses, then continues invigorate her voice. “Will you still love me?”

 _____

Crowned with flowers Yoshimoto’s watching Ina, while she mounts her horse and leaves back to the way, which leads her towards Azuchi after he’d given her his answer. He’s watching her silhouette getting smaller, while the enchanting smile he’s wearing grows distant. Finally when Ina disappeared completely, Yoshimoto’s leaning with his back against the tree behind him.

His thoughtful gaze is lifting up to the blooming azalea above him. How very fateful. A tender smile’s curving his thin lips, when the sun begins to sink. Doesn’t the azalea represent modesty and patience?

Regardless of all the patience he’d already had given, he would wait forever for her. Even if this promise will never come true, Yoshimoto's feeling how the hope washes through his heart, waking the lovingly longing he does held for Ina anew. Of course he’s not wishing misfortune her, for however this war will turn, he’ll always adore her.

[kilesplaysthings]

classic songs for the IkeSen boys~

from a playlist compiled by yours truly ;) Was a bit iffy about the Mitsunari and Yoshimoto ones, but I think there’s some fitting lyrics there! What do y’all think? :D

Nobunaga: Back in Black by AC/DC

Back in black, I hit the sack. I've been too long, I'm glad to be back. Yes, I'm let loose from the noose that's kept me hanging about. I've been looking at the sky 'cause it's gettin' me high. Forget the hearse, 'cause I never die. I got nine lives; cat's eyes; abusin' every one of them, and running wild. ‘Cause I’m back, yes I’m back. Back in black. Yes, I’m back in black.  

Hideyoshi: Hearts on Fire by John Cafferty

Time will not allow you to stand still, no. Silence breaks the heart and bends the will, and things that give deep passions are your sword. Rules and regulations have no meaning anymore. Hearts on fire. Strong desire rages deep within. Hearts on fire. Fever's rising high. The moment of truth is here...

Mitsuhide: Everybody Wants to Rule the World by Tears for Fears

It's my own desire. It's my own remorse. Help me to decide. Help me make the most of freedom and of pleasure. Nothing ever lasts forever. Everybody wants to rule the world.  

Ieyasu: Carry on, Wayward Son by Kansas

Masquerading as a man with a reason, my charade is the event of the season. And if I claim to be a wise man, it surely means that I don't know. On a stormy sea of moving emotion, tossed about I'm like a ship on the ocean. I set a course for winds of fortune, but I hear the voices say 

Carry on my wayward son. For there'll be peace when you are done. Lay your weary head to rest. Don't you cry no more.  

Masamune: Born to be Wild by Steppenwolf

I like smoke and lightning, heavy metal thunder, racin' with the wind, and the feelin' that I'm under. Yeah Darlin' go make it happen. Take the world in a love embrace. Fire all of your guns at once and explode into space.  

Like a true nature's child, we were born, born to be wild. We can climb so high. I never wanna die. Born to be wild...  

Mitsunari: Beautiful Loser by Bob Seger

He’s your oldest and your best friend. If you need him, he’ll be there again.

He’s always willing to be second best. A perfect lodger, a perfect guest.

Beautiful loser, read it on the wall and realize you just can’t have it all.

Shingen: Eye of the Tiger by Survivor (you know I had to use this for him lol)

Risin' up, back on the street. Did my time, took my chances. Went the distance, now I'm back on my feet. Just a man and his will to survive. So many times, it happens too fast: you trade your passion for glory. Don't lose your grip on the dreams of the past. You must fight just to keep them alive!  

Kenshin: Behind Blue Eyes by The Who (ok so he has one blue, one green, but you know what I mean lol)

No one knows what it's like to feel these feelings like I do, and I blame you.  No one bites back as hard on their anger. None of my pain and woe can show through. But my dreams, they aren't as empty as my conscience seems to be. I have hours, only lonely. My love is vengeance that's never free...

Yukimura: Fire in the Twilight by Wang Chung

Taking a break from the role of the everyday boy; the man who leads the way, the man who leads the way. Is he for real or is he back to the old way boy? Can he lead the way, oh can he lead the way? He's searching, but he's lonely, and he's hurting, but he's only, waiting for a chance just in time to live a life. Does he need ya, does he want ya, does he listen to what you say? Is he only waiting for the simple way?

Sasuke: Deja Vu by Dave Rodgers (gotta give our memelord a meme song lolol)

Déjà vu! I've just been in this place before, higher on the street, and I know it's my time to go. Calling you, and the search is a mystery. Standing on my feet, it’s so hard when I try to be me, woah! Déjà vu! I've just been in this time before, higher on the beat, and I know it's a place to go. Calling you and the search is a mystery. Standing on my feet, it's so hard when I try to be me, yeah!

Yoshimoto: The Sound of Silence by Simon & Garfunkel (I find Yoshimoto to be quite a sad and resigned figure. I feel like this song kind of fits him with how useless and silent he feels as a fallen leader...in a way? Plus, this is kind of artistic and hipster-ish which seems to be fitting for him lol)

Hello darkness, my old friend, I've come to talk with you again, because a vision softly creeping left its seeds while I was sleeping. And the vision that was planted in my brain still remains within the sound of silence.

"Fools" said I, "You do not know silence like a cancer grows. Hear my words that I might teach you.Take my arms that I might reach you." But my words like silent raindrops fell and echoed in the wells of silence...

Kennyo: Man in the Wilderness by Styx

Another year has passed me by. Still I look at myself and cry, what kind of man have I become? All of the years I've spent in search of myself and I'm still in the dark, 'cause I can't seem to find the light alone. Sometimes I feel like a man in the wilderness. I'm a lonely soldier off to war sent away to die - never quite knowing why. Sometimes it makes no sense at all...

Ranmaru: Ooh Child by The Five Stairsteps

Ooh child, things are gonna get easier. Ooh child, things’ll get brighter. Someday, yeah, we’ll get it together and we’ll get it all done. Someday when your head is much lighter. Someday, yeah, we’ll walk in the rays of a beautiful sun. Someday, when the world is much brighter...

Motonari: Don’t Stop Me Now by Queen

I'm a shooting star leaping through the sky like a tiger defying the laws of gravity. I'm a racing car passing by like Lady Godiva. I'm gonna go, go, go, there's no stopping me! I'm burning through the sky, yeah! Two hundred degrees, that's why they call me Mister Fahrenheit. I'm travelling at the speed of light. I wanna make a supersonic man outta you! Don’t stop me now!

[chuchuroon]

IKEMEN SENGOKU:  FEAST THINE EYES ON STEAMPUNK WARLORDSSSS

Soooo after MM I have finally found my next Otome obsession Currently, the Taiwan server of Ikemen Sengoku is running a region-exclusive event that puts all the Warlords in a Steampunk AU. The outfits are too good, so I wanted to share this with the Western/JP server players! (Currently, I play on all 3 servers like the dumbass obsessive idiot I am)

More photos and information on the event story under the cut! (SPOILERS for the Taiwan Ikesen Steampunk Event). If you’d like to play on the Taiwan server, the app is named 美男戰國 (copy paste into your app store and search) and it doesn’t appear to be region-locked. Ikesen is licensed to/published by a different company (iSweety) in Taiwan, so they sometimes have artwork and events /merch that are exclusive to that region, as well as unique promo videos.

There wasn’t a promo page where I could grab the event artworks, so pardon my phone screenshots of dubious quality. I tried my best to take screencaps where the dialogue was minimal so you can get a better idea of their outfits. They’re all so good!

A 3/4 view of Mitsuhide’s Steampunk outfit. In this event, only stories for Nobunaga, Masamune, and Kenshin are available, and a minor collectible story for Ieyasu.  In Masamune’s afterstory, he mentions that Mitsuhide has the special ability to read people’s thoughts.

*holds back nosebleed* I’m weak to men with slender waists ahhhhhghhgh. Masa’s Steampunk outfit fits him so well (Is that a man-corset? Can we make all men wear corsets?) and of course his collar is unfastened. I love the cogwheel design on his eyepatch too.

Even Kennyo looks rather dashing, that rascal, although he’s human in this story and hates the androids (and especially Nobunaga, of course) for having killed his fellow brethren. 

IKESEN STEAMPUNK EVENT: STORY BACKGROUND / INTRO 

You, the (human) main character, are the granddaughter of an eccentric Duke that created sentient machine life-forms called 械偶, which I will call androids for now (The name literally translates as “mechanical puppets”). Kennyo and others sometimes refers to them as merely “puppets” (人偶), likely in a derogatory manner.

The androids are sentient and are made of cogs and wheels and circuitry, and powered by a main heart-like “core” which contains a rune. The rune contained within the core is referenced as the “soul” of the androids. Runes have different names, meanings, and uses. If an android’s core is too badly damaged, they cease to function, or die in the robot sense of the word. Even if the core is repaired, if the “rune soul” is damaged, the android wouldn’t be considered living/sentient even if the rest of its mechanisms are functioning. Runes can exist in other forms, such as carved on things like doorways and rocks and hold power. There are teleportation runes which is how androids manage to quickly travel to and from the human community when necessary. Different circuits within an android serve different functions (movement, senses, etc), much like how different lobes or parts of the brain control specific bodily functions in a human. There are different types of androids, such as battle-types and healer-types, and they can have specific protocols and purposes. The story alludes to additional types, but they are not specifically named. Androids have masters, who are typically the one who created them, although this can differ. If a master dies, an android can live without a master or choose to follow another one. Androids can have multiple masters in their life, but in the story the majority of the androids live in their own community and no longer have a master. 

Androids can obtain energy through consuming human food/drink, although it’s not described as their ideal or main method of obtaining energy (the main method was not specified). It’s possible for traces of human food and drink to remain in their system, which can eventually build up over time and cause them to break down. Androids have their own emotions/opinions and thoughts, and can touch and feel just like humans. However, there is tension between humans and androids, who fear that androids, being physically superior, may one day wipe out the humans, and fights often break out. 

After your grandfather’s death, you go to “Elfland”, a hidden, floating island-slash-sky vessel created by your grandfather that is the last standing community of the sentient androids. Within this community, there are peaceful androids, who do not want to harm humans, and anti-human androids, who will attack humans on sight, as well as a third, neutral faction. You are here to search for your grandfather’s hidden treasure, which he left you clues to before he passed away, and you’re assisted by the androids during your search. Nobunaga, Masamune, Mitsuhide, Mitsunari, Hideyoshi, are part of the peaceful faction, while Kenshin is part of the anti-human faction. Yukimura and Ieyasu are part of the neutral faction. In Kenshin’s route, Sasuke and Shingen are also mentioned briefly, but their faction is unknown. There was no mention of Yoshimoto or Ranmaru. 

CHARACTER STORY - MINOR TO MAJOR SPOILERS BELOW    

Masamune:

Your grandfather the Duke had a friend and fellow android researcher whose eldest son passed away. In light of this, the Duke created Masamune in the image of that eldest son, to keep his friend company. Instead of “Master”, Masamune referred to the Duke’s friend as “Father”, and they had a close relationship.

The Duke and his friend eventually had a bad falling out that escalated to violence, and Masamune got between them to stop them from fighting each other. His “father” tried to shoot the Duke, and Masamune chose to protect the Duke. As a result of this incident, Masamune lost his right eye, and also became estranged from his father, who was upset that Masamune chose the Duke over him.  Although Yasu-bot offered to fix it, Masamune declined, saying that he wanted to keep the broken eye as a reminder to himself that “all choices have consequences” (and because eyepatches are cool). When you arrive on Elfland, he has you skydiving into your target exploration area rather than take a long time to walk there, and generally shows you around and adventures alongside you, while simultaneously protecting you from skirmishes against the anti-human androids. Ieyasu mentions that while Masamune “isn’t a battle-type android, he’s pretty capable”, but doesn’t really explain just what kind of android he is. When Masamune’s father got grievously injured, he was kept alive but was on a deathbed, suffering from tremendous pain every day. When Masamune came to visit him, he begged for Masamune to put him out of his misery. Masamune decided to do so, knowing that it would result in his father’s wife and younger son resenting him and people saying horrible things about how he’s an android that killed his own master who treated him like a son. You, of course, help resolve this misunderstanding and also see past the terrible reputation this gave Masamune, and you accept him fully, ya’ll bond over war and fighting dealing with your ex-fiance (who happens to be the biological younger son of Masamune’s father, and colluded with Kennyo to try to wreck Elfland) and discovering your granpapaw’s treasure, and become lovers. In the afterstory, Masamune recalls that his father once told him to live life to the fullest. “If you’re not doing what you love and enjoying all that life has to offer, then you’re not truly living, whether you’re made of flesh or steel doesn’t matter. Otherwise, even if you have a heartbeat and you’re breathing, you’re no different than a walking corpse. If one day, I can no longer feel like I’m alive, then I’m already dead, even if my body is still functioning.” Reminiscing on this, Masamune wonders if meeting you was all fated since then. “I’ve fallen in love with an incredible woman”, he realizes, and listens to your heartbeat and makes you listen to his - “Every movement of every cog in my body is saying how much I love you, to the point of breaking. Can you hear it?” He asks. “Let me listen awhile longer, and I’ll answer,” you reply. In true Masamune fashion, he declares he can't wait any longer and decides to get his answer directly from your body. Yee haw.

Nobunaga:

He has a special ability which can disable the functions of other androids temporarily. During your research you discover that he was made in the image of the famous historical warlord Nobunaga Oda, who once united Japan. You guys are already lovers when the story begins. Human-Android tensions are high, and what’s worse is that Mitsuhide has been sneaking around meeting humans (including Kennyo) and making shady ass deals. You discover your grandfather’s treasure hidden behind a door with a riddle written in ancient Japanese, a dead language that only you know because your grandfather taught you. The riddle reads: “What can save both the humans and androids and allow them to live in peace?” and the answer is “love”, and the door opens when you write out the character for love in Japanese on the entrance. Inside the treasure box you find in the room, you learn secrets that could be used for both great and terrible deeds, including the knowledge of how to create sentient androids and how to destroy them, how Elfland was created, and various other secrets about androids. You decide to hide them again to prevent this knowledge from getting into the wrong hands.

Human-Android tensions escalate into full out war as Mitsuhide informs the humans how to gain access to Elfland and where to attack. Kennyo and Nobunaga cross swords and Nobunaga is nearly outmatched when Mitsuhide appears, revealing that he led the humans here intentionally because he wanted to herd the bulk of the anti-Android fanatics together in one location and collectively wipe them out in order to effectively stamp out future threats of war. He apologizes for being late as he was delayed by Hideyoshi-bot almost killing him. Nobunaga just laughs and tells Mitsuhide he deserves it for worrying Hideyoshi, and a spiteful Kennyo reveals that he has been modified with Android parts to become stronger, and activates this power to try to land a killing blow on Nobunaga - only to discover that Mitsuhide has even plotted everything this far back in advance, and way back when Kennyo was being modified, Mitsuhide ensured that he had faulty parts installed. Heheh. Mitsuhide:2, Kennyo: 0 In the afterstory, it’s revealed that one of the secrets you learned was the process of turning an android into a human. Androids can perform what’s called a “soul contract” with each other; when two androids perform this, they become linked and know each other’s thoughts and feelings, and if one Android dies, the other also loses power to their rune core and dies as well. However, if an Android performs a soul contract with a human, they can become a human (but there are unspecified risks involved, and success is more or less regarded as miraculous), and share a life. Since Nobunaga’s primary protocol was to protect Elfland and the vault that guarded your grandfather’s treasure, and that duty has been completed, he wishes to become a human so that he can grow old with you and share the same lifespan. You establish the contract and miraculously he’s turned into a human and ya’ll enjoy fun kinky times where you both know what the other is thinking and feel what the other is feeling (oh boy).

Ieyasu:

Healer-type android and constantly frets about the fact that he’s not a battle-type and therefore weak, and wonders why your grandfather created him this way. He claims to not like humans, and he blames himself for not being able to save the Duke, but you help him understand that it wasn’t his fault and that you are thankful he was able to stay by the Duke’s side and keep him company when he passed. He complains about having to repair Mitsunari-bot (who we never see). He is reluctant to get involved with humans, though this is revealed that it’s because he believes humans are too frail and die easily, and he didn’t want to experience heartbreak again. One of the lines he mutters to himself (well out of your earshot of course) is how the existence of people like you and your grandfather is the reason he could never bring himself to fully hate or reject the humans. He has a workshop and appears to not differentiate between factions when it comes to treating those who need it, as he mentions having repaired Ken-bot before as well, who is on the anti-human faction.

Kenshin:

The text translates to “My emotional circuits have been broken since a long time ago”. I chortled to myself for a good, long minute at that one. 

Anyway, Ken-bot is a battle-type android who also happens to have “protecting you” written as his top/primary protocol by your grandfather, which is why he goes along with all your endeavors despite belonging to the anti-human faction of the androids. He constantly emphasizes the fact that, as a battle-type droid, he is only capable of fighting and causing destruction. His emotional circuits aren’t completely broken, and he still has an obsession with sake and dried plums, which, according to Sasuke-bot, Ken-bot partakes to a degree that leads Sasuke-bot to believe Ken-bot is trying to drink/eat himself into an early grave. 

You learn from your grandfather’s journal that he originally created Kenshin as a battle-type android, but that he desired to have Kenshin protect his legacy (the androids on elfland, and his granddaughter) rather than simply for fighting and destruction. He saw Kenshin as a protector, not a destroyer. You try to tell his to Ken-bot and also confess your feelings, which seem to cause Ken-bot’s emotional circuits to malfunction even more. “I don’t understand what you mean when you say you like me,” he says brokenly, and during the height of the human-android battle decides to stick you in the safest place possible, which is in a... dun dun dun-geon. He then throws himself into such a battle frenzy against the humans that invaded Elfland that Yuki-bot (instructed by Sasuke-bot, who we never actually see) comes to release you from the dungeon and take you to Ken-bot in order to save him from himself. Ken-bot believes the only way to achieve lasting peace is to wipe out all the humans. You challenge him by saying he should then kill you, since you are a human. Just as you seem to be about to convince him, a shot rings out, and Kenshin shoves you out of the way, his core taking a hit from protecting you. Shingen-bot and Sasuke-bot also having taken serious injuries, the anti-human faction have no leaders, and retreat. 

You take an unconscious Ken-bot to the Oda forces to seek Ieyasu’s help. He says that the rune powering Ken-bot’s core is damaged too badly, so you find the hidden treasure of the Duke, hoping to learn a way to restore Ken-bot. Ieyasu suggests attempting the soul-contract to try to convert Ken-bot into a human as a last ditch effort to save him, as it allows the bonded pair to share their lifeforce, but he stresses that there’s no known record of it succeeding, and you may shorten your lifespan as a result. Your grandfather’s records also mentions that would only work with high-level androids. Yasu-bot also adds this flavor text that by attempting the soul contract, “You will share and endure all of the hardships, feelings and memories from the past of the other person”. You, of course, plow forward without hesitation, to which Yasu-bot gives his typical sigh of annoyance. “As expected of you”, he comments simply, and adds “I can see why this emotionally-broken idiot would be changed by you.”

After what feels like a long and painful dream, you wake up to find Pinocchio - I mean Ken-bot - has become a real boy! He confesses his feelings to you, Yasu-bot fills you both in what happened with current events while you two were unconscious, and slaps on an added warning to Kenshin of “Don’t ever make her cry again. There’s more people than you can imagine who hold her in high esteem, and they’re all incredibly annoying people...and will be much more difficult for you to handle now, as a human” - to which Kenshin answers with a typical bloodthirsty threat and by grabbing and hugging you possessively. Yasu-bot shrugs and says he doesn’t want to meddle in between “an annoying couple” anyway, and makes an offhand snide remark about how neither one of you make him worry any less than Mitsunari-bot does, checks up on you two one last time, and hurries out the room like he can’t stand to be there for another moment longer. Which is smart of him, since in the Afterstory ya’ll basically exchange mushy ass words with each other and do the nasty.

annnnd there’s the Steampunk event as I experienced it. Hope to see some Steampunk AU fan creations of our favorite warlords in the future!

[readerinsertfanfiction]

Choices

Fandoms: Voltron, Ikemen Sengoku, Ikemen Revolution & Kimetsu no Yaiba / Demon Slayer

Characters: Lotor (Voltron), Yoshimoto Imagawa (Ikesen), Jonah Clemence (Ikerev) & Giyu Tomioka (KnY)

Prompt: I have been thinking for a while now that I wanted to write a series in which the reader gets to pick their love interest. Feel free to fill in the accompanying survey as well. 

Inspiration taken from a side-character in a C-drama who intrigued me way more than the actual main, so I went and skipped and then had to write this story because wow was that unsatisfactory. 

– I suppose it is fair to say that this is still an introduction of sorts. I’m still trying to establish the characters and the story before splitting off into separate routes. 

(Has anyone picked up on the fact that reader is a selective mute? Really slightly, but I felt that it is important to point out.)

Part 1 | 

Dark clouds hung above the palace, signalling nothing good to come both in weather and in fortune. However, that didn’t alert you as much as the air hanging around in the pharmacy as you returned from your rounds. The silence that hung around the courtyard of the plaza, the absence of the brewers and the apothecaries usually running abound, even the lack of patients lining up to see you, or one of the other doctors of the court surprised you.

Dropping your kit on top of your desk you felt a chill on the back of your neck as you kept your back turned to the shelf where the medicines were stored, knowing that there was a presence behind you. Reaching for the knife hidden in your sash you stilled your breath as you counted the seconds.

“Freeze!” you called, spinning around as you held out the sharp item under the chin of your aggressor. “Sneaking up on me, Lotor?” you smiled, holding the knife closer to his throat.

Chuckling, the prince raises his arms in defeat, a charming smile on his lips as he gives you an approving look. “Why still attack me if you knew it was me?” the male questioned, though he was too pleased with himself to act out on any disappointment in surprising you. “Don’t I get a hug? Or maybe a kiss?” the male teased, earning a roll of your eyes.

“None, not for someone who left the court half a year ago without leaving behind a letter,” you responded, your arm finally lowering as you pocketed your knife. “What made you return anyway?”

Guilt flashed by his expression as the prince crossed his arms at the back, an habit for whenever he felt in the wrong. A move you knew well and immediately had you forgive the man.

“At least you’re well. Well enough to sneak up on me,” you decided to say, earning another smile from the prince who closed in on you, an affectionate arm thrown over your shoulder as you started to unpack your medical kit.

“Did you miss me?” Lotor questioned, his fingers immediately running through your hair as he played around with a few loose strands. “I heard a rumour outside of the courts. They say that the imperial doctor is the best there is, but ruthless,” he continued with a tease as he pulled away, turning over to the other side of the table as he sat himself down comfortably amongst your tools.

“Now where did you earn such a reputation from, [Name]?” the prince asked, fingers going over your desk as he examined all of the mixtures you had.

Rolling your eyes once more you gave the man a shrug, not really caring for whatever gossip he had brought as you swatted his hands away from your work. “Don’t mess it up. Don’t listen to gossip. Go focus on topics that actually matter,” you scolded.

To this the male ignored you, as he so often did, picking up your mortar and pestle, pretending to grind the air. “They were talking about you, that is important to me,” the prince quipped back with a wink before turning more serious again.

“I heard that the exiled prince of Imagawa has arrived?” Lotor’s expression suddenly turned serious. The playful young playmate seemingly disappearing. “You should be careful in whom you treat, [Name]. If he tries anything you will be the first to be suspected.”

A fair warning, for you had almost exclusively treated the prince ever since his arrival. Though, one you didn’t need. Pulling the mortar and pestle out of Lotor’s arms you gave him a smack on the arm before you ushered him out of the seat that he was occupying. A sign that you weren’t going to listen to his advice.

“Yoshimoto is a friend. We both are in need of some in this court,” you waved the man’s concern off, ignoring the expression on Lotor’s face.

“Besides, I have you here now, right?” you carefully tried instead.

The way the fifth prince’s face lit up was a sight you treasured the most.

“Just be careful, alright?” the prince couldn’t help himself but express his concern, his eyes crinkling into a warmth that you had come to recognise as care from him. “If you ever find yourself in danger, be sure to call for me, okay?” Lotor pressured on, to which you only responded with another roll of the eye.

The clouds were building up as the day progressed, looming over the imperial palace like a threat. Soon, the first drops of rain fell down, though it was not the water from the heavens that the day feared. It was not the wet from the sky that you should have cared about.

“Rebels!” The alarm sounded through all of the palaces, guards ran for the front, preparing themselves to defend the gate of the imperial city with their lives. Intermingled with them were the servants, some seeking safety, others seeking out their masters and mistresses to bring them to safety.

Finding yourself in the same chaos you wondered if Lotor’s return had anything to do with the attack the palace was facing now, a cold fear settling in your bones as you watched the rain pelt down harder, making a fight with fire impossible within the cold that was seeping through your clothes. Adjusting your medical kit you were determined to head down to the front when you were pulled to the side, into an alley.

“It is me, [Name],” Yoshimoto’s breath was warm against your ear, as were his arms as he calmed you down from your initial shock. “I have come to warn you,” the Imagawa prince was quick to get to his point as he turned you around, his features hidden underneath a hood to protect him from the rain.

Stumped, you weren’t sure what to say, or how to react as you stared over his shoulder, noticing that his loyal guard Giyu was standing closeby, standing watch with his sword ready. Feeling your eyes widen, you knew you had given away your thoughts to the perceptive prince.

Smiling his usual smile, Yoshimoto let go of your arms, regret clear in his eyes as he knew he couldn’t explain the situation to you. “There isn’t much time, but know that I have valued your friendship,” the prince spoke, his eyes flitting over to the mainstreet as he pulled you into the alley deeper. “You have to promise me not to go to the front. Go to the king’s side instead, you will be safe there,” Yoshimoto continued to urge you, his hand lingering over yours only for moments before retreating into his cloak. “And should they ask, don’t tell them of this meeting. Tell them that I attacked you and robbed you of your kit.”

Without waiting for you to actually make your promise, or to regain your voice, even the make turned away, leaving you alone in the alley. Your kit, proven to be indeed gone from your grasp without your notice.

“Wait, Yos--”

When you finally did find yourself you were met with Giyu’s blade at your throat, a frightening glare headed for you as you froze in place.

“My lord may have chosen to trust you, but one sign of betrayal and I will have the rain taste your blood,” was all the guard said before departing as well, following after the ethereal figure of one of your rare friends in court.

With the retreat of your friend you felt the rain colder than before, your feet mindlessly taking you back to your pharmacy where you planned to gather your supplies once more.

“Halt!”

Once more the sharp blade of the sword was pointed at you, the figure this time poised in the proud colours of red and white. The green of his hair clung to his handsome face, drenched by the rain just like all who were out were, though Jonah’s eyes were brimming in determination as he glowered you down.

“Why aren’t you at the front?” His voice was harsh, louder than the clash of the rain on the pebbles, harder than the rumble of the heavens sounding off the lightning.

Raising your arms you gave him a look down your empty hands and the missing medical kit, your eyes feeling distant and unfocused as you tried to meet Jonah’s gaze.

“What’s wrong?” the general speaks, a frown on his face as he notices your expression. It was strange, though you had never exchanged a friendly word with the man his concern for you seemed genuine. Genuine enough despite the sword pointed at you.

Feeling a warm hand clasping your arm you let yourself be led out of the rain, into your office as Jonah pulled you along, his eyes set into a deep frown as he brushed the locks out of his eyes. His sword had long since been sheathed back into place, though his body was still wary as he left his men instructions.

“You probably will refuse to answer me, but I will have to keep you here until these pesky rebels are rooted out,” Jonah spoke, his voice taking on his usually haught tone once more as he searched around for something to dry you and himself off with. “Just point out where the towels are and maybe brew a cold medicine for yourself,” the man continued, never ceasing to give instructions.

Reaching for one of the cabinets you pulled out the fresh towels Jonah was looking for, warmth slowly returning to you as you were surrounded once more by what was most familiar to you.

“Thank you, [Name],” the general spoke, rapt steps coming over to you as he picked up one of the towels. Dropping one of them on your head Jonah’s hand quickly started to make circular motions over your head, drying you off as he continued.

“I don’t know why you aren’t at the front like I expected you to be, but you should stay put for now. It will not do if you catch a cold, or get caught up in the collision.”

The man took you by surprise with how gently he was drying you off, his hands making sure to wring your hair as dry as possible. Every now and then you could feel his cool fingertips brush over your scalp, as if he was making sure that it wasn’t too damp.

“I fell,” you broke the silence after a while. Taking in a breath you felt Jonah’s hands still for a moment before he stepped away from you, apparently satisfied and done helping you as he picked up a fresh towel for himself.

“I fell and lost my kit,” you tried again, glad that the general had left the towel on top of your head, for you were sure that your expression would reveal the lie you were telling. “That’s why I’m here.”

“So you do speak,” Jonah scoffed, his voice muffled by the towel on his head as he pulled it off, his hair falling right back into place. Folding up the towel he didn’t say much else before turning towards the door once more, checking outside for the weather.

“Stay here and stay inside, don’t open the door for anyone unless it is me.”

If you had ever been any good at following orders you weren’t exactly known for it. As soon as Jonah left you alone in your office you gathered your lost materials, throwing together whatever you could find and thought to need into a fabric that you knotted to function as a bag. It wasn’t convenient, but it would have to do and you were determined to make it work.

Attacks to the imperial city were of regular occurrence, it came with the position, you figured. The symbol of absolute rule and power, the decision-making organ. You figured that many would want to vouch for the job, thinking that they could do better for some reason or another. However, it was rare for the rebellions to get so close to the gates, often finding themselves squashed at the front lines by sheer numbers alone.

You knew that you should have listened to both Jonah and stayed back, but the knowledge that Yoshimoto was involved within the attack, or using the attack as a guise to escape worried you. It wouldn’t be his first attempt to leave the imperial city and the capital, but it would be a gamble each and every time, a gamble on his own life that everyone was much too eager to see end. Everyone but you, at least, for there was a dear friend within the man.

The rain had cleared up, though the battle hadn’t. Ahead you could hear the battlecries of the soldiers clashing with the rebellion at the maingate, a place you were to avoid for now. Instead you duck into the dark alleyways you had familiarised through your stay within the imperial city and weaved your way through, feet hurrying and meeting mud as you strayed off the path eventually, towards the waterworks of the city.

Just as you had predicted you saw a boat at the waterside, forlorn and hidden within the reed, but readied to be used in an escape. A plan foiled, it seemed as there was no sign of any life other than your own bated breaths.

“You better have a good explanation for this,” a voice suddenly crept up on you, a blade flashing on your throat as you felt your arms pulling back, your makeshift bag falling to the ground, spilling your items.

Behind you was Giyu, his voice a low hiss as he pulled you closer, the blade flashing dangerously close against your skin as you could see his reflection in the weapon.

Not too far away Yoshimoto rose from the grass himself, his expression stern as he fixed his gaze on you. The kit you had lost dangled on his shoulder, though he didn’t seem to care for its weight as he stepped closer to you, his usually charming and welcoming demeanour having sunken into something cold.

“The lord was already afraid that there someone had found out about the plan, but we never would have thought it was you,” Giyu continued in a spiteful voice as he pulled you back onto the road forcefully. “I shouldn’t have doubted you, my lord,” the guard continued, though his voice barely held any warmth at all as he released you, the tip of his sword still pointed at you as he pushed you off.

“What are we to do, now that the plan has been foiled?” The guard’s question rang sharply as you stared at the duo, your mind whirring all the while, blanking out at the chill that you felt seeping in, though it wasn’t because of your drenched figure or the rain that you felt cold.

“I suggest you let [Name] go.”

An even chillier voice came from behind, along with the whizz of an arrow passing by, anchoring itself into a nearby tree with a thud. From the opposing direction stood Lotor, his long hair drenched like the rest of you were, but his figure tall and imposing as he prepared for another shot.

“The rebellion has been squashed, I suggest you come with me to my father if you don’t plan for this to be your grave,” came the cold voice of the prince, a steely gaze fixated upon the exiled prince nearby who had remained silent all this while.

“Alas,” Yoshimoto finally spoke as he cast his eyes down, his arms swaying in defeat before he raised them, soft golden eyes reflecting nothing as he returned his gaze to Lotor. “Let us see the king, Giyu, lower your sword,” came his command and you felt yourself released, a gasp running through your body as you nearly toppled over from the tension.

A tension built up within your throat, thick and stuck as you stared between Lotor and Yoshimoto, switching over to Giyu. You had to say something, you knew that. You had to help, but your mind drew a blank as the words didn’t want to come, too many words rumbling up and yet too few being sounded.

Yoshimoto never spared you a glance as Lotor took you by the arm, a reassuring arm thrown over your shoulder as he led you away.

The rain started again on your way to the king.

[the-foxes-fangs]

I Wish I Was the Moon: Epilogue Pt. 2

Read the main fic and interludes at a03 

Tagging the lovely @otomediary, @you-mass-effect-my-dragon-age, @louveau, and @wingedtreecookiesludge 

                                       ─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

The ride to Echigo had been pleasant, she was in buoyant spirits despite the muddy road and chilly mornings of the early spring, but he felt the anxiety in her back and shoulders as they gained on Kasugayama. 

“Cold feet so soon, little mouse?” He asked teasingly, holding her close with one arm wrapped around her waist and the reins loose in his free hand. 

“About you? Not one bit. About Kenshin? Well...” She answered, trailing off apprehensively. “The last time I saw him he did put his sword to my throat. I’m not completely sure he’s the best choice for a potential father-in-law. Ieyasu might have been a better option, after all.” 

The sky was a mass of pewter clouds that rolled on into a bank of mist, obscuring the mountains and the horizon and threatened to soak them, but all he could feel was the warmth of her against him and some stray strands of her hair tickling his face when he kissed the top of her head. 

“Let’s not be hasty my dear, could you really look Ieyasu in the eye at our wedding banquet and call him ‘father’? I think he would expire right then and there of the indignity,” He said with a low laugh that she answered with one of her own. 

“Good point, there’s no way I could do that with a straight face.” She said and laughed again. “Still, Kenshin is unpredictable. I’d rather our wedding not become a war zone if we can avoid it.” 

He urged the horse onward as the crested the last hill between them and the castle town, and a misty rain began to fall. 

“He’s got a code of honor as rigid as his sword, whatever else you might find to say about him.” Mitsuhide answered lightly. 

“Oho--” she said with a derisive snort “So that’s the game. Don’t get overconfident though, Sasuke tells me that Shingen is pretty slick, and Kenshin kept up with him all those years.” 

“Ah but Shingen is a tiger! What dragon ever noticed a fox running circles around his feet?” He asked, pulling her coat tighter around her against the wet chill. 

“I defer to your judgement on this one, with reservations.” She said, and blew out a soft sigh. 

They made it to the castle as the rain began to beat down in earnest, tearing the new leaves off of the trees and plastering his hair to his forehead. He slid out of the saddle and caught her, blowing on her frigid fingers to warm them as the guard opened the gates for them. He ignored their prying eyes and held her tightly, kissing her deeply enough to make her breath hitch, though not nearly enough to satisfy either of them. 

Kenshin was standing under the eaves looking like an ice sculpture as usual, with a disapproving Sasuke by his side.

Yoshimoto stood gracefully in a doorway and looked them over with elegant amusement on his delicate face.  

“Welcome. It’s a shame that you arrive accompanied by a snake.” Kenshin said coldly, but reached out to take her hands so gently it looked as if he expected her to shatter. 

“Well, it is a breath of fresh air to see you.” Sasuke said happily, with what passed for a smile as he greeted her. 

“We come as a set, I’m afraid.” She said and offered him a gracious bow. 

"Why, that’s no way to talk about your soon to be son-in-law.” Mitsuhide interjected airily, with a jaunty bow that earned him a scowl and snort in reply.

 “You just don’t know when to quit, do you? It’s like the man said-- you’d face god and walk backward into hell.” Sasuke muttered by way of greeting, shaking his head. 

“You do have such a quaint way with a turn of phrase, squirrel.” Mitsuhide replied with a wink. 

“I was making fun of you.” Sasuke answered and gestured at her, laughing demurely behind her sleeve. 

“Enough pointless chatter.” Kenshin cut in, gesturing for them to follow as he turned toward the shadowy interior of the castle. They filed inside, Kenshin at the lead, and in spite of confidence, he stayed close to her side. 

“The lady is looking a bit like a little drowned mouse, and I’d like to get dried off myself before we begin the formalities, if you don’t mind showing us to our quarters.” Mitsuhide said as they paused at the door to the audience hall. 

“Someone ought to have beaten a polite tongue into your head long ago, Akechi, and when the lady is my daughter, I just might.” Kenshin snarled at him, ice in his face and tone. 

“A term of endearment, I assure you.” Mitsuhide answered, palms up placatingly. 

“Show her to her room.” Kenshin said to Sasuke, and then turned to look him up and down with withering contempt. “You’ll be in the house with the other single men.” He said with a flash in his sharp eyes that brooked no argument. 

“Very well, my lord.” Mitsuhide said, hiding his rising irritation despite having been prepared for exactly this sort of treatment. 

“Wait, I--” she began to object, only to catch his eye and the faint shake of his head, “uh, I wanted to thank you for your generous hospitality and kindness.” 

She bowed again and gave him a questioning glance before she turned to follow Sasuke around a corner. 

“What an absolutely lovely woman.” Yoshimoto said with a gentle wave of his fan as he watched them leave.

“Isn’t she just? A woman you’d do anything for.” Mitsuhide replied with acid in his voice. 

“Is that right? But you were always capable of stooping to any low, so that’s a bit of an insult to the lady, don’t you think?” Yoshimoto said smoothly, fanning himself gracefully. 

A retainer who had been summoned to show him to the barracks stood watching the scene with wide eyes. 

Kenshin looked between them and curled his lip. “Settle it with your blades or shut up. You both bore me, all talk and no blood.” 

“Well I’d hate to be boring, heaven knows.” Mitsuhide answered him, and bowed crisply. “If you’ll excuse me, my lords.” 

He nodded at the retainer and followed him down the hall. 

                                               ∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

“So you’re absolutely sure it’s too late for me to dissuade you from marrying Mitsuhide?” Sasuke asked, handing her a cup of tea. 

The room that had been prepared for her was almost stifling in its opulent beauty, books and scrolls, paintings, flowers, even an elaborately made sewing kit and bolts of conspicuously bright fabrics of the sort a young unmarried woman would wear, giving the impression of an overcrowded birdcage. 

It was warm but not warm enough to chase away the chill of his absence, of the warmth of his lips on hers that she longed for to drive her fears away, his low teasing laugh that made it all seem like it wasn’t worth worrying over in the first place. 

“Sasuke, you cannot be seriously asking that after you helped engineer such a beautiful reunion and proposal.” She answered, and sipped her tea, her hair wrapped in a warm towel.

“Against my will! Let the record stand that it was 99.9% against my will!” He answered, adjusting his glasses primly. 

“It’s that last fraction that counts.” She answered and patted his hand soothingly. “I see you haven’t lost your taste for outdated memes.” She added with a snicker. 

“Absurd situations call for absurd references.” He replied, but there was brotherly warmth in his eyes. “You do look as happy as I’ve ever seen you. I don’t know how you live with him, but you look well.” 

“I could say the same for you and Kenshin. Is he still threatening to kill you three times a day?” 

“It was actually up to six for awhile, but we’ve settled at an average of two, so I think he’s forgiving me.” 

“I’ve got to admit, I was surprised that you suggested this to Mitsuhide. It’s not like they particularly like each other.”  She said, nibbling on one of the beautiful sweets that had been prepared for her. 

Sasuke’s eyes flashed behind his glasses, and he crossed his arms firmly. “I absolutely could not allow him to torture Ieyasu. Kenshin is the only one who stands any chance of keeping that man in line, the way I see it. And they both love you, so there’s some common ground.” 

She nearly spat her tea, sputtering and coughing until tears sprang to her eyes. “I’m sorry did you--” she coughed hard, “did you just say Kenshin loves me?”

“Oh, I’m sorry, I should have been more exact in my phrasing--” Sasuke said, slapping her back as she finished coughing, “he’s not in love with you, but you impressed him as much as I’ve ever seen anyone impress him that day, and I think it’s fair to say he loves you in his own specifically Kenshin way.” 

“Thanks, Sasuke, psych 101 just bubbled up from the depths of my mostly drunken freshmen memories and took me on quite the ride there for a minute.” She said, waving him back to his seat across from her as she composed herself. 

“My apologies, I didn’t mean to cause you to revisit your brief but passionate affair with Tequila in such an unfortunate way.” He replied, deadpan. 

“I forgive you, just let Mitsuhide be the one who surprises me, if possible. So you think this will all go off without a hitch?” 

He pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose and swept the hair out of his face. “I thought a hitch, as in getting hitched was the whole point.” 

“That was an appalling pun. Wretched. Unforgivable.” She said and they both broke out into peals of laughter. 

“Speaking seriously, I think that as long as Mitsuhide can avoid antagonizing Kenshin, everything will be fine.” 

“Oh, is that all? Well when you put it that way.” She shot back with a shake of her head. “Please be a pal and tell Mitsuhide where to find me, he gets an itchy trigger finger when he sleeps alone.” 

“Now that’s a euphemism.” Sasuke said with his voice caught between admiration and horror. 

“Oh, good lord, Sasuke, that’s not what I meant! Seriously, though, I’m sneaking out to see him if he doesn’t get here first.” She said, drumming her fingers on the table nervously. 

“As much as I’d like to be of assistance, I have to, with the greatest affection, ask you not to be as much of a reckless idiot as usual.” Sasuke shot back, and held up his finger. “No sneaking out. No creeping through the halls, and don’t even think about trying to get through the ceilings, I see what you’re looking at.” 

“But--” she began, only to be stopped by a vigorous shake of his head.

“I mean it. Nothing that would alert the guards. As of now, you’re officially visiting the family, and unlike a trip to stay with cool uncle Nobunaga, someone will be disinherited of his head if you don’t exercise the utmost discretion. Mitsuhide knows it, that’s why he didn’t argue.”

“Oh, fine.” She replied moodily. “I feel like I’m shut up in a dungeon. A very nice dungeon.” 

“Please don’t give Kenshin any ideas, he’s got his own very weird ways of showing his affection.” Sasuke said with a pained look. “Just try to enjoy the party tonight, and see if you can get the two of them talking... I don’t know, tactics or weapons or something.” 

“I’m no diplomat, but I’ll do my best.” She answered with a sigh. 

[acrispyapple]

Ikesen JP’s New Prologue Translation

Just gonna insert the new scenes and phrases added to the old prologue. Introducing the new warlords! ♡

please do not screenshot, copy/paste, repost this translation. ☆

[Added lines after the line: “He took my hand into his powerful one. I held tight and hauled him to his feet.”] A lone boy hidden from view was watching them run away through the flames, a dazed look on his face. ???: “…! I’m sorry… I’m sorry…!” His sorrowful voice was drowned out by the sound of flames popping, and eventually he disappeared as well…

[Added lines after the line: “Grabbing my purse on the way out, I fled the small camp.”] At the same time when the wheels of Anna’s fate began to move… In a city inn, a lone man was watching the Honnō-ji fire die out. [Treacherous] [Motonari Mori - CV Katsuyuki Konishi]

???: “Hah. What an extremely boring result. Coming here to watch it was a waste of time.” ???: “Festivals must be more flashy.” There is a lingering scent of fire in the air brought by a stray gust of wind that blew through the door gap, and the man smiles smelling it. ???: “Kh… For someone who died once, this level of playing with fire is not enough at all.” ???: “Rejoice, Nobunaga. I will restore the world of war that will excite your very soul.”

[Added lines after the line: “I didn’t try to hide my fear as I pulled away from him and dashed off again.”] When Anna disappeared from sight, a lone boy appeared soundlessly in front of Kennyo. Kennyo: Ranmaru…? Why did you come back? [Glittering Star of Turbulent Times​] [Ranmaru Mori - CV Shouta Aoi]

Ranmaru: “I’m sorry, Lord Kennyo…! I thought that you wouldn’t need me to stay at those people’s side anymore when things have become like this…!” Kennyo: “What are you saying? A splendid job guiding them at the Honnō-ji. It looks like the Demon King of the Sixth Heaven trusts you greatly.”

Ranmaru: “…” Kennyo: “Our attack failed because of that girl, but as long as you stay by his side, we will definitely get another chance.” Ranmaru: “But…! I’m already…!” Kennyo: “Did you forget about our dearest wish, Ranmaru?” Ranmaru: “…! No, Lord Kennyo.” Kennyo: “Don’t be scared. You’re loved by people. This is what Buddha decided. You were born like this.” Kennyo: “Raise your head. Show me your smile that I haven’t seen for a while.” Ranmaru: “… I understand. I will go back and carry out my mission. If that is your wish.”

[Added lines after the line: “I just call it like I see it, Kenshin.”] ???: “Hey, you. Come here for a moment. When you’re there I can’t see you, because it’s dark.” Anna: “Whoa…!?”

As soon as he pulled me to into the moonlight, I found myself near his porcelain-like cheeks. [Illusions and Transience] [Yoshimoto Imagawa - CV Taku Yashiro] ???: “Yes, just as I thought, beautiful.” (Beautiful…? But it’s his beauty that is out of this world…!“)

Shingen: "Hey there now, I saw this girl first, you know? Stealing something is not an admirable thing.” ???: “But isn’t this kimono fabric dyed magnificently? Anyone would be charmed by it.” Anna: “So you were talking about the beautiful kimono…? Phew, I was shocked there for a moment.” ???: “This… Would you give it to me? I will exchange it for a kimono you like.” His hand slides along my arm nonchalantly and the extremely seductive gesture makes my heart skip a beat. Yuki: “Like I said…! I told you to stop unconsciously seducing women… How many times do I have to repeat myself until you get it, Yoshimoto!” The young man called Yuki pulled us apart. I was freed from the temporary paralysis, but then I began to feel dizzy. (Those three men… They’re called Shingen, Kenshin, Yoshimoto… Don’t tell me that they also…?)

[Second line in the passage added.] (Dressed for camouflage and ease of movement, with close fitting layers that won’t rustle. He’s an actual ninja!) Yoshimoto: “Thank goodness. I hope the porcelain and paintings are fine.” Kenshin: “Thank you for your investigation, Sasuke. So, I presume Nobunaga is alive, then?”

[Passage updated with Yoshimoto’s name.] Shingen Takeda, the tall flirt on the cliffs, was supposed to have died by this time too. In this strange place and time, he, too, was alive when he shouldn’t be. — was changed to — Sasuke explained to me that military commanders Shingen Takeda and Yoshimoto Imagawa were supposed to have died by this time too, but they were alive in this world.

[Passage updated with Yoshimoto’s name.] (Shingen Takeda and Kenshin Uesugi, right? They’re unknowns at this point. Especially the man that was with them, Yuki.) — was changed to — (Shingen, Kenshin, Yoshimoto… Not only were they lucky, but also eccentric and overbearing, huh.)

[theworldaswedontknowit]

The Sengoku Period: 1460s - 1560

So, when did the Sengoku Jidai start? Honestly, like its namesake I can’t really pinpoint a date but it’s definitely within the realms of the 1450s to 1460s and I’d pick the days when Yamana Sozen declared his allegiance to the succession of the Shogun – Ashikaga Yoshimasa’s son and his son in law, Hosokawa Katsumoto, pledged himself to the Shogun’s brother who had been selected before the child was born. You see this situation time and again in history, all over the world, the brother gest picked because the guy has no son…only for a son to be born. Honestly, the same situation can be seen in the Todo family 130 years later and they were minor for most of their early existence.

In 1467 Yamana would gather troops with another war lord, Ouchi Masahiro and Hosokawa’s home would go up in flames. The game was on.

With rumours that Yamana intended to attack the Imperial palace Hosokawa demanded all of the Imperial family moved, paying no heed to whether these rumours were true or not. In the end Yamana did actually attack the Imperial palace and the fighting between them in Kyoto brought about its destruction. Genuinely, they completely destroyed it. The fighting would go on for months before Hosokawa convinced the Emperor and Shogun to denounce the Yamana as nothing more than rebels and undermine their supporter. Yet, it had little affect and even the deaths of both Yamana and Hosokawa did nothing to lighten up the situation.

Finally the Shogun – you know the big military leader dude, only this one was a little too concerned with poetry to actually control the situation – appealed for these people to disperse and essentially go home. However, it wouldn’t come to an end and Kyoto would still be being destroyed until 1477 when Ouchi Masahiro finally backed down, returning home but not before burning his part of Kyoto. Even with the Onin war over riots and mobs continued to descend on the city and honestly this ain’t ever gonna get better. Well, it is, but not for a long time.

The Onin war is also where we can see elements of the idea of the Western and Eastern armies. Yamana being the west and Hosokawa being the east. In 130 years time we’re going to see the big bang that is Sekigahara, the war that brought an end to the period end in much the same way as the war that started it all. Ishida Mitsunari, commander of the Western army will lose to Tokugawa Ieyasu, commander of the Eastern army, in 1600.

It’s these mobs however, that spelled the rise of the Ji-samurai or common birth samurai. What was once disorganised militias became organised armies and instrumented the rise of a very different kind of Samurai. Before this Samurai had typically been of noble birth but now simple famers and their sons did so as well. Good examples of “farmer” turned Samurai is Toyotomi Hideyoushi himself, who rose from Oda’s sandal bearer to nearly Shogun.

With these armies rising, the Hatakeyama family tearing apart any peace in their bit of the map over a family feud the future looked grim. With Yoshimasa retiring and putting his 15 year old son on the throne things really did turn sour. The Ashikaga’s suddenly seem to go through a time of not producing their own sons. Yoshihisa would produce only the daughter before dying in 1489 at the age of 24, his father taking the throne back and also dying a year later. From then on only one natural son of the Shogun, Yoshimasa, would take over before being followed by the brother who was part of the starting of the war. Then two adoptive sons, the uncle sandwiched between them.

The dominating family of the early Segoku Jidai was the Hosokawa but from what I can tell a lot of their wars were infighting. The Ryo Hosokawa war began in 1507 and was a dispute over who was going to succeed the head of the family, much like with the Shogun. Only this time Hosokawa Masamoto is super duper dead. The war would end when Hosokawa Harumoto defeated Hosokawa Takakuni, only for the entire head family to collapse when Harumoto died in 1563.

Come 1543 the Warring states is in full swing. Uesugi Kenshin and Takeda Shingen are beginning to show their capabilities, Mori Motonari is being the hotshot in the south and…the Date…aren’t really doing anything? Oda is 9, Hideyoushi is 6 and Ieyasu is a few months old. Okay, so not much is really going on but the Portuguese have just arrived and this is a big deal because what do they bring with them? Why, guns of course!

This little addition to the Japanese weapon arsenal is going to change the face of Samurai warfare. Even today, many historical figures are depicted in favouring it. Data Masamune’s weapon in Samurai Warriors is a sword and gun, which I think is an appropriate metaphor for how wars were fought now. The addition of guns allowed for distance combat, indeed it was a factor in the bringing down of the “Demon Horsemen of Kai” and if something that sounds that badass can be defeated with guns the you know everything is going to go down.

Update on the Hosokawa, the Miyoshi have just betrayed them and oh boy, that’s one massive screw you to them. Under Miyoshi Nagayoshi the Miyoshi are going to expand their territory and go on regular campaigns against the Hosokawa. Two years later Sue Harukata is going to betray Ouchi Yoshitaka at the incident at Tainei-ji. So, the two biggest players who started this all are out of picture. Just about the write time for the next big one to waltz right in.

Oda Nobunaga (1534-1582) is considered the first Unifier of Japan and with good reason. While getting together much of the middle ground of Honshu, he paved the way for Hideyoushi to take up his mantle and for Ieyasu to take over and finish the job. Without Oda the warring states may have gone on longer or at least it would look very different. Without Oda, Hideyoushi wouldn’t have gone through his rise to power, certainly not in the same way at least. Ieyasu is a different matter I’ll get into another time.

So, 1560, it’s a big year. Oda Nobunaga is 26 years old, he’s finally the cemented head of the Oda clan after a succession struggle with his younger brother. That younger brother is now dead and Nobunaga really wants to show his might and his skill. He spies an opportunity at Okehazama.

The Imagawa would invade and a plucky young general, named Matsudaira Motoyasu, would capture one of Oda’s castle, Marune. This plucky little general is the future Tokugawa Ieyasu. At a disadvantage Oda looked for ways he could defeat the Imagawa and honestly, Yoshimoto gave it to him. While sending the Matsudaira to Odaka Castle Yoshimoto rested at Okehazama. This was a place that Oda knew well and really, the hill top ambush did happen.

Yoshimoto, who was so clueless as to what was happening, came out from his tent thinking that only a drunken brawl had broken out. He believed this to such an extent that he ordered the angry samurai running at him with a big spear to go back to his post. Realising that he was actually an Oda man he drew his sword and managed to break the spear, only for a second Oda man to lop off his head. Only two senior retainers would escape Okehazama.

So, what’s happened over the last 100 years. The Hosokawa have been torn apart by infighting and are almost completely powerless while Yamana is nowhere to be seen, their greatest supporters betrayed and decimated by the Sue. The rising stars of the north have risen, the Uesugi are going to play a part to the very end while the Takeda are going to go out with a slightly unimpressive bang in 1575. Our future Western Army leader, Ishida Mitsunari, has just been born as Sakichi and his family currently serve the Azai. He will be fourteen years old when he first rises to any minor prominence and even then, only as an attendant to Hideyoushi. Tokugawa Ieyasu, currently named Matsudaira Motoyasu is finally free of his life as a hostage, joining up with Oda in secret and fearing for the lives of his wife and son who are still in the hands of the down but not out Imagawa.

Finally, Oda Nobunaga has fought his defining battle, the one that has cleared his way to Kyoto and cleared the way for 22 years of plunder before he is betrayed by his loyal retainer, Akechi Mitsuhide.