Overall content warning: this is an EXTREMELY gory and sensual/sexualized series on its own so pls be aware of that before reading ANY material I post on it. DNI if you are a minor or find the subject matter uncomfortable!
Chobei's love language is loyalty so fierce it borders on terrifying. Once you're his, you are his. He doesn't do half-measures — if he's chosen you, it means he's already decided he'd burn everything down before letting anyone touch you. He's not verbal about it at first. You feel it in the way he positions himself between you and every perceived threat without a word.
Rough Hands, Surprisingly Gentle Touch
He's big, scarred, and looks like he could snap a tree in half — but the way he touches you is almost careful. He'll pull you into his side with one heavy arm and just keep you there, like anchoring a boat. He's not big on public declarations but will hold your hand in an iron grip, thumb brushing back and forth absently. He doesn't realize he's doing it. He’s only rough when you beg for it, or when he thinks you deserve it.
Don't Test Him
He is deeply possessive, though he'd never cage you. It's more like... a territorial awareness. If someone lingers too long near you, his eyes track them before his brain even registers jealousy. He'll sling an arm around your shoulder and give whoever it is the slowest, most deliberate stare until they find somewhere else to be. He calls it "just making things clear."
Cracks in the Wall
Chobei carries a deep, complex relationship with strength and survival. With you, and only with you, does he let himself be tired. He doesn't talk about it outright. He just goes quiet, sits close, and lets your presence do the work. If you reach for his hand in those moments, he squeezes it once — tight — like a silent thank you.
Sharp Tongue, Softer Undertone
He teases you. A lot. Chobei's humor is dry, blunt, and sometimes borders on insufferable — but there's always warmth underneath it. He'll call you something a little ridiculous (or dirty) in front of others just to see you flush, then smirk like he won something. Compliments come out sideways: "You handled that better than I expected." Coming from him, that's practically poetry.
A Wall That Chose to Stand by You
He's not smothering about it… he respects that you can handle yourself. But if things go sideways, Chobei is in front of you before you've even processed the danger. He'd rather take the hit. Afterwards he shrugs it off like it's nothing, but if you're shaken, he'll find a quiet moment to check on you in his own oblique way: "You good gorgeous?" — asked once, low, eyes watching your face carefully for the real answer.
Getting Toma's Approval is a Journey
Toma watches you the way a younger brother watches someone dating his most important person: suspicious, quietly evaluating. Chobei pretends not to care whether you two get along. He absolutely cares. When Toma eventually softens toward you and starts including you in conversation, Chobei's whole posture relaxes in a way he'd deny if asked. The three of you together feel, finally, like something whole.
He Doesn't Say "I Love You" First
When you say it, he goes very still. Not cold — just processing. Then he huffs a short breath, looks away, and mutters something like "Yeah, obviously." But later… maybe that night, maybe days after… he says it back. Quietly. Directly. With none of the deflection. And the way he says it, low and sure and completely unhurried, makes it feel like the most absolute thing in the world.
To Chobei: even on Shinsekyo, you were the only thing worth fighting back for.
you’re staying in the province of Iyo to perform during the two-week festival. a few days in and you meet a man who wants to get to know you as much as you do. behind the titles used as your labels, you come to understand each other.
⊱ ۫ ׅ ✧
⊱ ۫ ׅ ✧
your troupe had just arrived in the province of Iyo. while some chose to stay in the headman’s house, you opted to roam around the village.
the sun had just risen but the people were already bustling. some seem to be doing their last-minute preparations–putting up paper lanterns on the columns of their houses, tying colorful strips of papers on nearby trees, and of course, cooking up bountiful meals that are only seen on the table during festivals such as these.
even though no one’s likely gonna offer their hand to be your friend, you thought it’d be nice to at least not be enemies with anyone, so you offer a small smile to the ladies of the house you happen to see. they would return your smile at once, but it disappears just as fast as it appeared when their gaze falls upon your clothing that stops on your knees, and your feet clad in nothing but dirt from the street.
you tried not to let it bother you, but it hurt nevertheless. you were born as a hinin, although not part of the official hierarchy, it is the unspoken lowest social class which does not deem individuals like you as human. a title you inherited from your parents who have disobeyed the law. at your age, it’s an identity you continue to grapple with.
you continued strolling through the city, waiting for evening to come. just as you took your eyes off a lantern with hand-drawn designs, a pack of men unexpectedly appeared before you. the startle made you stumble backwards but you were able to hold your balance.
meanwhile, the man at the forefront of the group only stood in place. you looked up and locked eyes with his blazing red iris. he had a huge weapon bigger than his head placed upon his shoulder. he was the very definition of intimidating–an overwhelming presence–but, he wasn’t really radiating any threat.
“this humble one apologizes for their mistake,” you bowed before lifting up your head, offering an apologetic smile to the man. he didn’t return it, only raised his eyebrow while his left eye stayed on yours. the right side of his face had a slash and his right eye seemed to be permanently closed, adding a hint of dauntlessness to him.
the man with a long hair and sophisticated appearance beside him took a step forward.
“move out of the way.” you followed as you were instructed, a polite smile still on your face. you let them pass through before resuming your walk.
you continued about your day, following the parade until just before it entered the shrine. since it was off-limits to a hinin like yourself, you could only turn your back and prepare for your performance in the evening.
there isn’t a lot of things that you don’t like given your position, but your most favorite part would have to be when the night comes–your body is covered in decent clothes, you move with ease enjoying what you do, and people admire you for it, even handing you money–it was the normalcy that you wished to live.
it was past dinner but people are still up, most households have their lanterns lit. you moved from one house to the next. some are more generous than the others, but festivals are certainly worth the tire from travelling as compared to when you perform on market squares where people usually just pass you by.
your right hand was in the air, the other gracefully flowing from your chest towards the side when a familiar face walking down the street caught your attention. he was still carrying the weapon on his shoulder, an unbothered look on his face. despite that, his gaze was wandering around the place. the glow of the golden lanterns illuminated him.
when his head turned towards your direction, a smile slipped to your lips. though his eye squinted, more likely irritated than impressed, it didn’t diminish yours. your eyes left his figure as you continued dancing, but he didn’t leave your mind. he was certainly cute, alright. it seems like you’ll have more fun in this province than you expected.
you found excitement in looking left and right, waiting for his silhouette to appear at the same time in the same place. it has become your routine to walk through the same route everyday, it brings you a little joy, your heart thumping from its cage.
you saw him a few more times in the market the following days, you thought little of the interactions, after all, it was limited to your smile and the squint of his eye. could it even be called an interaction? it was just a one-sided attraction, it’s not like you’re worth looking at after all.
and so you didn’t think it bothered the guy, but it must have been on his mind unlike what you expected because on the fifth day of your stay, he finally talked to you.
“you- why do you keep looking at me like that?”
the sudden question had you looking down. oh, no. you didn’t mean to cause trouble.
“i apologize for my insolence! it would no longer happen. please bless me with your benevolence,” unsure of what to do, you immediately went down on your knees, head and hands on the ground.
“what? you!” a pair of hands held you in your elbows, pulling you up. “what are you looking at?” it was only then that you dared glance at his face, he was scowling at the people in the market who were looking in your direction. they immediately looked away with his warning. “you’re coming with me.”
you reached a bridge where not many people were passing by. you faced the river, observing the flowing water rather than looking at the guy who had just held you by the arms.
“you’re unusual, do you know that?”
“i am, i’m sorry for making you uncomfortable.”
he rested his hands on the rail, leaning his weight on it. you could only look at him through your peripheral vision. he sighed with an emotion you couldn’t decipher what.
“i don’t mean it like that. even the question i asked earlier,” he gripped the necklace he was wearing, pulling it left and right. “you’re not from here, are you?”
you shook your head. “no, we’re from a different place. our troupe only has a permit to stay for a couple of days.”
“figured. who’d smile at a bandit like that?”
that made you look at him. “you are?”
“what, you scared now?” he turned his head towards you, a menacing smirk on his lips.
you returned his gaze.
“is that title supposed to scare me? well, i’m a hinin.” your eyes flickered, searching for a different place to look at. “maybe you should be disgusted with me.”
“not when you look too pretty like that, no.”
you almost choked on your own saliva. did you hear him right? you could only hope for the setting sun to cover the blazing burn on your cheeks. has it been this hot since earlier?
“i- i have to go now, we still have a performance later.” you had already turned your back from him when he spoke.
“i’ll come see you then.”
despite your hesitance, you faced him once more and nodded. “okay, i’ll see you.”
⊱ ۫ ׅ ✧
ah! i finally finished it! i was worried about how i'd portray chobei so it took me some time to write.
i hope you loved reading this! i was smiling by the end, haha. did it make you smile as well? what do you think of my chobei portrayal? can you see him doing this?
Hey there, here are some short scenarios about four Hell's Paradise men: Shion, Chobe, Ran, and Shugen set in a Modern AU. It is a bit drafty, some sexual allusions, ooc, pregnancy, there is also some questionable parenting style. Also, Shija is a lady for the Shugen one. Word count: 4.8k
Shion
How you met: You met during a parent teacher meeting. The two of you are single parents of nine years old: Shion has a son named Tenza and you have a daughter named Nurugai.
When you arrived in front of the building, you saw a blind man and offered him to be his guide, which he politely accepted and thanked you for.
You noticed he was heading to the same class as yours, much to his pleasure.
When the teacher announced there would be a play for the end of the year, Shion said ‘Wow, didn't see that coming!’ which made you burst out laughing.
You were the only one giggling out loud, most of the ones who heard it had a silent fit of laughter or simply grinned.
That is why Shion approached you afterwards, refused the help of the others and asked for yours. You happily indulged and led him outside. His brother, a man who introduced himself as Jikka, cheerfully greeted the two of you, before leading him in his car.
Earlier in the relationship: You try to keep it cool, and meet while you can. With your children and work, it is not always easy.
Shion is definitely the caring type. He likes to have planned dates, he pays for dinner and insists on walking you home before getting a taxi. Or if it is too far, he calls you a taxi and insists you message him when you are home.
You send him tons of vocals. He loves to hear your voice, even if you just talk about mundane things.
Deeper into the relationship: Shortly after you had started dating, you had begun to take Braille class. Once you feel skilled enough, you begin to leave tons of notes when you are at his place. Some easy to access, others hidden.
During the weekends you are together, you bring his breakfast in bed.
Wedding: a beautiful ceremony, mixing the traditions of Taoism and Shintoism. For the first part, Shion wore a baby blue chang pao. After you have resumed your offering to the Gods, you carry on with the kneeling part, where you serve tea to your parents. This is a joyful moment, and you gaze at your man in adoration.
For the Shinto part, he is as equally stunning to you in his black kimono. For the nakōdo role, although Jikka is the official one, both Tenza and Nurugai have their speech. Each of them welcome their respective stepparent in the family.
Later on, you learn that during the reception, one of Shion’s cousins, Sagiri, met one of your friends, Yuzuriha, and spend a lot of time together.
Married life: none of you want Tenza or Nurugai to feel left out, so at first the two of you made a point to have activities altogether, like movie nights or amusement park days. But you always manage to get some quality time with your husband.
Fatherhood: Shion is a great father to Tenza, he sets rules and boundaries, but always for the boy’s sake. He always listens when his son is venting, and gives him the most accurate advice. He would give his soul for his son and that is something you love about him.
With Nurugai, he does keep a distance, but he means well. He is kind and supportive, but does not want to impose himself too much. But the girl adores her mother's husband, and, uncharacteristically of girls her age, actively seeks his company.
You noticed that he still seems a bit withdrawn with her and decided to privately talk to him about this. Not in an aggressive way, rather a curious one.
He tells you he is fond of Nurugai, but has a hard time placing himself. Eventually, the three of you talk about it, and Shion realises he is accepted as a parent figure.
You did not talk with Shion about expanding the family, assuming it would not be a priority for him, given you already have two children at home.
This is why you are surprised when he brings the topic up. After some hesitation, you admit you would want nothing more than bearing his child, but would understand if he did not want another baby. By now, Tenza and Nurugai are already 13.
He tells you with a sweet smile he would love to have a baby with you and cannot wait to see you round with his child. You laugh and happily complied.
The pregnancy went well. Tenza and Nurugai especially, are excited for this newest addition.
The baby arrives earlier than the expected date and it lasts two hours from the moment your water broke until it was out. It is a healthy girl, Shion found the name Akiko, and you agreed.
When the little one is put in his arms, he cannot help but shed a few tears. She is so light he thinks she could fly away with just a breeze.
Whenever she fusses for other reasons than being hungry, hearing her father’s voice soothes the little one. Shion also notes it works to a lesser extent with Tenza.
In the first months, he can often be found in a rocking chair, holding Akiko and swinging. That’s another ritual to calm her down.
Growing up, she is totally a daddy’s girl; in a way similar to Nurugai, Akiko worships her father.
Akiko is a sensitive child, and unlike her siblings, expresses less of her feelings. Shion is the one who gets when something is bothering her and manages to make her say what is in her mind. She always feels lighter after speaking with him.
Shion loves all of his children and treats them equally. However, only you are aware that he cried when Akiko moved out to study in Macau.
When she comes back, she impresses him because he does not recognize the shy little girl who vented to him before going to bed. Bonus surprise, she speaks a bit of Portuguese too.
When Tenza and Nurugai introduce their respective spouses, he first maintains a strict demeanor, as if he was telling them they were not good enough for his precious children. But he is very good at reading people and when he gets solid evidence they are good as persons and as matches, he drops the mask and shows how much of a softie he is.
Miscellaneous: Gathering with Asaemon Yamada family every. Single. Month. Always at the end, after everyone got paid, and on a weekend night. You get music, excellent food, laughter, you know it.
Chobe
How you met: Your friend Yui invited you to a party at her place. Chobe is also there because Gabimaru invited him and they are the ride or die type of friends.
At some point, someone decided to do karaoke. When it is Chobe’s turn, Midnight cruising by Kingo Hamada plays on and you are surprised how smoothly he sings it. He also gets very energetic for the chorus, which makes you grin in approval.
When it is yours, you choose Love ESP by Masayoshi Takanaka and do it the most over the top way possible. Even with some awkward dances during the guitar riffs.
Once you are done, you find an empty spot to sit, next to him. He opens a beer and hands it to you, to ‘reward you for your outstanding performance’. You ironically thank him and start to talk. For what feels like ten minutes but actually lasted an hour.
Earlier in the relationship: he doesn’t care much about what to do when you are around. Come over to his place to hang out and he will be happy. The outdoor activity he likes the most is going to concerts. He loves being in front, even though you have to stand for two hours. He gave you a passionate kiss during Cinema Staff’s one. Another time during Minako Yoshida’s.
Deeper into the relationship: Chobe only introduces his girlfriend to his inner circle when he is serious. You had already met Gabimaru, but got to meet the others, Gantetsusai and Ju Fa, later on.
The real milestone would obviously be when you meet his brother, Tōma. While he is civil, you feel the aloofness, but none of you try to force anything.
Wedding: whatever you want, you will get it. Shinto and Christian ceremonies? Ok, he looked good in a kimono and a suit and he knows it. One hundred guests? We’ll manage. The list actually fills in fast, and none of the people who came was redundant to him or to you. Honeymoon in Okinawa? Let’s do it. He went there once and had great memories, so why not add this moment as well?
Married life: Carefree. On weekends, he loves to wake up and just lay in bed with you. You also like to host parties at your place, or go out in a bar, drink, sing, dance and kiss, no matter the song. During your holiday in Osaka, you ended up in a jazz festival in a town nearby, Takatsuki, and tenderly kissed during a Steve Wonder cover.
Fatherhood: Your pregnancy is not a planned one: in this regard he is also the ‘Go with the flow’ type. You freaked out when you found out, but the smile he had when you told him made you cool off.
The first trimester is him holding your hair while you vomit. He notes it feels familiar, just doing it for another reason, which makes you laugh.
Once you enter the second trimester, the tension is off. Morning sicknesses are over, your bump starts to show. And your sex drive skyrockets, much to his pleasure.
When your water breaks at 3AM, he knows what he has to do. The bags have been packed in advance, as soon as the doctor has given you the approximate due date. He had also read this tends to happen during the night.
In the labor room, Chobe barely left your side. He counted the hours and waited with you until your cervix was fully dilated and you started to push. He let you crush his hand during the process without any care in the world. Same with the screaming, because what are some slight earring disturbance compared to pushing out of your body a little human being?
As soon as you heard the weak cry, you both breathed out in relief. He smiled and kissed your wet forehead, before drifting to sleep with you.
When the nurse came back with the little boy, he let you hold him first. When it was his turn, he was at a loss for words and did not notice his lips quiver. The two of you chose to name this little fellow Rihito.
Chobe is a stress free man, so your baby feels it and fusses way less than expected. He does not complain when it is his turn to feed his son, even in the middle of the night. It is far from easy, but he knows that’s his share and his duty.
Chobe is kind of a gym rat, with a child he has less time, but he adapts. When your son is a baby, he goes when he can. Later on, he wakes up at 5 AM and has his time for himself before performing his parent duty.
Rihito definitely flexes when his father comes to school. His comrades made several comments on how cool Chobe looks and, unbeknownst to him, several mothers ogle at this handsome man. This makes him confidently smile; he doesn’t personally care, but he is glad he is a source of pride. It reminds him of when he did the same for Toma. History just repeats itself. Except he doesn’t have to punch anybody this time.
As the kid grows up, Chobe makes a point to make Rihito as resourceful as possible. By the time he is 14, your son knows how to drive, change a tire and cook basic meals. At some point, the three of you go to a party and Chobe and yourself get hammered. Chobe hands off the keys to your son and tells him to drive. Irresponsible? Totally. Successful? That too.
However, he is not the easiest person to talk to when it comes to emotions. Not because he thinks it is not his job. That is just not his thing. Some family therapy would be helpful honestly.
Miscellaneous: You like to do gatherings with family and friends every two months. You are close friends with Yuzuriha and she is always there because she cannot say no to free drinks. Tōma is also there for obvious reasons and they always squabble. Your jaw dropped the first time you saw them interact, it was like watching a Mean Girls scene.
Ran
How you met: Your supervisor, Sagiri, recommended you to do yoga class because she noticed you looked tense and, by observing you, deduced you had no hobby.
Ran is your instructor and is a very good one. Competent - your jaw dropped when you saw him doing a front split - patient, and explains well. You do your best to stay focused and hide your attraction to him, but he is aware of the effect he has on women. And also does not care you are technically a customer, which is why he slips his number in your purse after your fifth course.
Earlier in the relationship: You have sex on the third date, without any regret. He jokingly called these ‘advanced sessions’. You still attend his class and he loves to tease you. He also banged you twice in the facility: once in the shower, and another one in the locker room. Yeah, he really doesn’t care.
Deeper into the relationship: Beyond the physical aspect, his love language is cooking. Japanese dishes, but also Chinese ones, since his mother is from there. Best century eggs you ever had, unforgettable dumplings, but you still have a hard time getting used to Sichuanese pepper.
Another proof you are important to him is that you get to meet the said family. His parents passed away, but he has six siblings, and three nieces and nephews. Everything went smoothly, the family feels sane, you see they care for each other but are not too nosy. Ran notices you feel at ease and Gui Fa tells him you seem like a nice person and a good match, which is one of the greatest compliments he ever had.
Wedding: When it comes to the type of ceremony, he could not care less, so he let you decide. You took care of most of the paperwork and eventually chose a taoist ceremony. Rien, the oldest sibling, is the Taoist priest who performs the ceremony. For the tea serving part, you do it with your parents, who are surprised to find the six siblings of Ran have the same role, but everything goes well.
You did a one week trip to Hokkaido. Hikes in the morning, onsen in the afternoon, and some more yoga in the evening…
Married life: During weekends, he still wakes you up and strongly encourages you to keep doing yoga. Just because you married him does not mean he is relieved from his duties as an instructor. You have a few jabs, but nevertheless comply.
When your lease ended and you were looking for a new place, you eventually chose a unit on a high floor with a living room which has big windows, because it is perfect for his morning session. Not the cheapest, but perfect for you guys. Your place is full of sports equipment, but he makes a point of keeping it tidy. That’s also your home after all.
You take on more cooking duty, and make sure he has something packed in case you finish late. And when you finish late, you always find something for you in return.
Fatherhood: He openly talks about his want to have kids, and you know for a fact he is great with them. All of his siblings who have kids completely trust him with them.
So it is no surprise to him when you bring up the topic. And he will happily indulge. At some point, he has to go to Latvia for his work. At first skeptical, you eventually brush it off and take a two weeks leave to go with him. You keep trying for a baby there, and succeed.
Weeks later, way after your trip and the jetlag is over, you take a pregnancy test, and he is with you. He lifts you in the air and makes you twirl when the two lines appear.
During your pregnancy, he wants you to be the most comfortable possible. You often bath together, he has you comfortably lean on him, kisses on your neck and caresses your bump. He also massages you afterwards.
When your libido increases after the second trimester, he does not complain in the least, and also makes sure you are comfortably settled before engaging. The way he switches from tenderly caressing your curves to savagely pounding excites you and makes you bite your pillow countless times.
He would also adapt his yoga teaching to your condition. This helps you deal with stress a lot and he feels pride upon seeing you practising his teaching while carrying his child.
When it is time for you to deliver the baby, it takes forever. Turns out the fact you have sports activity makes your perineum not stretched enough and the doctor has to perform an episiotomy so that the baby can go out easier. Your eyes nearly popped out when you hear this, but in the end, you agree and the baby gets out faster.
It is a beautiful girl, and you chose to follow the family tradition, and named her Tsubaki (camelia)
Your daughter is an adorable baby who can fuss of course, but always seems to listen and understand when Ran or you talk to her. Your husband adores her. When she is a newborn, he loves to sit and just hold her.
Ran’s siblings are very present, you have at least two visits per week. You feared it would be overwhelming, but they do take no for an answer when you say so, and come either with a dish or help you out.
The older cousins also agree to babysit her so that you can go out.
Overall, Ran views parenting as an extension of his occupation. He is collected, stress free and patient, but holds very dearly the principles of hard work and family unity.
By the time Tsubaki is in elementary school, he encourages her to pick any activity, as long as it is sports. She chose swimming, but asks Ran to show her some of his moves too. When he does so, despite his calm, he is actually more demanding with her. Unconsciously, he views his daughter as an extension of himself.
He would also make her miss some events when schedules clash with family gatherings. Several times she caved in, but at some point you intervened and told Ran to drop it.
Growing up, Tsubaki is a popular girl, praised for her kindness, confidence and athletic feats. This continues in her adulthood. However, the need to be liked lingers in her mind and she can be upset if she is met with dismay or indifference. Nothing dramatic, but she needs to work on that.
Miscellaneous: You planned some international trips. He flexed his mandarin skills in Singapore and mainland China, but switched to English in Hong Kong, as he noticed the stern looks he got when he initiated conversations in mandarin. Afterwards, he did not take any risk at all when you went to Taipei.
Shugen
How you met: Sort of arranged. His father and your uncle are long time friends and wanted to be tied even further. You are the only girl in this cousin set of the family and get along well with your uncle, so you see no issue with this. Shugen, who trusts his father’s judgement, solemnly agrees to this meeting and is willing to make the best impression.
They plan on the introduction for a New Year’s Day party your uncle and aunt are hosting. When you are introduced, it is informal, along with other relatives so that it is not too obvious and pushy.
It was love at first sight, he is mesmerized by your good looks and your elegance and so are you.
After exchanging polite smiles, you wait for the others to wander off before exchanging a relieved smile. He offers to go fetch some drinks and meet you on the balcony. You agreed and from the moment he joins you, he does not leave your side.
You talk about nothing and everything, your university major, law for him and literature for you, your hobbies... It is an ordinary conversation on the surface, but he can’t help noticing the way you tucked some stray strands behind your ear after twirling it, your serene way of nodding when you listen to him, the sparkle in your eyes when he mentions the latest release of Kazuo Ishiguro. He just wants to see more of that, more of you.
Earlier in the relationship: You tell him you want to spend time with him and get to know him more, but want to keep it lowkey, at least from your family, because they can be gossipy. He understands and complies.
Your first dates are in museums and libraries. When he has to study, he finds it reassuring to have you by his side doing the same or reading. The best incentive.
When you discuss about sex, you are both surprised to find out the two of you are virgins. Unlike you, he had dated two times before, but never went the extra mile because he wanted to focus on his studies.
He finds it precious that you still are untouched, and you find the idea of sharing this special moment with a chaste man quite exciting.
Deeper into the relationship: You sleep at each other’s place thrice a week and nothing happens because you respect each other’s boundaries. However, he cannot hide the effect you have on him. When you lay in bed, his gestures are tender and loving, but you feel his erection pressed against your thigh.
During Valentine’s Day, your second together, he went home and you were there, waiting for him with homemade chocolates just for him. The evening went well, you talked about your day, cooked together, put on some music and danced during the process. At some point he grabbed your shoulders and gave you a passionate kiss which you eagerly returned. As the seconds passed, the kiss deepened and became more needy, more pleading. This was all you needed to carry on.
Wedding: The timing is interesting: you both graduate in March, and marry in October. You would have loved to be a June bride, but wouldn’t have managed to focus both on your final exam and plan your wedding. This is not a problem, because the autumn colours are stunning and the two of you loved that.
You both agreed on a shinto ceremony. Your mothers took care of the planning, and over two hundred guests attended the reception. Since Shugen’s father already has his role, the role of the nakōdo is given to your uncle, whom you genuinely thank for his contribution in your speech.
Both of your families are pretty well-off, and your parents, who are proud of your results, insist on paying for most of it as a graduation gift.
Your honeymoon is completely on your dime though. You chose to spend five days in a Ryokan in Kanazawa. You surprised Shugen with the number of kidney bean cakes you ate and purchased there.
Married life: Shugen, now a judge, works hard and impartially. His private life vanishes when he enters the Saikō-Saibansho, and all of his cases disappear when he exits the building.
This is where you both show how devoted spouses you are. At night he comes back with flowers you like, sometimes jewelry, and you have his favourite dishes prepared. Then once you are done, you go bath together and he listens to your work anecdotes with a smile.
You sometimes indulge yourselves with a glass of wine. Earned it.
Some nights, you also wait for him laying in your bed with black lingerie. Ravishing guaranteed.
Fatherhood: He regards this as both his duty and a way to be tied to you forever. You sit down and discuss this. You want at least two kids, maybe three. With him as the sole provider, he can support you comfortably, but asks your opinion on this. While you like your job, you eventually agree to become a housewife, much to his pleasure.
Your tries for a baby do not last long. When the two lines appear, you do not want to announce it to Shugen on the phone, so you patiently wait for him.
When he is home and sees your smile, he knows. He runs at you, grabs you and cries of happiness.
You both collapse on the floor and stay like that for several minutes. He cried like this all the pregnancy announcements you had actually.
You end up with three children: a boy named Yoshinobu, a girl called Izumi, and another boy named Akira.
Your first pregnancy is the hardest. Your morning sickness carries on throughout the second trimester, then you do have contractions despite not being due. This scared you to no end, you feared you were losing your baby.
But you hang on the best you can. By that time, you have already resigned, your mother and Shugen’s come to help you out, as the doctor recommended you lie down as much as you could.
Shugen spends all his free time with you. He is worried sick, but refuses to show any sign of weakness to anyone. He is supposed to be your rock.
He massages you, brings you food, lays with you, his hands protectively holding your bump.
He sighs of relief and kisses you when you feel the baby kicks.
Only when the baby is out and is handed to him does he allow himself to cry his heart out.
He thought you wouldn't want another baby after this difficult pregnancy, but you bring back the topic when Yoshinobu is three.
Shugen is overjoyed upon hearing you want to expand the family. In no time, you get pregnant again. As if the universe wanted to balance out the previous one, the second one is more ordinary, which is the equivalent of smoothness compared to the first one.
Izumi even arrives quickly, one hour between the water breaking and she is out. Shugen also cries when he sees her.
While you wanted a third one, the third time you get pregnant happens earlier than planned. Izumi is approximately ten months old.
Overall, Shugen is kind of a tiger father, who wants what he thinks is best for his children. This includes him checking their grades, putting them in an international school where they can be bilingual by the time they finish elementary school, and at least trilingual when they finish high school.
This works, Yoshinobu becomes fluent in English and French, Izumi in Mandarin and English, and Akira in English, Mandarin, and Korean.
He is also curious about their hobbies and encourages them to pursue it. Is Yoshinobu interested in theater? Fine, he can pay for classes and attend his plays. But that doesn’t mean he will allow him to become an actor or anything similar. Not that Yoshinobu seriously considered that, but the mere thought of it is quickly overlooked.
The slight rebellion happens when he refuses to enroll in law school like his father. Instead, he chooses your major and becomes a literature teacher on university level.
Same with Izumi, who is into dance. As a teenager, she said she loved it so much she wanted to be an instructor. Not on his watch. She ends up being a journalist. At some point, Izumi has an opportunity to move to Naha. He voices his concern about the distance and the weather, but she does not take his (unsolicited) opinion into account and proceeds.
For Akira, he is more lenient, as he is the youngest. By the time he turns 23, he validates his B2 level in German… and actually peace out. Akira spends five years in Austria and comes back happily married to a Hungarian lady. Of course he has started to learn her language. Of course there is nothing Shugen can say about that.
Miscellaneous: After what your families regard as a successful set up, they try to do the same with Shija, Shugen’s sister, and Gabimaru, your favourite cousin. This does not end up as planned, as they are way more pushy, and Shija is too obsessed and overwhelming. Afterwards, Gabimaru went low contact with your family, except with you. Later on, he married and had two children. At least one time in the year, you go there or they come to catch up. In this matter, Shugen simply follows your lead, no matter how upset his sister gets.
Do you guys think Chobei would get slightly jealous if his significant other was doting on Tōma a little too often? I know Chobei’s top priority is his brother, and his s/o would have to get along well with Tōma. But would he ever get a little jealous or possessive, or would he not care?
The temptation to write a Chobei Aza short story is tempting. If I do, the OC/Reader is going to be an Asaemon who is a mentor to an original character. I can't decide, however, which I'd like to write for.
(A 100-word or so snippet from a new story that im working on). I wanted to showcase the reader's swordsmanship a bit more, but I couldn't in 100 words.
He's nimble-footed for someone using a two-handed weapon; one so large and heavy that it should unbalance him. But when he springs into the air, bringing the blade down with a vertical chop, you discover just how strong this Chobei Aza really is.
Instead of blocking it, a reckless move that will no doubt shatter your katana, you gracefully parry to the right. The axe strikes the ground with a sharp clink, fragmenting the rocky earth and trapping the blade in the stone. Pivoting your body to the side, you slash at him. It should be over; his head should be taken off at the neck, but somehow, he knocks you off balance with an impulsive kick to the side. His moment of accuracy is frightening.
