#minamoto no yoshitsune

[tanuki-kimono]

Fantastic antique outfit starring an unusual red haori showing warrior monk Benkei vs young Ushiwakamaru (future Yoshitsune) famous showdown on a bridge.

It's styled over a warm tones autumn-themed outfit, pairing a kimono with red maple leaves over clouds and kumihimo ropes ground, and a glorious obi depicting a pheasant taking flight over a sunrise.

[cestacruz]

My name is...Musashibou Benkei!

You still persist with this game?

...Stop it.

(no text under cut)

[yee-art]

head

[tariah23]

USHI!!! If you care 🥺…

[nasuverse-most-breedable-tourney]

Side A, Round 1 (Match 14)

[theneonflower]

since little big tengu is here-

[omkookie]

✨Ikegen memes because you found Tamamo✨

[shatcey]

15ch Yoshitsune's main route

It was a very emotionally draining chapter. So I decided to express my impression. I will try to avoid specifics, but I doubt that this is even possible at the point. So… most likely there will be spoilers.

If you don't need them, don't read it.

It all started when Kurama decided to share a simple fact with MC (who knows why).

Yes, I knew my boy was a matchmaker on this route. It was pretty obvious…

MC went to Yoichi and asked him directly…

No! No! No! NO! He is NOT a love rival in this route! No! It's too much. I can't choose between them. It hurts to even think about it. Please… Don't be a love rival… (whine)

He actually tormented me for a while… Like, "I don't think there's any point in telling you" and "it just makes you worry.".. It already creeps me out! Just say it!

I was so happy at the first… Hooray! Yoichi is still too calculating to fall in love with a random girl. But then the meaning of his words sink in, and I… what?

Yoshitsune… He's absolutely sure that he will die in next battle, and he is ready to die for his goal. I've seen this before. But the way he recklessly behaves gives the impression that he is not just ready to die, he wants to die…

OK. Don't panic. I've already been through saving Licht and Jean. They both have a strong desire to die, but somehow we managed to change the course of their thoughts… (I still don't think that Dazai wanted to die, there is no aura of hopelessness around him).

So… it's possible…

Yeah… You're my beloved smart boy! It always works!

And that's why you're playing the matchmaker… You're just trying to make him wanna live in any way possible. Oh… You're so devoted… I'm a little jealous of Yoshitsune… just a bit.

And then there was an additional story after the avatar challenge. And it was so sad and sweet… Yoshitsune, why do you have to be straightforward and sweet at the same time? That's the best combination ever!

I agree with you, girl…

How did they do that? How can I… a non-native English speaker who reads a very bad auto-translation feel the tension and very strong love between these two characters? How? In fact, it's the strongest emotion I've detect so far.

With Silvio, it was just a compatibility. They really suite each other so well, and you can feel it. But here… so much love, so much tenderness, so much deep desire to help and understand each other… How?

I have to think of it as my wild imagination and desire to see it at least in games.. Or I'll go mad…

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🔝 Start page 🔝

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[kchasm]

Ryu Number: Xerxes I

Xerxes I, also known as Xerxes the Great, was the ruler of the Achaemenid Empire from 486 BCE until his assassination in 465 BCE. At the time of his ascension to the throne, the Achaemenid Empire ran from the eastern end what's now Pakistan to the west end of what's now Turkey. You might notice that that's about the same amount of empire in about the same location as Alexander the Great had—that's because Alexander the Great was the guy who took over the Achaemenid Empire and made it not-so-Achaemenid anymore.

It was awful big, is what I'm saying.

But let's be honest: You probably know Xerxes I better as the Bad Guy with the nose ring in that one weird Spartan hagiography Gerald Butler was in. Fugging Miller.

Anyway, Xerxes I almost certainly has a Ryu Number of 2, and definitely not a Ryu Number more than 3, but there's some stuff.

The problem with finding a Ryu Number of Xerxes I is that 5th-century-BCE Persian monarchs don't show up in video games that often, for some reason. He makes a historical appearance in the Assassin's Creed Odyssey DLC Legacy of the First Blade...

...but unfortunately, Odyssey takes place too far after the times of myth and legend for anyone big enough to be a Minecraft skin in Greek-mythology-inspired DLC to show up.

It doesn't help, either, that in Assassin's Creed lore, all the "gods" were just members of a Precursor Race pretending to be gods, a la Stargate. No, that's not "Hera," that's a jerk Precursor Person who's taken on the identity of "Hera," all the better to lead mankind around like a clowder of schmucks. She's pretending to be Norse elsewhere. Don't fall for it.

(There's also A Minotaur, which feels like it ought to connect via that Minecraft skin pack, but if I'm understanding the Odyssey lore correctly—and I very well might not be; holler at me—the minotaur the player encounters isn't actually the Minotaur from the myth we know and love, but some random other guy who subsequently got his hands on the Precursor Technology that turns you into a minotaur. Yeah, everything is Precursor People in Assassin's Creed. It's kind of disappointing.)

Of course, you can still get to Xerxes through Odyssey if you want to—a handful of historical characters who don't have Minecraft skins show up—but you'll need an extra step. And if we're going to have an extra step anyway, I'm going to go for the route that doesn't need Assassin's Creed, partially because I haven't played the games yet but mostly because I'm still really disappointed about the Precursor People thing.

Which means, unfortunately, it's back to Miller.

I'll say this: For all that 300: March to Glory is Not A Very Good Video Game, it left me the impression that someone behind the scenes actually did the bare minimum research into the Greco-Persian Wars. Persian commanders Hydarnes and Mardonius make appearances (if only to provide something unique to hit), and Mardonius even survives the movie-equivalent events of the game until an epilogic, post-movie level that takes place during the Battle of Plataea—which is, indeed, where the historical Mardonius bit it. It's not much, but I had to watch the whole dang thing, so I'll take what I can get. Gets me more names for The Chart, besides.

As for connecting this game to Ryu, you can, of course, count on the Ol' Dependable of Games With Historical Figures:

...Or maybe you're not a fan of Anime And Things That Look Like Anime, in which case, try this, instead:

I'm not sure I can explain how weird Spartan: Total Warrior is—by which I'm referring to its existence more than anything in the game itself, though the content's pretty weird, too. For context, Total War is a series of strategy games featuring a combination of turn-based strategy, resource management, and real-time tactical control (so sayeth Wikipedia). There are a coupla Warhammer entries in the franchise, sure, but the vast majority of the games focus on real, historical campaigns and factions.

Spartan: Total Warrior, on the other hand, is a hack-and-slash that took one look at a history book and immediately took a pair of shears to it. The story starts in 300 BCE: The Roman Empire, led by Emperor Tiberius, has conquered almost the whole of Greece, with only Sparta remaining, and Leonidas leads his men into battle to oppose him. Later, the Romans reveal a superweapon powered by the imprisoned Medusa. Sejanus, Tiberius' right-hand man, is a powerful necromancer who kills and resurrects Castor's brother Pollux. One mission involves protecting Archimedes, leader of the Athenian resistance, from assassination.

To quote someone on Discord, this is a game supposedly set circa 300 BCE that "has one side led by a king who died 200 years before, and the other by an emperor who reigned 300 years after (never mind the fact that Rome was still a senatorial republic)." If you forced a too-serious historian to play this game they'd end up on the floor in a frothing heap of rage and/or despair (actually, someone should totally do that; I want to see the Greco-Roman history version of Jonathan Ferguson having to analyze the firearms of Team Fortress 2).

Oh yeah and Beowulf is there.

At some point you've got to appreciate—no, admire, even—the Xena:-Warrior-Princess-level decision to just Don't Worry About It.

And now that we have finished with the indisputable, let us proceed with the first of the hinky. Which is to say: Let's look at God of War: Chains of Olympus.

Chains of Olympus begins with an attack by the Persian navy on the Greek Attic peninsula (where Athens is, incidentally). The opening sequence features (among a whole lot of faceless Persian mooks) this prone-ish fella, who doesn't quite get to operating a ballista, irresponsibly leaving the work for Kratos instead.

(Credit: Migeman)

Inspecting the body after all the local ruckus is over identifies him as "Eurybiades," the "leader of the Athenian army."

Eurybiades was—according to historical record—a real person, though God of War doesn't exactly nail it on the head. Herodotus (who historians depend on more due to him being one of a Very Small Number of sources rather than anything to do with actual reliability) names Eurybiades as a Spartan who, during the second Persian invasion of Greece, was given command of the Greek navy due to some political whatuppery (the Spartans said that if a Spartan didn't lead it they'd be Awfully Uncooperative).

Following this bit, Kratos confronts the King of Persia (identity unspecified), who is apparently personally leading the invasion himself, which seems dumb but was apparently the norm back in those days. I bet we'd have a lot less wars if we made our Presidents actually serve on the front lines whenever they started feeling belligerent.

(Credit: Ibid.)

Anyway, Kratos kills the King of Persia, because if the King of Persia killed Kratos the game would be a lot shorter. Now, there's no watertight confirmation that this is the second Persian invasion—the first one also featured attempted Persian inroads into Attica, and was recent enough that it's not inconceivable for Eurybiades to have shown up, there, too—but if this is the second Persian invasion, and that is the King of Persia that was King of Persia during the second Persian invasion, then that King of Persia is Xerxes I.

And now, I think, you peer up at me, gaze beseeching. "But KC," you say, anxious and afraid, "Xerxes I didn't die during his invasion of Greece! After Greek victory at the Battle of Salamis, Persian forces were forced to withdraw from Attica, including Xerxes I himself, after which he focused on lavish construction projects until he was assassinated fifteen years later for unrelated reasons! He didn't die in the Greco-Persian Wars at all!"

To which I say: You know who else didn't die in the Greco-Persian Wars? Eurybiades. And you know who definitely didn't die in a fit of paranoid, obsessive overwork in the heart of a monumental statue of Apollo on the isle of Delos?

What I'm saying here is that God of War's relationship with historicality is fleeting at best, so maybe Don't Worry About It here, too.

(Incidentally, if it's the first Persian invasion of Greece that Kratos is mucking around in, then that king is actually Darius the Great, who also didn't die in Greece in real life. Darius is in Civilization V, though, so getting his Ryu Number is a lot easier.)

And speaking of Civilization, I've finally come to the shortest route I've found that, for all its likeliness, isn't as definite as I'd like, which is why I've saved it for last. You know how Civilization works, I think—you play a historical civilization (with a historical leader to match), and go up against other historical civilizations with their leaders. Like Darius, just now—he's your leader if you decide to play as the Persians.

Civilization III is like that...but unfortunately not as much like that as a fellow'd prefer. Sure, it's got its civilizations and leaders...

...But there's the occasional glaring unspecificity that's apparently there to make life difficult for me in particular. Yeah, sure, Montezuma here is most likely the second one—the one everyone knows, the one that had the real bad experience with Spain—but are you sure he isn't the first one instead? Like, absolutely sure? The instruction manual doesn't say, you know. How sure are you? Sure enough to bet a dollar? Two dollars? Fifty dollars? Your firstborn child? Why would I want your firstborn child, anyway? I don't want to look after a child; that's literally more work for me.

The Persian civilization exhibits the same problem here. Yeah, of course that's Xerxes I! If the team behind the game is picking out a historical figure named Xerxes to represent the Persians, it's got to be Xerxes I. But at the same time, there's technically nothing saying this isn't Xerxes II, a separate 5th-century-BCE Persian ruler of the Achaemenid Empire. I mean, it's terribly unlikely, seeing as Xerxes II ruled for 45 days before being killed by his half-brother, who ruled for six months before being killed by his half-brother, making him Not Exactly The Sort Of Individual You'd Put The Spotlight On, but Mahatma Gandhi and Joan of Arc are the leaders of Indian and French civilizations in this game, and that's weird, too. Gandhi was never the Prime Minister of India or anything like that, and Joan of Arc was a military leader, not a monarch.

Still, if you're willing to follow the reasonable assumption that the Xerxes here is Xerxes I, then the path that results is pretty dang optimal:

...If this is how you found out that Mahatma Gandhi is in Minecraft DLC, I'm sorry.

[archiveikemen]

Minamoto no Yoshitsune Main Story: Chapter 8

This is a fan-made translation solely for entertainment purposes with no guaranteed perfection. I do not own any of the original content. Please support CYBIRD by buying their stories and playing their games. Reblogs appreciated.

❥･• Warnings and FAQ

Yoshitsune: What are you doing to this woman?

His calm voice echoed through the room, the Vassals who had been yelling furiously just minutes ago fell silent immediately.

Yoshitsune: Explain yourself.

(Yoshitsune is just listening, and yet the atmosphere feels so dense already…)

One of the Vassals fearfully looked up.

Vassal 1: … We received verbal evidence that this person’s baggage contained tools used to make medicine.

Vassal 1: We visited her room to confirm it, and she was in the middle of making poison!

Yuno: This is not poison! I was just making medicine for hot water…

Vassal 2: Then why do you possess these tools in the first place?

Vassal 2: It’s too unusual for a mere princess to have them!

Yuno: T-That’s…

(I can’t tell them that I’m an apothecary…)

Vassal 3: Looks like we’ve hit the bull’s eye.

The Vassals cackled, seeing as I was unable to refute their claim.

Vassal 3: You should've obediently owned up to it from the start.

Vassal 3: Lord Yoshitsune, not only did this person make excuses saying “there’s no way I could've poisoned him”,

Vassal 3: She even pretended to be worried about your safety, in an attempt to butter up to you.

Vassal 1: She tried to poison you, and yet she did an about face the moment she was caught. What a despicable woman she is!

Yuno: T-That’s not…

The Vassals’ language became increasingly coarse.

(I’ll really be labelled as the culprit at this rate…)

Yoshitsune: …

Yoshitsune’s eyes were completely void of emotion as he stared at me.

(I wonder if he thinks that I’m the culprit too.)

I nervously bit my lips, and Yoritomo’s words flit through my mind.

– Flashback Start –

Yoritomo: You’ll be surrounded by people on the enemy’s side, you won't have a single ally nearby.

Yoritomo: When push comes to shove, your life is not guaranteed.

Yoritomo: In this kind of situation — can you still confidently say that you will be fine?

– Flashback End –

(Not a single person here is my ally. I knew this from the start.)

(Even Yoshitsune won’t side with me…)

I tightly clenched my fists, that unpleasant thought going through my head.

(I need to get out of here no matter what.)

Yuno: Um, Lord Yoshitsune—

Yoshitsune: If her saying that there was no way she could have poisoned me was just an excuse, then has the means by which she poisoned my meal been ascertained?

(...)

Vassal 1: No, not at the present moment…

Vassal 1: We can find that out if we torture this woman until she confesses.

(Torture me until I… what are they going to do!?)

I shuddered when I found myself unable to escape or make any excuses.

Yoshitsune: — So that means that you labelled her as a suspect based on mere speculation.

(... Yoshitsune?)

The Vassals widened their eyes in shock.

Vassal 2: However, we can’t clear our suspicions of her unless we prove her innocence…!

Yoshitsune: I see.

As soon as Yoshitsune said that, he took the medicine I was making and—

(what.)

— Without hesitation, he drank all of it.

Vassal 1: L-Lord Yoshitsune!?

Yoshitsune: … It’s bitter.

Yoshitsune stared intently at the Vassals who had fallen silent.

Yoshitsune: Is this enough proof?

Yoshitsune: I don't feel numb or dizzy. It’s the truth that this is just a regular herbal drink.

(Yoshitsune believed me…)

I felt so relieved that my tense body relaxed almost immediately.

Vassal 1: Um… we…

Yoshitsune: It's stupid to gang up on an innocent woman and interrogate her.

Yoshitsune: Have you all forgotten that we too, have been through such baseless false accusations and oppression in the past?

Vassal 2: T-That’s…

(... Could he be referring to when Yoritomo exiled him from Kamakura?)

The Vassals seemed startled by his words.

Yoshitsune: Even if she had someone to help her, poisoning me while under surveillance by multiple people would be extremely difficult unless she was specially trained to do so.

Yoshitsune: Yoichi has done a thorough investigation into Yuno’s background and found nothing suspicious.

(Surely, even if I had the intention to poison him, I doubt I could’ve done it…)

Yoshitsune: As for her pharmaceutical knowledge…

I got a little startled when our eyes met.

Yoshitsune: She studied it so that she could help the injured — am I right, Yuno?

Yuno: …! Yes

(He still remembers what I said to him on the battlefield…)

– Flashback Start –

Yoshitsune: That's why you saved him.

– Flashback End –

(It wouldn't be surprising if he forgot the sugared words from an enemy.)

(... As expected, this is the Yoshitsune I know.)

The Yoshitsune who was frighteningly straightforward with people.

As cold as the winter air, Yoshitsune narrowed his eyes sharply at his vassals.

Yoshitsune: This woman is a formal hostage from the Shogunate.

Yoshitsune: Causing her harm without reason will tarnish the reputation of our army. This is what I meant when I ordered all of you to “treat her appropriately”.

The vassals turned to Yoshitsune and bowed their heads to him immediately.

Vassal 1: I am terribly sorry, My Lord!

Yoshitsune: I understand that you all were worried for me and tried looking for the culprit.

Yoshitsune: Therefore, there will be no punishment for this incident.

Yoshitsune: However, you shall not get unnecessarily aggressive in the future. — Is that understood?

Vassal 2: U-Understood.

Yoshitsune: Then apologise to Yuno.

(What…)

Amidst my surprise, the vassals bowed their heads one after another.

Vassal 1: We are very sorry…!

Vassal 2: I seek your forgiveness…

(W-What should I say to them…)

Yoshitsune took half a step forward and stood next to me…

Yuno: ah…

He took my hand with a sincere look in his eyes.

Yoshitsune: Yuno.

Yuno: … Yes?

Yoshitsune: On behalf of my army, I apologise for the impoliteness.

Yoshitsune: Please forgive our lack of sincerity.

Yuno: I-It’s fine… if you understand then I’m alright!

I shook my head, feeling flustered.

Yuno: Thank you very much, Lord Yoshitsune.

Yoshitsune: I appreciate your magnanimity.

(Lord Yoshitsune…)

I felt the air around Yoshitsune become a little more relaxed.

He let go of my hand and turned to his vassals.

Yoshitsune: You may all leave now, and continue with the investigation.

Vassals: Yes, My Lord.

The vassals bowed deeply again and quietly left the room.

Yoshitsune and I were the only ones left, a short moment of silence fell between us.

(This is the first time we’re alone together since the festival.)

(I was able to speak to him normally back then…)

Yuno: … I never expected you to help me, Lord Yoshitsune.

I suddenly voiced my true thoughts.

Yuno: Um… you feel more distant now, compared to the last time we met.

Yoshitsune: …

Yoshitsune lowered his eyes and spoke.

Yoshitsune: To be honest, I can’t decide how to treat you.

I sensed no lies and falsehoods in his gaze directed straight at me.

Yoshitsune: Apart from our first meeting, I’ve had two strange encounters with you.

Yuno: We met on the battlefield, and at the festival… right?

Yoshitsune: Yeah, I was surprised to see you back then…

Yoshitsune: I was also surprised when Yoritomo accepted the proposal for a hostage exchange.

(... What do you mean?)

Yuno: But, Lord Yoshitsune, you made the proposal…?

Yoshitsune: You have a key role in the war between the Shogunate and Rebel Army.

Yoshitsune: Even if you’re used to all the fighting, you’re just an ordinary woman.

Yoshitsune: Taking various things into account, O thought that there was a high chance that there would be a breakdown of negotiations.

(... As much as they hate each other, they’re still brothers after all.)

Yoritomo and Yoshitsune understood each other very well.

Yuno: As you said, Lord Yoritomo intended to reject the proposal… because he wanted to protect my heart from breaking.

Yoshitsune: Then why are you here?

Yuno: Because I want to be.

Yoshitsune: …

I recalled how I felt when I made the decision to become a hostage.

Yuno: I don't have a good understanding of politics.

Yuno: But I can imagine the outcomes of negotiations breaking down.

Yuno: The people will suffer because of starvation…

Yuno: I don't want to turn a blind eye to that when there's something I can do to help.

(... And I believed that you would keep your promise to not harm the hostage.)

Yoshitsune: You’re doing things for the sake of others again.

The look in Yoshitsune’s eyes became calmer.

Yoshitsune: … You’re a strong person.

Yuno: That’s not the case. There are many people who are much stronger than I am.

Yoshitsune: There’s no need to humble yourself. You have a heart that’s more beautiful than anyone else’s… and that makes you stronger than you think you are.

Yoshitsune: On the night of the festival, I thought that our next meeting would be on the battlefield…

Yoshitsune: But I ended up receiving you in Hiraizumi.

(Truly a curious coincidence…)

Yoshitsune: You said it just now. You weren't expecting me to help you…

Yuno: Yes…

Yoshitsune: It’s true that my attitude made it reasonable for you to think that way.

Yoshitsune: But…

Yoshitsune touched my cheek, the gesture seemed like it was the most natural thing for him to do.

Yoshitsune: You’re a strong and kind person.

Yoshitsune: Getting any closer to me would cause you problems, because I’m the enemy general.

Yuno: D-Does that mean you were distancing yourself from me for my sake?

Yoshitsune: It’s a matter of course that I do my ultimate best to ensure that you're comfortable for as long as you're a hostage in my army.

(You’re the kind one, Yoshitsune.)

Like gentle sunlight shining through the clouds in the sky, Yoshitsune’s sentiment went to my heart.

(I started wanting to know more about him when we met at the festival…)

(At that point of time, I thought it was because he was the enemy commander.)

(But, now… that feeling has grown stronger, regardless of whether he’s a friend or foe.)

Yuno: Even if it leads to trouble eventually, I still want to get to know you better, Lord Yoshitsune.

Yuno: I understand that I’m a hostage, but could you treat me less carefully from now on?

Yoshitsune: … Yuno

Yoshitsune muttered, slightly surprised. Then a smile appeared on his face.

Yoshitsune: Got it. I’ll bear that in mind.

(I’m glad, but… it’s so unfair when he smiles at me like that.)

Perhaps it was because I had only seen him being expressionless ever since I arrived in Hiraizumi, his gentle smile made my heart race.

Yuno: … Thank you. Please treat me well.

Yoshitsune: Same here.

Yoshitsune: Considering the circumstances, you won’t be treated as a guest. But please let me know if you encounter trouble again like today’s incident.

Yuno: Okay…!

I had a feeling that something had started changing, and my body slowly grew warmer—....

…

Meanwhile…

A Vassal was reporting to Yoichi, who continued with the investigation of the poisoning attempt.

Yoichi: I see. Lord Yoshitsune cleared Yuno’s name of any suspicions.

Vassal: Yes. It was quite surprising that Lord Yoshitsune would defend someone from the Shogunate.

Yoichi: … I should continue observing them.

Vassal: Pardon?

Yoichi lifted a corner of his mouth and smiled at the Vassal who cocked his head in wonder.

Yoichi: It’s nothing. Thanks for the report.

Vassal: Not at all. Well then, I shall take my leave.

Yoichi: Now, let’s see how this turns out.

(So many things happened today…!)

I stared absentmindedly out of my room window, listening to the sounds of the night.

The calm that came after the commotion during the day that felt like a lie made me heave a sigh of relief.

(I was suspected of attempting to poison Yoshitsune, and was saved by the man himself.)

(And… I came to know that he had a cold attitude on purpose for my sake.)

Yuno: A poisoning attempt…

(I wonder who would be so bold to target Yoshitsune directly…)

While I was thinking hard about it…

Yoichi: Oi, Yuno. Can I have a moment with you?

(Yoichi!?)

I hurriedly stood up when I heard Yoichi’s voice coming from behind the sliding door to my room.

Yuno: Yes, come in.

The sliding door opened, Yoichi entered and sat down in front of me.

Yoichi: Hey, hey.

(Why is he here all of a sudden…?)

Yoichi: You had a hard time during the day, didn't you?

Yuno: Uhh, well…

Yuno: Erm, what brings you here at this hour?

Yoichi: I’m here to invite you for some night amusements.

Yuno: Huh?

Yoichi: You’re bored out of your wits, yeah? How about having some fun with Yoichi onii-san?

Yuno: Fun…?

Yoichi took my hand with a wide grin.

Yoichi: Telling you upfront would spoil the fun, don't you think? It’s something you’ll enjoy once you’re there.

(W-Wha!?)

And so Yoichi dragged me off somewhere—.

…

(This is…)

I was brought to a hall filled with a feast and bottles of alcohol.

Seated at the table, Yoshitsune and Kurama turned their eyes in my direction.

Yoshitsune: You’re here.

Kurama: … You’ve got some nerve to keep me waiting, lass.

Yoichi: You didn't wait for that long.

Yoichi: Come on, Yuno. You can sit wherever you want.

Yuno: U-Uhm, what's with all this…?

I asked Yoichi, unable to keep up.

Yoshitsune: … Yoichi, what did you say to Yuno to bring her here?

Yoichi: I just said something normal, like “how about having some fun with Yoichi onii-san”.

Kurama: What’s so great about having the company of this dull woman?

(This guy seriously has zero interest in me. That was rather liberating…!)

Yoshitsune: You’re not properly explaining things to her.

Yoshitsune: Yoichi specially prepared this gathering for you.

Yoichi: Let me explain it from start to end.

Yoichi: We are currently still searching for the culprit behind the attempted poisoning.

Yoichi: All the Vassals are tense right now, ordering the guards to increase the security around Lord Yoshitsune.

Yoichi: However, he actually…

Yoshitsune: I don't need guards.

Yoichi: Because he doesn't like being heavily guarded, Kurama and I became his protectors instead.

Yoichi: The three of us will have a meal together while we protect Lord Yoshitsune.

Yuno: I see…

Kurama: I don't intend to do something as boring as being a bodyguard.

(... He definitely doesn't look like the kind of guy to act as someone’s bodyguard!)

Yoichi: And because of this annoying guy, we’ll also be having some good alcohol…

Yoichi: So I decided that we should just turn this into a feast, that’s why I invited you to join us too.

Yoichi: I’m a genius!

Yoichi folded his arms and gave himself a satisfied nod.

Kurama: Some smooth talker you are. You were going to open up the bottles of alcohol regardless.

Yoshitsune: I second that.

(Yoichi’s surely not an ordinary person, being able to stand on equal grounds with Yoshitsune and Kurama…)

Yuno: But why was I invited? I’m a hostage, I shouldn't be attending feasts…

I asked the most crucial question.

Yoichi: A feast can only be considered as one when there are many people present, you know?

Yoichi: You’re probably getting bored being cooped up in your room all the time, so go on and enjoy yourself!

(Huh…?)

Before any of that could even click in my head, it was decided that I would participate in their feast.

(Is this really acceptable…)

Yoichi: Now, shall we get the party started?

Yoichi swiftly filled everyone’s bowls with alcohol.

I was unsure of how to conduct myself in that situation, and Yoshitsune peered into my face.

Yoshitsune: Yuno, don’t hesitate to sit here.

Yoshitsune: If it’s bothering you, consider this an apology for the false accusations made against you earlier today.

[vingilotes]

Ushiwakamaru at Gojo Bridge

This drawing took me quite some time. Actually, I was making this at the same time I was writing the report for my quals, so I almost went mad lol

But it was pretty fun! I always wanted to explore late heian aesthetics and fashion in a drawing, and I'm happy that I finally did it. The original size of the canvas was 200x300 and I used a big palette of 80 colors this time!

[rierru]

義経

#源氏伝FA #ikemengenjiden

[cestacruz]

Tokiwa Gozen (ushi's mom) can like, get it, mayhaps (?)

[cynthiaandsamus]

[dalissy]

they love each other very tenderly and very very bisexually

[not-so-secretfangirl]

YOU CAN NOT GO AROUND SAYING THINGS LIKE "I, too, was willing to be destroyed by you" AND "When did I become captive to you?"AND EXPECT ME TO BE ON MY WAY LIKE NOTHING HAPPENED