* - no potentially triggering content was described in any greater detail. However, if any mention of (even fantasy) war upsets you, this is not a work for you.
Even gods can tire of fighting, streams of tears falling from the skies. Even gods can mourn – and even they can fear, regardless of their dominion or cause they bestowed with their divine attention. Wisdom, Justice, Earth or Clouds, it matters not, for even War fears when Peace is the beloved.
Premise: A glimpse into warlords’ thoughts as they watch MC doing something. Ordinary daily life. A moment of peace, perhaps.
Nobunaga:
The further away he is, the more he craves to just see her and talk, to touch her hands. His line of work being rather brutal in that regard, he makes sure to always watch her carefully, as to engrave her image in his mind. He believes it helps him prevail through weeks of separation they endure at times.
He especially loves her eyes, curious sparkles playing over her irises whenever a topic picks her interest. However, there’s also another thing he enjoys - observing feelings shift over her face, the mystery of them continuing to fascinate him despite having been revealed.
“To think there was a time I considered you a mere toy, Fireball… I was gravely mistaken. You’re far beyond anything I could have ever dreamt of.”
Mitsuhide:
He generally doesn’t allow himself the luxury of observing her from up close. At times she may be even unaware of his presence, his shadow being banished by the light the moment she’d pass by it.
Usually, he steals glances at her while passing her in the corridor. However, sometimes he stays in a place for a moment longer, her silhouette flickering in the gardens or further down the hallway. It reminds him to cherish each moment she chooses to spend with him, each second being unique and precious, simply unrepeatable.
“Flee, little mouse, flee. You have chosen so poorly… Yet I cannot seem to stop myself from accepting it with joy.”
Hideyoshi:
His lover being a truly busy person, he adores watching her rest, tension slowly seeping out of her body as she sits in the shade provided by the old chestnut tree growing in the garden.
Whenever wind blows past her, lifting up strands of her hair, he finds himself wishing he could sit besides her and braid it - although then, he would be unable to see the stray rays of light flickering over her cheeks, the scene being equally treasured by him. He wishes she could enjoy summer this way every day of the year.
“If it means being able to live even a single day more with you, I’m never, never giving up on this life of mine.”
Mitsunari:
He loves watching her study, heaps of books and stashes of paper littering her desk, the brush in her hand gliding swiftly over the pages, her brows knitting together as she tries to focus.
He usually searches for stray little droplets of inks marking her skin, the spots appearing in various density over her arms and face alike. She’s always too preoccupied with her task to notice, barely making note of his presence as well - and he cannot stop the gentle smile tugging at the corners of his lips, her determination warming up his heart.
“You’ve taught me so many things and yet you never cease to learn yourself. You’re truly admirable.”
Ieyasu:
He oftentimes find himself watching her as she plays in the garden with Wasabi, the doe having warmed up to his lover completely. At times he wonders whether his little friend hasn’t found a better companion than him.
His attention is usually drawn towards her arms, her hands extending treats towards the pet and smothering it with gentle and patient affection. He loves seeing her take care of others - and he is well aware that those shoulders helped to carry wounded soldiers and then, bore a much greater burden of seeing them pass away when all efforts inevitably failed.
“You always seem to hold an open heart to the world, even despite being hurt by it numerous times…It seems I still have plenty left to learn from you.”
Masamune:
It appears gazing at her while she works on her project has become a sort of routine for him, the action occuring without him even realising. He oftentimes wishes he could admire both her work and her at the same time, his mind failing him at the task. Each time, he chooses her over the handiwork, her handiwork seeming nearly eternal in comparison to the passing seconds.
He focuses mostly on her face, taking note of every twitch of her brows and every minor change to her eyes. He also takes notice of her hands, the needle always almost grazing the pads of her fingers, deftly guided through layers of fabric. He admires her craft, well aware of the fact that she makes it look plenty more effortless than it actually is.
“Kitten… How can you always have such a determined look on your face? Could you be any more adorable?”
Kenshin:
He loves seeing her fence, each training bringing more faith into him that in fact the fate would not repeat itself - until the anxiety disappeared completely. At times, he feels his hand twitch to try himself in a sparring against her.
He takes note of her stance, of all the openings in it, thinking up ways of possibly exploiting them… Yet he never ceases to be amazed with how she always seems to catch onto his thoughts and grow stronger, dexterously avoiding the strikes of her sparring partners and returning the blows.
“I thought I had to protect you, that I had to cage you to keep you safe… Yet the moment I let you free, you soared so high I could not believe my own eyes. You dare me to believe in a better tomorrow.”
Shingen:
It wouldn’t be far from truth to say he always makes sure to see her, not allowing her to become part of the visual noise or a crowd. However, it wouldn’t be a lie either if one were to say that he still has glanced towards her plenty, at any time of the day and night.
Some nights, he just lets her tell him stories of the future - and even though he has visited the period, he can never grow tired of her voice. His head resting in her lap, he turns onto his back as to gaze at her. Through half-lidded eyes, he watches her lips move, tracing each word with his sight as to remember it better.
“If you were not an angel… Then how come you have saved me? Was this miracle not a sign of your mercy?”
Yukimura:
There are plenty things he finds adorable in her, one of them being how eager she is to bicker with him. As such, he strives to never miss an opportunity for this match of sorts, the nickname he has granted her having grown pleasantly warm in the way he pronounces it.
He adores all sparks of mischief present in her form - her eyes catching onto a clue, how her lips curl up into a grin and how she clicks her tongue in anticipation of another remark; her hands resting over her hips, her head shaking from side to side in feigned disappointment or disbelief; and finally, how she opens her lips, just a second before she speaks again, causing him to fall for her all over again.
“If you’re a dummy, then I am your fool - since it can’t be smart of me to be in love so much. It just can’t.”
Sasuke:
At first, he felt somewhat shy about stealing glances at her, each being padded with an unnerving thought of whether she wouldn’t consider it a strange thing to do… Or any stranger at least, as he presumed she may already think so of him.
As odd as it may be, he realised he loves watching her and learning of her perspective on things, her entire being constituting a sort of prism, a lens through which he could perceive the world anew. He loves her delight, her admiration, excitement, the joy of discovering, learning, gaining the understanding and connecting the facts - even if to him, some of her findings would be the most trivial of things.
“I did not understand for the longest time. I could not comprehend and my tests were futile… You broadened my perspective far beyond what I could have ever hoped to achieve on my own.”
Kennyo:
He never hides his gazes. At times, he becomes rather flustered, her words bringing him out of his thoughts and causing him to realise the promise of future she engrained in his mind might have become a rather crucial part of his being.
Whenever they work together, he makes sure to stay focused, switching tasks being his moment of break - then, he allows himself a second to watch her, in whatever state she may be in, whatever emotion she may experience. He wants to remember all those precious moments: her standing on her tiptoes to reach the high cabinets, how she smiles happily whenever she smells something pleasant, the tiny wrinkles around her eyes…
“You saw through the demon’s mask I put on, even though even I forgot it was not truly my face.”
Under unfortunately ironic circumstances, you get taken hostage by the the very person that made the truce between the Oda forces and Takeda-Uesugi alliance happen. However, angering these warlords and using the person that brought all of them together in a heartbeat was probably the worst strategy anyone could come up with.
Requestedby@djanowski15 : “I have no idea how bisy you are, I’m guessing it’s pretty busy since I’m a college student in quarantine too, but I was wondering, if you have time, if you could do a fic for the sengoku warlords having a meeting about a new oc enemy after their truce signing only to learn that this new enemy somehow ended up kidnapping mc and threatening to kill her and all of the warlords decide to finally stomp this guy down into his rightful place with a fluffy reunion with everyone afterwards?”
A/N: Sorry this took so long, I kind of went overboard with this because I loved the idea so much, it comes in two parts, I’ll post them in succession and I’m sorry if the ending isn’t as developed as you wanted, it would have gone on for too long otherwise T-T.
Dusting her hands off on her cloth, she walked back from Masamune’s manor towards the castle. It stood tall for tonight’s ‘celebratory truce dinner’ – although it was clear it wasn’t a celebration for any of them, but it was compulsory. Despite the thorough organisation that went through with this, it was an in-between warlords event so only two or three vassals per side were going to be present, for protection purposes.
Switching hands, her fingers curled around the bag of vegetables that the One-Eyed Dragon needed. Finally arriving at the entrance, she wobbled down the corridor, having to stop every now and again as her palms burned. This wasn’t the best fabric to carry heavy things with, but then again, what is?
“Whoever ordered my beautiful angel to carry such a heavy load and injure her precious hands is on his way to hell.” (Y/N) recognised the honey-dipped voice with a stern tone. Turning around, she faced the tall man. Elegantly, he took it out of her grasp and carried it, making it look effortless.
“Thank you Shingen,” she smiled, massaging herself as she walked alongside him.
“Although you shouldn’t curse Masamune to hell, I volunteered to go to his manor to get these supplies.” She defended.
“Would you mind showing me his manor?” he grinned widely as they both turned into another hallway. Giving him a you-are-all-my-friends-and-I-wouldn’t-help-either-side-try-to-go-against-each-other look. It would also be a little indecent to collect information on a newly formed ally.
“Oh, it’s you.” the familiar grumpy voice made the man’s smile fall immediately.
The spikey blond hair came into view as he exited the kitchen.
“Look my darling, we’re all getting along.” Shingen chuckled sarcastically, sliding an arm around her shoulders as he dropped the bag on the floor.
“We might be on a truce but not all of us take kindly to other men being so touchy with Nobunaga’s lucky charm.” a stray kitsune passed by the hallway.
“And by ‘not all of us’ you mean you.” Yukimura, who was following being, chimed in.
“Too many people in the kitchen, everyone except the lass leaves!” The Tiger ordered.
****
“He did that to have her all by himself.” Ieyasu grumbled at Mitsunari’s innocence.
Because (Y/N) is the most reasonable when it comes to cooking out of the rest. Pff, my ass.
He rolled his eyes. Maybe it could be true but everyone knew that wasn’t the reason behind it. Well, everyone except Mitsunari of course.
Nobunaga glanced at the door when Hideyoshi wasn’t looking.
“I’ll just go see if (Y/N) and Masamune are nearly finished.” started to stand up, Hideyoshi interrupted.
“I took the candy away, it’s not in the kitchen.” Pouting, he sat back down.
“Candy?” Shingen straightened his posture from his bored one.
“Dinner.” (Y/N) announced as the door was slid open for her, followed by Masamune and two maids, who were also carrying plates of food.
Plopping down beside Nobunaga – as required, he leaned over to her giving her a knowing look. Rolling her eyes and sighing, she slipped the tiny satchel from inside her sleeve and sneakily handed it to him.
“I’ll take you wherever you wish as payment for this, I’m eternally grateful to you for saving my life.” He thanked me. Shingen kept his attention on the bag.
“Don’t be so dramatic, now hide it before I get scolded by Hideyoshi!”
****
Looking around in the kitchen, she waved the lantern around, searching for the spice that the maids forgot to take for dessert. (Y/N) was the only one in the room, it was dark and not necessary to add more light since she was passing by. On her way here, she crossed paths with the occasional guard on for obvious reasons, they were the only ones in the castle tonight.
“Oh!” she jumped.
Speak of the devil.
“What are you doing here?” the woman breathed out as the man bowed.
“I apologise, my lady, I heard some suspicious noises and thought it was best to investigate.”
“Oh, I was just getting some seasoning.” the (H/C) haired chuckled in embarrassment, he was too sweet and she didn’t want to waste his time further “and I think I found it.” turning away to reach the small jar that was on one of the shelves.
Right after, footsteps grew louder and she felt him right behind her.
“Hey, what are you-MMH!!” she wriggled as something was placed against her mouth and nose and then pulled against his chest. Her muffled sounds grew more and more silent, muscles limping as she drifted off into unconsciousness.
****
“The desserts are getting colder by the minute. What is taking her so long?” Masamune frowned.
“This talk is becoming dull.” Yukimura huffed.
“The whole point of this truce is to discuss how we’re going to deal with him.” Ieyasu mumbled.
“You weren’t the one travelling all those days on horseback porcupine head.” the vassal retorted.
“P-porcupine?!” the blond’s eyes widened in disbelief.
Hideyoshi made eye contact with Nobunaga, for once, ignoring the pointless banter. Something was definitely up. The leader of the Oda forces understood immediately, nodding to his vassal. The latter stood up, walking towards the door.
“I need to make sure she’s alright.”
“I’ll come with.” Sasuke volunteered.
*****
“She’s gone??” Ieyasu’s eyes widened.
“The search party hasn’t come back with anything yet.” Mitsuhide expressed with a scowl.
“My lords!” One of the guards rushed in, bowing deeply.
“What is it?” Mitsuhide turned around.
“It’s a letter.” he handed it to him before scurrying outside like he was supposed to.
Nobody moved but the kitsune could tell all their eyes were on him as he unfolded the letter to read. However, his heart dropped as his eyes fixated something else that was included: hair of a familiar colour, tied in a ribbon. His fingertips pulled it out and he inspected it.
Kenshin felt his hand grip his sword tightly, it was unbearably frustrating finding out that (Y/N) was kidnapped and on top of that not knowing who did it, he needed to know and he knew he wasn’t the only one thinking the same.
No one spoke but the tension grew thick in an instant.
Unfolding the piece of paper, he began to read it for himself before doing it out loud for all to hear when Nobunaga accepted it.
When he finished reading the letter, his eyes darted across the rooms, seeing the anger among everything despite maintaining their composure.
“Emergency meeting.” The look he gave implied that their new allies were not going to attend.
“We want in!” Yukimura frowned.
“No.” Ieyasu’s tone was stern.
“We’ve signed a truce, and there is no point in keeping us out of this because of our own motives when we cherish (Y/N) as much as you do. We need to put our differences aside, as she would say.” Shingen chipped in.
“Fine.” Nobunaga’s eyes narrowed.
They sat formally as they would at any meeting before.
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Under unfortunately ironic circumstances, you get taken hostage by the the very person that made the truce between the Oda forces and Takeda-Uesugi alliance happen. However, angering these warlords and using the person that brought all of them together in a heartbeat was probably the worst strategy anyone could come up with.
Requestedby@pugprotector: “I have no idea how bisy you are, I’m guessing it’s pretty busy since I’m a college student in quarantine too, but I was wondering, if you have time, if you could do a fic for the sengoku warlords having a meeting about a new oc enemy after their truce signing only to learn that this new enemy somehow ended up kidnapping mc and threatening to kill her and all of the warlords decide to finally stomp this guy down into his rightful place with a fluffy reunion with everyone afterwards?”
Warning:violence, injuries, bickering
A/N: Y'all I’m so sorry for leaving you guys hanging for so long T-T I’m back now kinda and I’ve already started writing a whole Ikesen book and I’ll start posting it once I’ve written like 20 chapters. I’m so sorry again.
“Report.” Mitsuhide spoke. The man bowed deeply in front of his lord before starting.
“We’ve managed to track her down to the dense forests beside Honnoji, we can’t see past that.”
“Good plan on their part.” Ieyasu grumbled, looking away.
“Mitsuhide and Shingen, I want you to send your men-”
“I don’t take orders from you!”
“Well, choose! Either you listen in on our plan and follow it or you leave and have no part of it!” Hideyoshi scolded, clearly distressed. This was not the time to act like the bigger man.
Begrudgingly, the tiger rolled his eyes and the Devil King continued.
“Mitsuhide and Shingen, I want you to scout out the terrain, see how many men we’re up against, Kennyo?” he raised an eyebrow daringly at him, the latter nodded, practically sneering at him at this point.
“I’ll assist, I know the landscape.”
“Once we’ve gotten all the information we need, we’ll each take a small group each, size depending on how many we’re up against.”
“And then steal (Y/N) back!” Masamune smirked.
****
There was a painful throb in her head as she struggled to open her eyes. Did she get hit in the head? GOD that hurt. Shuffling against the hard surface against her side, the friction of tight rope around her wrists gave her enough energy to wince. It finally made her eyes open.
“It’s about time you woke up!” the man said. The room was luxurious, a huge contrast from the dirty way these men kidnapped her.
If you didn’t bash my head in, we could have played a game of chess.
Her injury really made her think the most absurd things at the most absurd of times. That mentality quickly sewed its mouth shut once she heard a bunch of heavy footsteps coming towards the room. The big doors opened.
The screeching of the metal hinges, the scraping of the large wood against the floor was deafening. A stabbing feeling piercing through her entire body.
“Nobunaga’s and Kenshin’s troops have started to assemble and organise.” the man bowed.
“So they’ll take us by force.” the man murmured under his breath in thought, “has our escape been evacuated?”
“Yes, by the time they’ll set foot into the castle walls, we’ll have exploded the tunnel and they wouldn’t be able to tell how we found a way out without looking close enough.”
She kept herself in the state that she woke up in, retaining the information for when Nobunaga was going to rescue her.
“Do we have enough horses?”
“Yes, as requested, she will be riding with you, we got a stronger horse for you my lord.”
Crap, she was coming with?
“I don’t think any of you will be needing horses.” A cheerful, vaguely familiar voice resonated in the room.
(Y/N) didn’t have energy to look up, her head stood fairly tall against the wall but her gaze was to her knees, the ends of kimono, torn, dirty. The woman didn’t realise she was kneeling on the floor, for sure she couldn’t feel her legs – but the uncomfortable numbness that came with the lack of blood circulation wasn’t there either.
From Ieyasu’s lessons, the (H/C) haired assumed she had been going in and out of consciousness, this time, coming out enough to be aware of what was happening around her, but not what was happening to her. It fueled her anxiety enough to keep her awake but nothing more.
“How did you-” the man’s eyes widened at the person at the other end of the sharp blade that was held against his neck.
“It’s called a plan.” the first voice, which happened to be Shingen’s smirked as Nobunaga dug his blade a little deeper into his flesh.
“You should have a benner one.” Masamune retorted, coming in from the other, smaller entrance, followed by Ieyasu and Yukimura. The blond rushed directly in front of (Y/N), kneeling as he checked her condition.
“She’s in a very bad state!” he informed, trying to keep his usual unbothered tone but the undeniable alarm in his voice made all the attention go to him.
“I’ll accompany him.” Hideyoshi’s frown was deep. Sheathing his sword and walking towards Tokugawa.
The others were clearly taking care of the situation: Nobunaga holding the lord at the edge of death, the other warlords keeping the rest of the men here on their knees. The allied forces now battling the men that were guarding the castles down below, it was only a matter of time before everyone would go back to Azuchi victoriously, (Y/N) needed urgent medical help, a lord and a vassal gone wouldn’t make any difference.
The woman in question recognised the man through her blurry vision. Apparently, that’s all she needed to see before she closed her eyes and sunk into unconsciousness once more, she was relieved, the anxiety washed away from her completely.
Ieyasu winced after slicing the rope that was damaging her skin, he hesitantly ran his fingertips along the redness of her wrists.
“Go, now.” Nobunaga commanded. Hideyoshi scooped her in his arms, keeping her secure as Ieyasu readjusted her in his arms so her injuries wouldn’t worsen on the trip back before they both scurried away, not missing the frowns everyone gave them at the sight of the woman.
****
Contrary to last time she woke up, she didn’t feel a pain as unbearable as last time – and her eyes fluttered open and focused a lot easier as well.
“Lady (Y/N), you’re awake! Thank goodness!” the welcoming, yellow lantern in the corner outlined Mitsunari’s disheveled hair. His bright smile made an unknown weight on her shoulders disappear.
“Leave her room to breathe,” a grumpy voice sighed after the sound of a sliding door. Ieyasu entered, a small bowl of warm water and a clean towel, along with a small pot of cream and bandages, “everyone is worried.” he sat down beside her bed, opening the pot and turning fully to him.
“I’m sorry.” she offered him a sorrowful look.
“Don’t be Lady (Y/N)! It wasn’t your fault!” The blond rolled his eyes, the vassal’s cheerful voice was the last thing he needed to listen to after two long nights of worrying. But Mitsunari was right.
Carefully, he lifted her arm closer to him, placing it in his lap before delicately peeling off the bandage, leaving the wound exposed to the air.
The woman thought that the pain had subsided almost completely – having felt only slight discomfort when Ieyasu removed the fabric – until he gently massaged the cream on either side of the engraved prints of the rope left in her.
“Sorry,” he mumbled, watching as she winced silently, but then shook her head at his apology. It took less time than she thought before he was dipping and wringing a towel with water and dabbing the cloth against her skull, “close your eyes, let your head rest.”
“Why Mitsunari’s room?” she whispered, eyes slowly closing, following his instructions. “He gets the least amount of sleep among all of us so he would keep an eye on you.”
Her eyes opened and she gave him a would-he-though look.
“….” her eyes fluttered closed once again and he resumed nursing her head injury back to health, “Mitsuhide kept sneaking off like he usually does so it was safer this way.” the man confessed.
“Hm,” she hummed in response, “thank you guys for saving me.” it came out as a whisper, a moderate attempt to cover up that the woman was still shaken up by it. The man silently praised her for not displaying her emotions on her face for once, and it would have been convincing if he didn’t know her – or Mitsunari, in this instant, having swallowed back into his book.
That wouldn’t have gone unnoticed by any of the warlords, however. It lurched at his heart.
“You can thank them later.” he brushed stray strands of hair away.
“It’s nearly healed?” her eyes lit up in surprise.
“No, you’ll still need a few days, but they’re all worried sick and insisted on popping in later. So make sure you’re awake and prepared.” his thumb rubbed her forehead soothingly.
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Contents:Various aspects of sexuality and suitor’s sexual preferences.
A:Afterglow
How are they after the moment? Do the fall asleep fast? Prefer to cuddle? Just roll onto their side and want to be left alone?
It is canonical that Kenshin has quite an abundance of stamina. As such, “after the moment” is usually dictated by whether his partner was satiated or not - and quite naturally, usually he is the one with more energy to move afterwards.
He doesn’t bask for long in their afterglow, instead usually taking it upon himself to help his partner clean up and prepare a place for them to sleep in. Only after that is accounted for, he returns to his lover and cuddles them tightly. Although… Although it may happen that he disappears for longer, coming back only to wrap his lover and carry them to the bath, in hopes of hot water relieving any sores.
Befitting the Gods - Kenshin X Reader X Sasuke [Deity!AU]
Hey everyone! This is my special series of a previous AU I had written, tailored to @delicateikemenmemes as the wheel winner as part of my 1000 followers event! I hope you enjoy this Sara, and Happy Lunar New Year to all those who celebrate!
There will be another chapter, focusing more on Sasuke after this, and then three chapter endings [one for Kenshin, one for Sasuke and one ending with both] coming soon. Asks are open for more content of my IkeSen Deity AU too! Note: Reader is often referred to a few names so be aware.
Also if someone notices the blatantly obvious Shuumatsu no Valkyrie reference, my kudos to you. Favourite character.
The gathering of the mighty deities of Sengoku. It was a renowned festival where the residents would celebrate and praise to all the deities of Sengoku for keeping the world alive.
As for the deities themselves, it was a whole week of meetings and discussions. The main event was deciding who would reign in the deities when Zerofuku, the Spirit of the Seven Lucks, fell into his million-year slumber when the stars would align. Zerofuku himself commanded the meeting as his time approached. As he fell asleep, Sasuke, the Messenger Deity, wrote his final command.
“I demand YN, Lady Death, Goddess Izanami, to monitor the deities in the million slumber,” Sasuke read to the deities gathered in the room. “Her aide shall be Nobunaga, the God of Chaos and Shingen, the God of Fire.
The deities muttered and mumbled amongst themselves. Motonari, the God of Water spoke his stand aloud. "Has Zerofuku gone mad? How can he choose Lady Death when all of us, including herself, agreed that she is not to be involved?”
“Stand down, Motonari,” Kennyo, the God of the Forests called out. His low, chilling voice quelled the irate of the other gods, some of the lower deities standing down.
You took a deep breath. You didn’t know what Zerofuku was thinking of, but it left a bad taste in your mouth that your previous opinion was ignored. “As Izanami, I choose to overrule the command. I believe I am not prepared to take on such a role,” You replied, noticing how the lower deities cowered at your voice. It was understandable. You were Lady Death after all… “Even if I was, I do not think I could execute it well. Masamune is a better option, as he already rules the skies that we gather in.”
“I do not think I am fit to be leader as well,” the man in question spoke up. “As the Sky God, I cannot manage the Heavens whilst I pull the sky. Therefore I must offer it to Ieyasu or Shingen as the leader.
The God of Medicine had his blonde hair stuck in the talismans he was writing, only to lift it upon the mention of his name. "As if I’d go with your suggestions, Masamune,” He huffed, setting down his brush. “I’d hate to look over Mitsunari, and Hideyoshi is his unofficial caretaker despite him having a similar job to you.”
Shingen, the God of Fire, laid back into his arm rest, a bowl of sweets near him. “I could possibly not bear the responsibility… My shrine is full of fair maidens who wish to be blessed by my hot bod-”
The deities didn’t bat an eye when Yukimura, the God of Beasts drew his Roaring Spear to smack Shingen up the head. The discussions continued, but the room was then divided in three. The first faction of those who believe Nobunaga, the God of Chaos should rule instead of you. The second consisted of those who believe in Kenshin as the God of War was known for living by the sword, worshipping the sword and dying by sword.
Not that he could die anyway…
The final of the deities rooted for Zerofuku’s original plan, believing it was the best of both sides, however others had ulterior motives for it, such as the God of the Water and Seas, Motonari.
“Why endorse in me, God of the Seas?” You asked plainly, going around the deities who supported you for their reasons. You hoped their reasonings would give you courage to say the least, or make up your mind…
The God of the Seas, whose skin always glistened with the seawater he ruled over, took another swig of his sake. “Frankly, I wouldn’t like to see Nobunaga or Kenshin win,” He said, leaning into you. “But I wouldn’t mind if you punished me, Lady Izanami~”
“Enough of that,” The God of Time and Wealth, Kichou snapped. “I think it’s clear enough that we don’t trust the other two as much we trust you, Lady Death.”
“I chose the one who’d least likely harm my forests,” Kennyo justified.
By Kichou and Kennyo’s statements, the room went in uproar over their sly insults. Some had called upon their familiars, while others resorted to their blades. You were sure that Zerofuku did not want to wake up to a destroyed heaven, so you were quick to pick up your scythe to silence the other deities.
“Stand down.”
Your chilling voice brought a deadly silence in the air. For as much bloodlust they carried, they were well aware of the rules to not make you angry, for the position you hold is of utmost importance.
The tanuki messenger god, Sasuke, is forever running around the plains of Japan, hidden from the sights of humans. As the watcher of the gods, he is not meant to say what his opinion is, only to convey those of others. It was a surprise to the other deities that it was the first time that he spoke an opinion of his own.
“I believe this is why Zerofuku chose you, Lady Death.”
You glanced around the room, seeing the gods in their place once more.
In your place, with your kimono folded underneath you, you raised your voice once more.
“I accept, on the condition a deity escorts me out of the Underworld.”
~○~
The God of War for once did not draw his sword at the gathering as he always did, instead finding himself staring at Lady YN, although he’s forbidden for ever calling her that. Their relationship was complicated, to say the least. Kenshin never once had any personal conflicts with the Deity of Death, however with their work, it was easy to see how they were connected yet so different.
In his hand, the bitter sake stilled as he reminisced about the time he saw Lady Death. Yet another demon rampaged against the humans, leading Kenshin to slay it in its wake. As the body of the demon laid dead at his feet, she appeared.
He knew she was a goddess, with the way she wielded her weapon and her otherworldly appearance. The hood of her haori hid most of her appearance, although it was unbeknownst to Kenshin if she could see him since it reached down to her chin. Across the battlefield from each other, with bodies of fallen warriors and demon spirits, yet he was only enchanted by her, and the way she swung her scythe.
The souls were dancing around her, both human and demon as they descended into the crack in the ground she came from. Not a glance was spared to him, but a glimmer faded from her. He did not dare to disturb Lady Death at her duties, only to observe her safety as she does her duty.
It was poetic in the way that his job was to send her passing of the souls through his blade, and she is the one to receive it. By Zerofuku’s decree, they are to never cross weapons as they share the connection of the souls. Lately, with the demons he’d slay, he’d present their bodies neatly not for out of their respect, but out of respect for you.
Several memories of his often gazing to you always left his heart beating, and it wasn’t the adrenaline that lit up his veins. At times, Kenshin tried to approach you gently, to let you know the deity behind the sword he lives by, and yet the missed opportunities pile up, with his and your duties busier but intertwining.
He often has no time to write, nor leave crafted gifts, hence the God of War began to leave the stray wild flowers in a bouquet on the noblest warrior’s body as for you to see when you collect the warrior’s soul.
Many a times the God of Poetry and Luck, Yoshimoto, would chide him in his dishonesty towards you. It was the very situation as Kenshin drinks his sake in peace in front of the God who was busying himself with his talismans. Kenshin himself seldom had many talismans to write, except to the ones of his shrine as his divine decree. Unlike the other deities, for being a superior deity of the council, he has the fewest shrines, only one to his name.
The Poetry deity sitting across from him had several, hence his brush was as quick as his tongue while he advises the fellow god. “You desire her so Kenshin, yet as the God of Conquest you have not lain a siege on her,” Yoshimoto joked, as Kenshin was always enthusiastic with his conquests.
“I’d regard you and Motonari swapped with the way you addressed Lady Izanami,” Kenshin glared at the God, who’s calligraphy never faltered despite the threatening tone of the War deity. “It is not rightful of me to demand such a thing, not with the burden Zerofuku placed on her.”
Another deity arrived to their conversation. One befitting Kenshin’s situation, none other the God of Emotions and Spirits, Ranmaru, who phased through the sliding doors instead of opening them. Ranmaru arrived at Yoshimoto’s call however, as a decree between the two gods had to be made of the connection between love and luck.
“As you are here Ranmaru, you are best to advise Kenshin upon the situation he’s in,” Yoshimoto quipped, dipping his brush in the ink once more.
The expressive deity jumped for joy at the suggestion, almost teasing the conquest deity. “I’d agree even if you offered nothing, Kenshin. You’ve been a deity I’d been dying to get my hands on!”
“We cannot die, Spirit God,” Kenshin corrected, confused as to what the god meant.
“You’re no fun,” Ranmaru pouted, his fingers going through Kenshin’s forehead as he ‘flicked’ his forehead. “The real issue is that you’re no where closer to her than you were thousands of years ago, Conquest God.”
Yoshimoto, who took a quick tea break, nearly coughed out his tea at Ranmaru’s brutal honesty. “I doubt the Medicine God could heal the emotional damage from that…”
Ranmaru went on anyway, his hands reaching for a peach slice at the tea table. “As someone who works closely with Lady YN, he could easily befriend her.”
Kenshin was silenced by Ranmaru’s truthful remarks. He hummed, taking another cup of sake down his throat, the burning feeling coming from the want to confession and not the alcohol.
“You could be her escort, Kenshin.”
He glanced up at the Fire God, who’s presence made the room’s temperature rise. His close relative Yoshimoto had invited him too, but from the smirk Shingen carried, Kenshin assumed that he’d been listening in long ago.
The Fire God reached for the sweet buns next to the peaches by the tea table. “You have an excuse, as Ranmaru said. You both are close with each other, and although Sasuke is the most favourable, the Messenger God as all gods can tire,” He went on, offering a plate of pickled plums to the War God.
Ranmaru chipped in once more, “And you may not know, but she might be willing to be close to you too…”
Kenshin huffed, despising the gods who meddled with his business, taking his sword out to polish it. Yet, he contemplates on the suggestion, writing his submission late into the night.
Before he sends the message by the heavenly winds, he went to the battlefield he and you last touched, gathering the remaining bunches of wild flowers to seal his holy decree of his request, to be an escort befitting of the Deity of Death.
(Note: The baseline assumption is that both girls were born after he managed to work through his personal issues).
Kenshin
Onami & Ginchiyo: sisters; almost identical twins - Ginchiyo has blue eyes while Onami has green ones; Kenshin considers it a miracle they survived, both being born in a rather weak state. He was terrified ever since he had learnt his wife was carrying more than one child, a multiple pregnancy being an extremely high risk; inseparable at first, still very close to each other later on in life, tend to work together; they oftentimes get an odd gut feeling when the other one is in danger; Onami tends to play out the role of the decoy while Ginchiyo executes the plan; Onami is the physically weaker one, although she is better with words - both in expressing herself and in using them to her advantage. She’s outwardly affectionate, later in life may seem flirtatious and loud. Meanwhile, Ginchiyo tends to be rather reserved with her feelings. She does care a lot, and shows it mostly with action; While Onami knows how to play koto and was trained in basics of self-defense, Ginchiyo has terrible ear for music - and a very good instinct for battle. She can wield weapons, although she prefers hand-to-hand combat (and hits like a truck).
Kenshin did his best not to be overprotective of them. However, he insisted they learn how to defend themselves - and if needed be, how to treat simple injuries, if it was ever necessary.
Knowing his extended family may feel entitled to lives of his children, Kenshin made sure to present one thing clearly: he would not allow it. Ever.
Overall, he learnt to allow them to explore the world on their own, eventually even joining them happily. Despite being initially uncertain about Ginchiyo’s desire to learn how to fight, he warmed up to the idea fast, then sparring with her. Her sword is a present from him.
However, it doesn’t mean he isn’t worried about them at times - about Onami, because her health could have been better, and about Ginchiyo, because he is well aware how sensitive she can be.
When they were little, he withdrew from wars almost completely, his wife sometimes jokingly complaining he turned into a mother hen. Truth be told, he just wanted to spend as much time as possible with them - not because of fear, but because of love.
* - no potentially triggering content was described in any greater detail. However, if any mention of (even fantasy) war upsets you, this is not a work for you.
Even gods can tire of fighting, streams of tears falling from the skies. Even gods can mourn – and even they can fear, regardless of their dominion or cause they bestowed with their divine attention. Wisdom, Justice, Earth or Clouds, it matters not, for even War fears when Peace is the beloved.
Honestly, this is something else. The level of writing, the way it makes me imagine the scene, it’s absolutely breathtaking. So much work put into it. Love it. ❤️
His heart panged to the rhythm of her steps, her hips swaying lightly from side to side as she climbed the stair, hair falling in long waves over her back – and his throat dried, his teeth chewing into his lip as he watched from behind her, moonlight embracing her as they exited the basement. How dare it touch her, Kenshin thought.
She was his.
His alone.
The night was greedy of her, he could tell from the way it embraced her, her features blurred by the darkness whenever the light of his lantern ceased to engulf her form. His fingers curled around her wrist, he pulled her closer, his hold on her a golden cage. His, and his alone, he said to himself.
How dare it.
How dare it think of her when he was still there.
Her body fell to the ground, his nails having left shallow indents over her skin, then utterly lifeless, despite being undeniably alive. Kenshin winced, the white bell flowers curling around her limbs, his mind having him convinced they’d take the crimson out of her.
His.
He would not share even the slightest glimpse of her face.
He would not stand for letting even the sun go unharmed for daring to touch her.
He would not…
“Kenshin?” she asked, and arm extended towards him from her spot. Desperately, his fingers clutched onto hers, his lover urging him to fall, to fall for her.
And this concludes the third round of match-ups! @cailann ready yourself… Or your OC, ah.
Let’s start with being fearless! I believe it would be more so treasured by daring suitors, those who tend to risk plenty themselves… But that it would also push away those who’d worry too much, or those who consider such things stupidity.
Now, empathetic+nurturing+caring combo! First, abundance of empathy may be necessary when dealing with suitors who struggle with their own feelings. Being nurturing and caring, on the other side, could potentially aid in helping such love interests out, or much rather, existing with them without feeling burned out… However, I reckon it could also backfire splendidly and that it may be good to look towards equally giving candidates.
Lastly, intelligence! Easy! Let’s look towards warlords who do appreciate that in the partner a lot, especially those who are more so intellectual themselves.
Arrogant? Ah, well… I suppose there is a certain warlord who would agitate that a lot, and perhaps another one that would find it rather amusing. Hmm… Oh, and one who may simply not realise he is triggering it, since he only wants everything best for her, yes.
Nobunaga (-1) Mitsuhide (-1) Hideyoshi (-1)
Moody, as in dealing with mood swings? I suppose somebody patient and empathetic could be a good idea, preferably somebody who would not panic as it happens. Perhaps somebody who isn’t easily set off themselves?
Mitsuhide (+1) Shingen (+1) Yukimura (-1)
Ah, another one against ore-samas! Being a free spirit, yes, yes, that could certainly work with those who do appreciate freedom themselves, or… Do need a wake up call sometimes.
Masamune (+1) Kenshin (+1)
Trust issues? Hmm… Well, I suppose it could make it harder for some relationships to even start…
Lastly, oversensitive! No sharp tongues allowed! Hmm… I suppose I would even look for somebody who can understand how frail human beings can be. Ah, yes, I also reckon they should be able to understand it rather than need to be walked through every step? For a better success rate, that is.
“As noted in our meeting last night, MC will be under the supervision of Kanetsugu from hereon.”
“Kanetsugu, give me a report on her behavior”
Kanetsugu
“Understood.”
“She has not shown signs of wanting to commit suicide or escaping. In addition, the possibility of her leaking information to the outside is nonexistent.”
“She slept like a log last night, and I found her futon tightly wrapped around her like a caterpillar this morning.”
MC
“That…!”
(Why did you have to report that specific detail!)
Kenshin
“Like a caterpillar? What kind of position is that? Show me.”
MC
“Eh!? There’s no way I can demonstrate for you!”
Shingen
“Kenshin, you shouldn’t ask a celestial maiden to do such things for you.”
Sasuke
“MC-san….you’re amazing”
Yukimura
“Wow, can you really afford to act so shamelessly even when you are being taken hostage, huh?”
MC
“…Tch, Kanetsugu-san!”
Kanetsugu
“Yes?”
(Ugh, I want him to confess to Kenshin that it is all lies but…)
(He is sitting down with a perfectly innocent expression on his face)
Until a slow smile starts creeping up just like a villain in a movie.
(Wait, is he taking revenge for what happened earlier!?)
Comment:
Can I just say that Kanetsugu’s route is *Chef’s kiss*
Seriously, I knew we were off to a good start when they started off his route with both of them sleeping in the same room and them having to be together 24/7 for “supervision.”
Henlo, “your best friend comforting you after a breakup” ikeSen version. I can’t seem to upload more than 10 which is sad (There’s a haikyuu ver on twt too)
I really love this story, I’m so glad I got the bonus story from Kenshin’s B-Day Fest 2022. It’s so sweet and has a lot of things that I like when they include them in IkeSen
A red string of fate AU story featuring Kenshin. Written for my dear friend @scruffymctee on the occasion of her very merry birthday. Approx. 2500 words. TW for violence!
Kenshin settled into the soft leather seat of his private plane. He had a few hours before the meeting. Enough time to review his intel on this new customer. A small group that considered themselves freedom fighters - the rest of the world labeled them terrorists. Kenshin had long since dispensed with ethical worries.
There would always be war. The ‘good’ was determined by the winner. If these men won their battles, Kenshin would be a hero. If they lost, a devil. He knew he was neither. He was a merchant and death was his trade. A capricious god who picked his side based on whether or not be believed the fight would be a good one.
He yawned and rubbed his eyes, trying to focus on the blur of the dossier in his lap.
“Perhaps you should get some rest, sir.” Sasuke, his personal assistant and body guard came up from the tail of the plane, pushing a cart of refreshments. Sake. Pickled plums. Crisps. A variety of Kenshin’s favorites.
Sasuke poured Kenshin a drink and took the dossier.
“Fine. But wake me an hour before we land. I want the information to be fresh in my mind when we meet these ‘Sons’.” Kenshin gave his assistant a look, made more severe by his oddly colored eyes. One was as blue as winter ice, the other jade green.
“Of course, sir.”
He pushed the cart back to its locked position and sat down in one of the chairs across from his boss. Sasuke had the dossier open in his lap, reading diligently.
Kenshin knew they both had practically memorized the details in it, but he felt an undercurrent of tension about this meeting. A foreboding that prickled his skin and left his gut feeling tight and cold. He wasn’t sure why. The Sons of Winter weren’t the worst group he’d dealt with. Not the largest, nor the most deadly. But they were unpredictable. Wildly violent in their cause. Perhaps they meant to double-cross him.
If so, they would die. Kenshin didn’t just sell weapons. He knew every product he offered intimately. How to use it, how to store and transport it, the most effective tactics. He set a hand on his hidden holster. If they tried to cross him, they would meet Ichimonji. His custom .45, long barrelled, the grip made from carved rosewood, polished to a soft, satin patina.
Another yawn cracked his jaw.
Sasuke gave him a meaningful look from across the aisle.
Kenshin didn’t deign to reply, but he did lower his seat back and close his eyes. Sleep took him swiftly.
Acrid gunsmoke curls in the air. Groans. Bodies of dying men crumpled in the tall grass. A long blade dripping blood. Blood pounding in his ears. Thrill of victory. A woman crying. She kneels at his feet. Her eyes are gentle. Her touch, warm. He knows as is the way of dreams, that he must choose. He does not deserve the peace she is offering. Dream-Kenshin turns away. To battle. To endless war. Until death swallows the last of my light.
Sasuke shook his shoulder, and leapt back as Kenshin stabbed at him with a blade hidden in a false pen. He ed. “You almost had me, boss.”
“If that was enough to kill you, then you aren’t worth much as a bodyguard.” Kenshin wiped the sleep from his eyes. He felt slow, tired. As if the dream had not let him go. A sense of melancholy weighed heavy in his chest. “How long until we land?”
“An hour, sir.” Sasuke handed him the dossier along with a tea and pastry.
Kenshin eyed the food. “What is this?”
“Breakfast, sir. You can’t live off sake.”
He grunted. His assistant was right, though he found it annoying. Kenshin ate while he read. Today he will meet Roberson, the Sons’ second in command. He will have three of his people with him. A woman they call An, and two men, Franco and Orson. An odd mix, hailing from different countries and regions. Varied backgrounds. Franco and Orson are well known, previously mercenaries. An was Chinese military. And Roberson cut his teeth on battle in South Africa.
The next hour passed swiftly. The plane landed, and a car arrived and escorted them to the meeting place. A parking garage near an abandoned factory. Rusted steel support beams jut into the night sky like the bones of some ancient, dead thing. The ground is littered with trash and glistening shards of glass from smashed lamps. The only light is the distant moon and the headlights of their car.
Roberson stepped out from the shadows. He is dressed for business in modern tactical gear. Kevlar and leather. Like something from an action film, too over the top to be real.
Franco and Orson followed, looking less comical in casual business wear, though the telltale bulge under their arm told Kenshin they were carrying as well.
“Where is your fourth?”
Roberson gestured to the high spaces. “She is watching.” His blue eyes narrowed as he examined Kenshin and Sasuke. “Where is your team?”
“This is my team.” Kenshin did not smile. “Have you provided the agreed upon proof of payment?”
“I sent your people the code just now.”
Sasuke confirmed with a nod.
“Then we will send you the coordinates of the cache.” Kenshin noted the nervous tapping of Franco’s fingers. The tension in Orson’s shoulders.
Roberson frowned. “I want some proof of the goods before I send a passcode.”
“There are pictures in your confirmation.” Violence was only a heartbeat off. One wrong gesture, one slip of the tongue, and there will be blood.
“I need more than pictures.” Roberson’s words are almost a growl. There was some desperation here that the dossier did not hint at.
Kenshin gestured to Sasuke. “We have a sample.”
His assistant pulled a large case from the car. The metal locks jingled as he carried it from the trunk to set it down on the ground between them.
Orson knelt down to open it while his companions watched the surroundings nervously. He swung the lid open, revealing the sleek lines of steel. A modern anti-tank weapon. Capable of mounted and hand-held fire. There is a general intake of breath.
Then the tension shattered at an unexpected sound. A soft yelp, the scrape of a shoe on concrete. A woman stumbled into the periphery of their gathering.
At first, Kenshin thought this must be An. But she wasn’t Chinese. And Roberson looked as surprised as he did at her entrance.
The woman is not dressed for this kind of meeting. She looks as if she was going dancing. Her skirt is short, her heels long. The dress is sleeveless and low cut with a plunging back that comes nearly to her hip. The material clings to her curves as if painted on. Blue fabric, the color of winter ice.
Sasuke grabbed her arm. “What are you doing here?”
“You know this girl?” Roberson’s tone is accusing.
“Never met her,” Kenshin said, though there is something about her that draws his eye. She was beautiful. Perhaps that was all it was. The shallow attraction of a man to a scantily dressed woman.
“H-hello? Is this -” the woman fumbled in her clutch for her phone. “Ah, 22 banchi? The rave?”
“28. You went too far.” Sasuke sighed. He knew as well as Kenshin did that they couldn’t let this girl go. She knew their faces and there was no way she missed the military grade weaponry on the ground in front of her.
“Were you spying on us, girl?” Roberson growled. “Who do you work for?”
She blinked at him. “Ummm, Neo-mod Designs? We make haute-couture clothes affordable.” She handed him a card.
Sasuke looked at the card in the other man’s hands. “Tomoyo?”
“Yes.” She looked from one man to the other. “So, uh, I’ll just be going now. Nice to meet you! Call me if you need a-”
Roberson threw her on the ground and pulled a knife. “I can’t let you leave.”
Kenshin didn’t want this woman to die here tonight. She was an innocent. Hardly at fault for making a wrong turn. He’d stepped between Roberson and the girl before he even realized he was moving. “I’ll take her.”
“Is this a joke?” Roberson scowled. “Some kind of scam? Are you trying to double cross me?”
“It is not. I don’t double cross clients. Put up the weapon, transmit the funds, and leave.” Kenshin’s unsettling gaze fixed on Roberson.
Orson and Franco were moving a breath later, drawing their weapons.
Sasuke was in motion too, already gripping two, short steel batons.
“Think we’ll just take the coordinates and kill the three of you,” Roberson growled. He darted forward, his blade flashing in the headlights.
Kenshin slammed his attacker’s hand with the butt of his gun. “You’re a fool.” Behind him, the woman - Tomoyo - was up. He hoped to keep Roberson busy long enough for her to run. It would be easy enough to track her down later - with her business card if nothing else. But she didn’t run.
There was a grunt of pain from Franco as she slammed her purse into the side of his face. “Take that! How dare you sneak up on this guy, huh? What a creep!” She kicked him in the knee with her heel and there was an unpleasant crunch.
“You are more … formidable than I expected.” Kenshin blocked another jab from Roberson.
She flashed him a quick smile, one that lit in the depths of her bright green eyes. “Thanks!” She swung her little purse at Franco again as the thug tried to stand up. “Where’d the other one go?”
Sasuke was entangled with Orson somewhere beyond the light of the headlamps, their position only given away by the occasional thwap of metal on flesh and grunts of pain.
“My assistant has him handled.” Kenshin cracked the grip against Roberson’s hand, trying to make him drop his knife.
Roberson yelped but kept hold of his blade. “You’re - outmanned, Uesugi. Give up.”
“I think my odds are fine. But I have made one mistake.” He kicked Roberson back a few steps. “But don’t worry. It’s about to be resolved.” Kenshin flipped the safety off his gun.
“An!” Roberson called into his earpiece.
Kenshin had nearly forgotten about the military woman. He followed the line of Roberson’s gaze toward the rusty metal spire. Saw a slight movement in the shadows there.
Tomoyo looked the same direction, understanding there was danger, if not what specifically.
“Sniper. Get down!” Kenshin tried to push her away.
She stumbled and swayed on her heels, gripping his arm.
The distant rifle cracked as An fired off a shot.
Tomoyo shoved Kenshin as hard as she could. Her head turned slightly toward the sound.
Kenshin fell back. He hadn’t expected her to push him. He reached for the woman, fingers extended into the space between them. 940 feet per second, he thought, knowing he could not pull her down before the bullet hit.
Blood and bits of bone burst from her right side.
Tomoyo looked down, her eyes wide. She was bleeding heavily from the wound.
Roberson took advantage of Kenshin’s distraction to drive his knife into the arms dealer’s back.
Kenshin shot him in the head without looking. As one might crush a pest. His mismatched gaze found Franco. Another bullet in the chamber.
The thug scrambled back, hands up. “J-just following orders. Please.”
“Run,” Kenshin hissed. He pushed himself to standing, ignoring the warm sheet of blood that coated his back.
“Yes. You’ve been shot.” Kenshin took her by the shoulders. “Why didn’t you run? Why didn’t you get down when I told you too?” His throat felt hot and his tongue thick.
She gave him a small smile. “I didn’t want them to shoot you either, idiot.” Her body slumped forward and she steadied herself against Kenshin’s chest.
“You fool. This wasn’t your fight.” He found his arms wrapping around her, pressing her to him. Her skin was cool against his. Her pulse weak. “Sasuke! We need medical evac! Now!”
“On it, boss!” Sasuke’s voice came from the dark and then the man himself limped into view. “Orson is unconscious. Leave him?”
“Leave him.” Kenshin confirmed. He lifted Tomoyo into his arms. “She’s bleeding heavily. We need to hurry.”
Sasuke opened the car door. “I’ve already arranged care. We just need to get her there.”
“A hospital?”
“No.” His assistant smiled. “One of our doctors.” He meant one of the underground clinics staffed by desperate med students and old veterans that lost their license to practice.
Kenshin nodded and ducked into the car with his burden. It might have been smarter to let her die, but … she took a bullet for him. She defended him when she could have just run. He had to know why.
“You’re injured.” Sasuke shut the door behind him and the car roared to life, the driver a silent witness to the whole mad scene.
“It isn’t serious.” He cradled the woman to his chest, watching her eyelids flutter. If he was honest, his wound pained him and he was beginning to feel light-headed. But he knew it wasn’t going to kill him before he could get stitched up.
Kenshin brushed a lock of hair back from her face. “You are a fool.”
Her lips quirked into a smile. “No.” She raised a trembling hand into the air, grasping something lightly with her fingers.
Kenshin craned his neck to see what she held. At first, there was nothing. Then a flash of scarlet. A ribbon of crimson. Tied around her finger. And his. He startled back. There was no sense of the red thread on his hand. Instead, when he pulled away, he felt the tug in his heart. “Who are you,” he asked, his voice breaking on the words.
She opened her eyes, though her lids were heavy. “You know.”
And in that moment, he did. For a breath, he remembered everything. A thousand thousand lives, meeting her again and again. He’d killed her. She’d killed him. Watched him die with tears in her eyes. And Kenshin knew he had held her just like this before. So many times before. Clinging to her as her life-blood stained his hands, held her gaze as light left her eyes.
“I won’t lose you again,” he promised.
“Again?” Sasuke lifted an eyebrow, confused.
Kenshin’s eyes stung with unshed tears as he looked up at his assistant. “This woman will not die tonight.” He felt her squeeze his hand. He looked down at her again, marveling that somehow, they’d found each other again. She found him.
He leaned down to brush a kiss to her lips. And then, as quickly as that, the memories were gone. Only the feeling remained. The binding thread that ran from his heart to hers. “I will never let you go,” he promised.
Sasuke, you can talk about how hauntingly handsome he is, his smooth blonde hair and his piercing heterochromatic eyes, or how strong and unbeatable he is or even how intelligent he is, also the way he majesticly fight with his sword and how brilliant he is when training his vassals, oh god and the amount of charisma, power and presence this man possesses… chill h0e(〃艸〃)
