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Of Demons and Dragons

Ikemen Sengoku Imagine: Being able to turn into a dragon.

Ch.3

Warnings: Swearing, trigger warning for drowning? There is a bath scene in the sixth paragraph where MC goes underwater - completely of her own free will though. Is dragon shenanigans a warning?

The next morning you were left to wake up at whatever time you pleased. There was no knocking on the door, no vassals or guards who'd come to fetch you, and no ungodly sunlight to disturb you. For the first time since your arrival, you slept like the dead. Perhaps it was your body compensating for your quick recuperation. With a grumble, you sat up in bed, the tug of the stitches once again reminding you to be careful with what you do.

Maybe...

You were already thinking of what to tell Ieyasu if this ended badly. Telling him you bumped into some furniture and accidentally ripped your stitches seemed like the best one. Sure he would call you stupid and clumsy, but he probably already thinks that of you so really what do you have to lose? You stripped yourself of your night attire, examining the stitched wounds along your side before running your fingers over them. The skin didn't feel sore, or tender, maybe this wouldn't end in you running to Ieyasu's quarters.

The nail of your index finger grew longer and sharpened to a point with a curved arch - much like the talon of a bird, and with a deep breath you used it to cut the stitchs of one of the wounds on the side of your hip. It hadn't hurt, if anything your felt a bit of relief with the skin not having to be pulled so tautly. What did feel...odd however, was when the stitches were pulled. It stung and felt like hair was being pulled from the spot, but it wasn't so painful that it would make you stop. Yes, you stood there for a good hour or so just pulling out your own stitches. It would have taken less time had you not struggled with the ones on your back, but you didn't have a mirror to look in to, so you had to just feel for them till you got them all.

With a relieved sigh, you stretched before examining what was left of your wounds. There was only subtle traces left behind - pink, shiny scar tissue that felt smoother and softer than the skin around it. Maybe in a day or two, three at most the scars would be gone, but for now you thought it best to play the part of the wounded princess - though the thought left an unsavory taste in your mouth.

You officially started your day by freshening up and requesting the maids to start a bath for you. The hot water felt wonderful on your skin and helped your muscles relax. With a deep breath in, you closed your eyes and plunged yourself below the surface. You felt yourself become practically weightless in the water, with the only thing grounding you being the bottom of the tub against your lower back. You allowed your arms to drift up as you entered a sort-of meditative state, but when you heard someone's muffled voice calling your name frantically you emerged with gasp - scaring the maid who had been standing at the edge of your tub.

"Oh have mercy!" She cried out with both her hands over her chest, "I thought something had happened to you, Milady! I didn't see you in the bath," she was frantic, "And no one had seen you leave, I- I thought that perhaps you had slipped and fallen, or were hurt-" she rambled, completely hysteric.

You sat there and listened, moving your soaking hair out of your face before making your way over to the side she was standing next to. You gently placed your hands on hers and pulled them up, "Hey, hey, hey, calm down," you spoke in a soft voice in an attempt to get the girl to quiet down and listen, "I'm fine." She looked at you, feeling a bit embarrassed, "I apologize, for worrying you."

"It's alright," she took a deep breath, still trying to calm down, "You were simply enjoying your bath, miss."

You nodded before releasing her hands and sitting back in the water, "I've left you some fresh towels and rags on the shelf ma'am, p-please take as long at you need," she smiled and nodded before quickly scurrying away - probably still embarrassed about the whole ordeal.

After she'd left, you reached over to the shelf that was, conveniently, an arms length away from the edge of the tub and grabbed a small rag to scrub yourself with. You stayed in the water till it got cold and decided to get out and return to your room, wrapping your hair in a towel and yourself in a robe before you left the bathhouse. You hadn't paid any attention to the vassals who were training in the yard and stopped to look at you, till one ran up to you and stopped you in your tracks, "Good afternoon, Princess!"

He was a handsome young man, with young and bright features that would suggest he may be in his early 20's. He looked too old to be a teenager but too young to possibly be an experienced and seasoned soldier. His bright eyes and innocent smile were almost as infectious as Mitsunari's, and his brown locks framed his face freely.

"Yes?" You raised your brows at him questioningly, not quite sure what this man wanted.

"Pardon me, Milady, my name is Soji Okita. I'm a vassal of Lord Masamune," he bowed to you respectfully, and just when you thought his smile couldn't get any brighter, it did.

"Is that supposed to impress me?" You gave him a sly smile.

"No," he chuckled, forgetting for a moment that he was talking to an 'Oda Princess', "I suppose not..."

There was a small moment of silence, before you pursed your lips, and your smile became awkward, "Well I best get going," you should really go to your room and get dressed. You stepped around him to continue on your way.

"Wait!" He quickly whirled around to follow you, "Do you need help getting back to your room? An escort? A lady shouldn't walk so far on her own." He was following you now.

"No, I assure you I can handle myself," You shot him a quick smile before you picked up your pace.

"But Milady-"

"Shouldn't you be training, with your fellow vassals?" A familiar voice that you had gotten fairly acquainted with due to the council meeting the previous night, reached your ears, "After all, you all are training so hard to prevent what happened to the Princess from happening again, aren't you?"

Mitsuhide.

You could practically hear your dragon hissing in your ear.

"Y-yes, sir," Soji's smile faded, and he gave the both of you a bow before scurrying off.

You rolled your eyes and continued to your quarters, "That goes for you too, Mitsuhide. Go away."

"Oh no, I can't just let my Lord's lucky charm walk alone to her chambers- and in nothing but a bathrobe no less." Smug bastard.

"Like I told that soldier, I can handle myself." Now you were walking so fast you had to place a hand on the towel wrapped on your head to keep it from falling off.

"Like you did on the battle field?"

At that you stopped and turned to glare at him, "I have the mind to strangle you with my towel- I will not tell you again, Mitsuhide. Fuck. Off." You quickly whipped around to speed walk.

"And speaking of which."

Damn it.

"How does a girl like you survive such a grisly attack? Shot in several different vital spots- your neck, back, and side. There was a reason Ieyasu didn't think you were going to make it."

"Perhaps, I am as lucky as your Lord might believe."

"Oh we both know that isn't true." You could here the amusement in his voice. He knew he was getting under your skin, "The temple- a fluke, but that battle? Impossible."

You grabbed the tip of your towel and quickly unraveled your hair from it before whipping around and chucking the material at the white-haired warlord, "Oh would you give it a rest already?! What do you want from me?!"

"The truth." He effortlessly caught the damp fabric, his calmness on the matter only serving to anger you more.

"You're one to talk!" You threw your hands in the air, "Always sneaking about, not even Hidayoshi trusts you!"

"He doesn't trust you either."

With an enraged hiss you swiped at him, your nails growing in length and sharpening as your hand rapidly sailed through the air. Mitsuhide was of course, quick, and you hadn't exactly tried to hide your intentions so it was easy for him to predict and move out of the way. He stepped back, leaving a poor defenseless column to suffer your wrath. The wood cracked and gave way under your strike, causing the column to break horizontally and splinter out the other end.

"My, my, what great strength you have." He chuckled. He wasn't going to lie, he had been surprised by your blatant show of your...abilities, but then again, one common denominator in every odd occurrence thus far had been your temper.

You turned to look at him, forgetting to keep yourself in check as you glared at him with your dragons vivid, piercing hues and slited pupils.

"Are those your eyes, or is it a trick of the light?"

That's when you relized what you were probably doing, and you didn't hesitate to flee the scene of the crime. Where would you go? Your room? No, Mitsuhide could follow you there and pester you. Hidayoshi isn't an option, he still doesn't trust you, and even if he did what would you tell him? No one knows anything except-

Sasuke.

You made a beeline for the castles main entrance where you would flee into town in search for Sasuke, the only person who knew anything. Would he even be in town? He had to be, how else would he be able to come and go so freely? Whatever. If you had to leave town, you would as long as it ment you could find a safe haven for a little while.

"Princess!"

"Miss!"

"Milady!"

"Where are you going?!"

Several maids, vassals, and other servants tried calling out to you, but you ignored them as you kept your eyes on the cobblestone road ahead of you, and the closed gates that separated the castle from the village. The closer you got to them, the more they began to rattle and shake as if a strong storm was threatening to throw them open.

When you were only a couple feet infront of them the gates flew off their hinges. The sound got the attention of the villagers in time for them to move out of the way as the metal gate shot past them before clattering to the ground. They couldn't see you run past in the cloud of dust that the ruckus caused, which worked in your favor. You wanted to at least get some distance before you were caught. However, in all the comotion you became disoriented and as soon as you exited the dust cloud you ran into someone- sending both you and them tumbling to the ground.

"Watch where you're going you-" the person who was about to berate you paused for a moment, "You!!"

You glanced up to meet the familiar brown eyes of the man who helped save you from running off the edge of a cliff. The loudness if his voice caused you to snap out of your frozen state and you practically jumped off of him. He raises a brow at you, questioning if it really was you or just someone else who looks like you. The night he met you, you were so different - you were stubborn, headstrong, loud, rude, but also undeniably brave. Now you just seemed...spooked.

"Wha-?"

"Take me to Sasuke," you grab his arm and gaze into his eyes. Your wide-eyed, slightly pale expression caused him to fumble with his words for a brief moment, before he swallowed the lump in his throat and nodded, "Y-yeah, sure."

He quickly stood, pulling you up with him before he looked to see just what the heck you were wearing. In his peripheral it had looked like a simple white cloth robe, and to his suprise that's just what it was. He blushed when he realized it was a bath robe, "Now just wait a second!" He cleared his throat, "Just what are you planning?!" His red flushed cheeks allowed his embarrassment to be on full display.

"What?" Your tone was sharp and your were quickly losing patience, you didn't have time to stand around and straighten your story out.

"You're not wearing anything under that robe! What's wrong with you? Running out in public after a bath?!" He still hadn't started moving.

"Yes, and one could argue that under all your clothes, you aren't wearing anything either," you were beginning to raise your voice, "Now. I'm not playing around, take me to Sasuke!"

"I'm right here," at the sound of Sasuke's voice you whipped around, causing him to throw his arms in the air as if to show you he ment no harm. "Easy there," he narrowed his eyes to examine you, it was obvious you dropped everything you had been doing to run off and come find him.

"What happened?" He placed a hand on your shoulder and lead you into an alleyway, before pulling you into a small hole-in-the-wall noodle shop, Yukimura following close behind. The small restuarant had been fairly empty, save for a platinum blond man sitting in the far corner and a taller man with reddish-brown hair sitting at the bar - both looking vaguely familiar.

"I-" you took a deep breath as you recalled the past few moments that had just transpired, "I didn't mean to show him." Sasuke lead you to a small booth and sat you down, while he sat across from you and Yukimura stood at the edge of the table, "Show who?"

"I didn't mean to show Mitsuhide..." you glanced up at the ninja before you looked back down at the table, "I just got so angry," you ran your hands through your hair, "And before I realized what I was doing, it was done."

"Wait, Mitsuhide?" Yuki looked between the two of you in suprise, and unbeknownst to the three of you, the other two occupants of the restuarant began listening as well after they heard you mention the name of one of Nobunaga's most trusted vassals.

"Did you...?" Sasuke ignored his friend, for now, as he made a gesture with his hands, asking if you transformed, "No, no...but I may have caused some damage to the building," you cleared your throat, "And he saw my eyes..."

"Okay," Sasuke breathed, "Well what happened?"

"He's been getting under my skin since the first day but," with a sigh you leaned in closer to whisper, though in your shaken state it was difficult to keep an even volume and your voice wasn't as quiet as you would have liked, "He's been watching me," you shook your head slightly, "Or paying attention rather..."

Sasuke's brows furrowed before he finally looked at Yukimura, "Can we have a moment please?"

Yuki looked at his friend in suprise, "What, no-"

"You can trust her, she isn't going to try anything." Sasuke was persistent. He understood why his friend didn't want to leave him alone with you after you just mentioned the name of one of his, and his masters enemies, but you both came from the future and therefore held no ties with any of the warlords...yet. Yuki was hesitant, but he eventually walked away to join the towering man who sat at the bar.

As soon as you thought he was out of earshot enough for you to whisper you leaned over the table again, "He's been paying close attention to me, noticing that things tend to," you motioned with your hands while you tried to think of a way to phrase things incase anyone decided to listen in, "happen when I get angry, or emotional in general."

"Have there been a lot?"

"I mean, a few but, I didn't think anyone would notice..."

"I told you these were warlords, they're highly skilled and trained to notice or pick up on things that most wouldn't," he reminded you of the first night, the night he warned you to be careful around those men, "What exactly has been happening?"

"Well," you stopped to think and began picking at your nails, "I know my eyes change sometimes, uh..." of course you wouldn't be able to name instances off the top of your head, some of these things happen without you realizing it, "and the more emotional I get the more...severe these flare ups seem to be."

"I see."

"The most recent incident was when I made Ieyasu's tea explode-"

"You what?!"

"Shh-" you quickly placed a hand on his mouth and looked to Yukimura, who was eyeing you suspiciously, and the man next to him turned and seemed to be watching you from the corner of his eye. You gave them a awkward halfhearted smile before quickly returning your gaze to Sasuke, "To be fair, he kind of deserved it."

"What?" Sasuke blinked and shook his head in disbelief at what you were telling him, "How can you even make that happen without it being obvious?" He was questioning whether or not you were actually trying to be stealthy with your abilities, or if you were just using them willy-nilly.

"I just made it hot, really, really fast."

"How-"

"I just willed it so- anyways." You waved a hand infront of him as if the motion could physically brush the conversation aside, "The one that's been hard to hide is this," you moved the hem of your robe to the side to expose the skin on your shoulder.

"There's nothing there?"

You have him a look, head ticking slightly to the side, you pursed your lips and gave him a blank stare. And then, as if he could read your mind his eyes widened, "Your wounds from the battle."

"Exactly."

"They're gone!"

"Shhh!" You put your hand on his shoulder as if the action would press a button and make him quiet down before moving it back to your side, "I know, which is what really got the ball rolling on this- apparently my wounds were critical. Life threatening. Ieyasu said I should have been out for days, but I slept for 4 hours and I was fine."

"Well just play possum," Sasuke coughed to correct his expression- possoms play dead Sasuke, "play the damsel in distress."

"Yes I already came to that resolve, but Mitsuhide questioned me, Sasuke, infront of the entire council. Luckily I was able to redirect the topic, but it was a really close call."

"Okay... So what do you want me to do? Do I need to get you out of there."

You sighed. Originally you had come to him seeking safe haven, hoping there was somewhere you could go where you could wait out the rest of your stay, with someone who knew what you were, but your conversation from the previous night came to mind. You told Sasuke that, if you disappeared, Nobunaga would come looking for you, "No..." your rubbed your face defeatedly before slamming your fist on the table. An action that caused Sasuke to jump slightly and place his hands on opposite edges of the table, as if he alone would keep the table together should it break under the force of your hand, "I just needed someone I could talk to... Someone who might be able to give me guidance."

"Why don't you just play dumb?"

"What?"

Sauke clarified, "Why don't you just act like you don't know what's going on? If he tries to get information or a reaction out of you, just act like you don't know what he's talking about. You aren't denying any suspicions, but you aren't confirming them either."

"Excuse me." You looked up at the sound of a deep voice coming from the large figure who approached your table. You do recognized him!

"I couldn't help but over hear, that a beautiful dove such as yourself seems to feel threatened," Shingen smiled gently down at you, though his eyes suggested he was watching to gauge your reaction, like he wanted to get a read on your character.

"Did you really over hear the entire thing?" Sasuke looked suprised for a moment.

"Well, no," he admitted, "But I heard enough to know that an innocent woman is in distress." He bowed to you, "And I am fully prepared to whisk her away to safety."

You laughed and smiled politely, "As nice as that would be, I can't just run from my problems," even if that's what you were totally trying to do, "I have to go back and take care of it."

"Ah, a tenacious young woman, I can respect that," his expression seemed to soften somehow.

"Yes well," you slid out of the booth before standing, Shingen stepping out of your way to give you room before you turned to look at Sasuke, "I suppose I should return to the lions den."

"Yukimura and I can walk you back," Sasuke suggested. "What?!" The man in question piped up from his seat at the bar.

"Won't that be dangerous for the both of you?" Somthing dawned on you and you turned to Shingen, "And you too!" You gave the redheaded man a smack on the arm, "What if you're caught?"

He looked shocked at your actions, "Whatever do you mean?" These men, thinking they could say their names around you and you wouldn't remember them- well normally is does take you longer to remember names, but you learned about these men in history class, and though history wasn't your best subject - you heard their names enough in class to recognize them if you heard them again. "Do you think me stupid, Shingen?'

"You remembered my name?" His mouth was slightly agape now.

"Of course," you scoffed, "You all left such an impression last time."

"Even so," he chuckled, "How would it be unsafe here for us? We are merely travelling merchants." You gave him a look to let him know you didn't quite believe him - raising one brow while the other furrowed and topped it off with a lopsided smile, "Sure."

You began to walk off before Sasuke stopped you, "My offer still stands," you turned to look at him, "If you feel unsafe, we can provide refuge for you."

You smiled and nodded, "Thank you, Sasuke. I'll let you know if anything changes, but I at least plan to teach these boys some manners before I leave." Sasuke released you arm with a smile of his own, "Of course, but at least allow Yuki and I to escort you back. It isn't good for a woman to walk around in public with nothing but a bath robe, unless you intend to announce everything to all of Azuchi."

You huffed, "Yes, I suppose you're right." Sasuke waved Yukimura over who sighed dramatically and rolled his eyes before sliding off the stool and making his was over, "Why would you even run out into public with nothing but a bath robe, thats just asking for trouble," he snarked.

As the three of you headed out the doorway, you roughly elbowed him in the ribs, "Lesson number one," you snapped.

"Ow!" He quickly moved a hand to rub his now sore side.

"No one- woman or man asks for anything just because of what they wear or how they look," you turned to gaze at him with narrowed eyes, a look that -had you been a man- he would have taken as a challenge, "If I were to knee you in your crotch right now and you weren't wearing any protective gear, does that mean you were asking to get kicked in the balls?"

His mouth dropped at your crude words.

"No?" You raised a brow, "That's what I thought." You turned and walked back in the direction of the castle, with Sasuke following closely at your side. It took Yukimura a moment, as he sputtered and tried to find his words before ultimately deciding to keep his mouth shut and run after the both of you.

"You know," after a moment passed, Yuki was finally able to find his words.

"Hm?" You didn't look at him, but you acknowledged his words.

"You don't talk like a woman...or act like one."

"Correction, I don't talk like the women your used to," you sneared, "Meek little housewives, doting, wishing and waiting on men who treat them more like property than living beings, who treat them more like maids than life partners, who scorn them for having an opinion of their own." You gave him a sharp look, "For you to tell me that I neither talk nor act like one of your oppressed women, is a compliment."

For the second time today, Yukimura found himself swallowing the lump that formed in his throat. He was going to say that you acted more like a boar than a woman, but he couldn't form words at the moment. You averted your gaze to look away from him just as Sasuke placed his hands on either of your shoulders, "Forgive her, Yuki, she's from a much more peaceful and care free village."

"She comes from somewhere else? What is she doing here in Azuchi then?"

You laughed, but before you could say a word, Sasuke spoke for you, "One of the vassals who lives in this village has hired her as his seamstress."

You turned to Sasuke and gave him a look, not quite happy with the hole he was digging you. A seamstress? Sure being a dragon you've had to pick up a few things to avoid having to buy new clothing on a daily basis, but your knowledge only went as far as repairing tears and holes in your garments. He looked you in the eyes, practically begging you to play along.

"Yes," you looked to Yukimura, "but I live at the castle with the rest of the working women."

A silence fell over the three if you as you continued down the villages dirt road, earning odd looks here and there from several of the customers and shopkeepers along the trail. Yuki found himself looking around nervously, unsure if any of the villagers would be willing to assault a barely clothed woman being escorted by two men. You and Sasuke however, were a stark contrast- the both of your were calm and walked with your heads held high, as if there wasn't a thing in the world that could harm you.

Unbeknownst to any of you however, there were most certainly people out looking for you. Hideyoshi and Mitsunari were currently scouring the village for you. One of the maids had informed them while they were making their way down the castle halls, that she returned to your room about an hour after you left the bathhouse to find your quarters empty. She was frantic that something may have happened to you, and they recieved several reports from the practicing vassals that they saw you trying to get away from Mitsuhide before you left their line of sight.

However, you noticed Yuki and Sasuke become ridged and a bit more robotic at the same time that the hair at the back of your neck stood on end. Someone was watching you, and not in the awkward gawking manner that the villagers were- it felt like someone was observing you, studying you, approaching you.

"There you are!"

You froze at the familiar sound of Hideyoshi's voice and about faced to look at him, "Hideyoshi"

"What were you thinking?!" He stormed closer to the three of you, frantically removing the outermost layer of his garb to wrap around you, "And in nothing but a bath robe?!"

You allowed him to drape the fabric over your shoulders, quickly shoving your arms through the sleeves before he closed the opening infront of you, and tightly tied the kimono shut. "Oh good! You found her!" Mitsunari came around Hideyoshi to stand infront of you with a gentle smile, "You had us all worried, Milady."

"I'm sorry," you apologized, "I shouldn't have acted so rashly, it was dangerous and stupid and unnecessary."

"Nonsense," Mitsunari looked at you sympathetically, "Mitsuhide said it was his fault for talking to you so rudely. He admitted he had been trying to get under your skin and it frightened you."

Frightened you? Well at least you know he hadn't told anybody about what really happened. But why? Certainly not to protect you... All you know is that now you owe Mitsuhide, and that is one of the last people you want to owe a favor to.

"Yes," you confirmed the story, "I let my emotions get the best of me, and blindly ran away. Luckily I ran into two fine men who talked me down and offered to escort me back to the castle."

As you mentioned them, Hideyoshi looked to both Sasuke and Yuki, with a blank and slightly untrusting gaze, "Thank you both." His eyes narrowed slightly, "Surely there is something we can do for the both of your to repay you for your kindness."

Yuki was about to speak before Sasuke cut him off as he had done before to you, "Nonsense, we merely wanted to make sure this woman got home safely." He bowed slightly with a nod of his head, Yuki followed his actions and remained silent, "She seemed quite distressed, and we just wanted to make sure all was well."

Hideyoshi's gaze softened and he ended the conversation with a small smile, "Well, we thank you for your kind gesture. We can take her the rest of the way." Sasuke nodded, while Yukimura stood still ith a awestruck expression on his face, and with that, Hideyoshi took hold of your arm and guided you away, with Mitsunari following close behind.