You can refer me Silk or Orchid! Honestly I’m fine with either way. This is mostly an Ikemen blog where I post mostly Ikesen content or my Ikemen OC’s lore. I do incorporate other people’s OCs into my OC’s lore to give them some love like the guys.
“The Moonlit Mirage is a group to never be underestimate little one.”
“Why is that mom?”
“They are a group that rarely appears in summer on the battlefield but only when it’s winter. Where it’s freezing cold to us and others but to them… it is their environment.”
The child, so young did not know why her mother was saying such. Especially how her mother’s eyes seem to glint of hope within her. Under the assumption of them being safe in Kyoto under Lord Yoshiteru’s hands.
“With their leader, whom they call Princess, leads them in any major conflict. Even with that,” the mother looked at her daughter while the fear of the past holds her heart in its grasp, “when you get older, try to join them, my daughter. As I… I won’t be here for long to protect you from this world’s fires.”
—
“Hey! Let’s have a drink!”
“Didn’t you drink three bottles already?”
“Ahh shud up! I’m fineeee~”
“Ack! Lu moderate yourself!”
“Hehe, both Lu and Han seem to be in high sprites, right, Ryo?”
“You would be right Shin,” Ryo clearly relaxed as the snow continues to fall.
Everyone in the Moonlit Mirage was celebrating a successful campaign under the Ashikaga Banner — Yoshiteru. With Amari giving a small smile as her comrades that she picked felt at ease, to remind them all of home despite losing their original home.
“Hey Amari! Drink with us! Will ya?” Lu brought his sake cup high, as if celebrating her.
“No need. And Lu, like what Han said. Do moderate how much you drink. We don’t want you to throw up,” Amari quickly added as she stood up to have her alone time.
“Aww… I was hoping we could get our grumpy cat back— ACK—!”
“Lu, silence,” Han seem to be not enjoying it but even he couldn’t help but crack a smile at his found family.
“Hey! Do any of your clothes need mending?” A member, Yuna, waves out of her tent.
“Yeah! We will get to you after we get Lu sober enough!”
“Alright!”
Shin couldn’t help but chuckle at her friends’ shenanigans. Despite being elite fighters, they are a mere branch of the Ashikaga Army that is sent in the dead of winter. Hence why their clothes are suited for such. Going by ranks on the battlefield but family out of it. Shin couldn’t help but remember the time she took her princess’ hands, hands that she thought was cold but warm. Finding a place to consider to be her family.
“Nostalgic?” Ryo asked, interrupting her train of memories.
“Yeah,” Shin couldn’t help but let a snowflake fall on her gloved hands. All of them wearing similar clothes due to Amari’s wishes and yet it’s comfortable with high quality for soldiers like them. The only way they extinguish ranks are by how elaborate their clothes are, which Amari being the leader of them have.
“We do owe her saving us and letting us fight for this cause, even if it may not be what we want,” Ryo sat down on the snow, feeling the warmth of the weather despite it being freezing.
“Got him sober enough for Yuna to fix his clothes,” Han returned after seemingly a wrestling with his friend.
“That’s good.”
The three Moonlit Mirage looked at their small yet warm camp, seeing their comrades working while joking around without mentioning their background. It is like a dream.
“I wonder where our Snow Princess went,” Han looked around only to see Amari staring out in the night skies.
“Must be wondering what memories are left…” Shin looked saddened at how cruel Amari’s fate is. So young but wielding a power that feeds off of its host till nothing remains.
It was an unspoken rule of the Moonlit Mirage, to never mention the power that their leader possessed. After all, Amari told them shortly after assembling the branch under Yoshiteru’s command — leading many to be shock but stood beside her due to her cold demeanor but gentle nature telling otherwise. All of them, cares for their Princess, hoping to protect her from having to give up more of herself for them.
—
Dawn broke, which the Moonlit Mirage continue their journey back to Kyoto. With their Snow Princess humming a lullaby that resonates through the woods.
A lullaby that carries the group with a sense of warmth and comfort. Reminding all of them that they too experienced what it’s like to lose a loved one in front of them. The string that started their bond with each other till it became genuine and unbreakable.
But outside of their allies, the lullaby is nothing more than a warning of their presence. Which those who have heard the rumors quickly got on guard with paranoia. As the Moonlit Mirage is a branch to not be mess with, as it guarantees your defeat — especially if Amari is leading the fight in the dead of winter.
I’ve been studying abroad in Japan for the last year, and have slowly been going to each of the suitors’ castles. While I unfortunately wasn’t able to get to Masamune’s, Yukimura’s, or Mitsunari’s (and didn’t go to any outside of the original casts), I was able to go to every other! This took me 11 months to do!
The first I was able to go to was Osaka Castle, where Toyotomi Hideyoshi resided, in Osaka.
Next was Tsutsujigasaki Ruins, the former Takeda Clan residence, in Kofu.
The next was the Edo Castle Ruins, where Tokugawa Ieyasu established his reign, in Tokyo.
After that was Kasugayama Castle Ruins, which, of course, belonged to Uesugi Kenshin, in Joetsu.
After that was Nijo Castle, where the Tokugawa Shogunate officially started and ended, in Kyoto.
Then I went to Azuchi Castle Ruins, where Oda Nobunaga ruled, in Omihachiman.
Then, finally, today, I went to Fukuchiyama Castle, which Akechi Mitsuhide reconstructed, in Fukuchiyama. They even had an Ikésen cutout (which was sadly not for sale)! Mitsuhide is by and far my favourite suitor, with him holding a special place in my heart.
I wrote a fanfiction about a reincarnation story once, and ended up loving the character that was meant to be Mitsuhide’s previous life so much, that he’s actually become his own character and a main character in my book.
This was something that meant a lot to me, as Ikémen Sengoku was my first “real” otome, and what inspired my love for Japanese history. It was what led to me coming to Japan and studying the language for a year, and so I wanted to honour that by seeing the castles. It has been absolutely the best thing I’ve ever done in my life, and I’ve loved every second of it.
It’s kinda sad that majority of these castle are in ruins except for Hideyoshi’s, who I got a lot of questions on how it is standing.
But still, it’s amazing how some of these historical spots are visited by many different people who either gotten interested in other medias or history.
Since today would be the last day until the stat calculations are done, is it better to use up all our items rn on ikesen? Will this app get abandoned post Eien's release?