Welcome to the Uesugi-Takeda Alliance's Restaurant! (Ft. Kennyo & Motonari)
Kenshin:
Head chef, knives and chopping are his expertise. The burst of unruly flames and smoke gets his adrenaline pumping.
Has a secret talent for cutting sashimi actually. 40% of the customers come to the restaurant for this. The down side is that he MUST use Himetsuru Ichimonji for this. No buts.
Doesn’t like shopping for ingredients. Just put the ingredients on his cutting board and he'll do the rest.
If he calls out an order and doesn't hear 'Yes, Chef!' in reply, duck, because he'll throw a knife at you. ( •ᴗ•✧)つ▬ι═ﺤ
Sasuke:
In charge of social media and marketing! The restaurant is trending on tiktok and instgram because of him.
20% of the customers are here to see him because he's accidently become somewhat of a mini celebrity...?
Used to do the admin work too but that job got passed off. Strangely, in charge of desserts because Yukimura's desserts aren't sweet at all and Shingen's are too sweet. Sasuke follows the recipe exactly and scientifically, so it comes out commercial.
When there are little kids crying in the dining room, he will help parents calm them down by performing a magic trick; ker-vanish!
Shingen
Used to be front of house. Got demoted(?) to admin after all he did was flirt with the ladies and drink with them. He then complained about the lack of ladies and got promoted(?) to expediter where he at least gets to interact with the waitresses.
Self proclaimed desserts taste tester. When Yukimura isn't looking, that is.
Surprisingly good at his role because he can guide Kenshin into doing the orders that need to be done. Usually Kenshin does what he wants and fights whoever says otherwise, but not with Shingen.
Is also the repairman of the restaurant. Sink broken? Call Shingen, Oven door sealed shut? Call Shingen. Toilet clogged? Call Shingen.
Kanetsugu:
Does the admin, pay roll, budgeting and inventory. Also ensures the dining room and kitchen are cleaned everyday. Is the one that buys the ingredients in the morning because Kenshin refuses to do it.
Anything to do with money MUST pass through him first. No exceptions. If you try to go behind his back, he WILL catch you.
His true talent lies in expediting but Shingen goes crazy with the amount of paperwork and lack of women doing admin so they swapped roles.
Helps as dishwasher when Yukimura is at his wits' end dealing with Kenshin and Shingen.
Yoshimoto:
Head of Front of House. Doesn't really enforce cleaning. Kanetsugu does that.
Decorated the place and it looks really fancy. The place almost looks like an art gallery instead; you can browse authentic art, priceless vases and scrolls. Was the one that suggested they make their own restaurant merch to match. Sasuke liked this idea very much and is still begging to sell his caltrops as merch.
Despite not doing much other than smiling and drifting through the tables, 40% of the customers are there to see him.
Excels in selling the alcohol, if there is any, that is. Usually Kenshin has already enjoyed it all...
Yukimura:
Sous chef. Almost lost his right ear once from a wild swing from Kenshin.
Actually incredibly crucial to the kitchen because Kenshin only does what Kenshin wants to do. Yukimura is always cleaning up after him.
Cannot be away from his post, otherwise Shingen might steal a nibble here or there from the kitchen.
His famous catch phrase within the restaurant is: "I'm not paid enough for this!" (ﾉಥ益ಥ）ﾉ ┻━┻
Kennyo:
Hygiene inspector. His presence forced Kenshin to stay at home because Shingen didn't want Kennyo seeing Kenshin whip out Himetsuru Ichimonji on Kennyo's salmon and get shut down.
Keiji got reprimanded by Kennyo once for dropping food on the floor and not cleaning the floor up. Was made to kneel on the floor with his arms in the air for 20 minutes.
Also a food reviewer on the side. Gave Nobunaga's restaurant a 0/5 which he swears was unbiased, but has refused to elaborate on his reasons for the rating...
Gave Kenshin's restaurant a decent 3.5/5. Kenshin took it as an insult and wanted to fight Kennyo afterwards.
Motonari:
Ingredient supplier, specialising in seafood. Has the freshest ingredients and the best prices. Truly a business man. (˵⎚ᴗ⎚ ˵ ) ✧
Cusses and insults his customers, but they always come crawling back to him because of his quality produce.
Has eaten at both Kenshin and Nobunaga's restaurants. Secretly prefers Kenshin's because the sashimi is just so good, but often frequents Nobunaga's to exchange intel at Mitsuhide's bar (Like Mitsuhide, Motonari runs an informant business on the side).
Has dined and dashed at Nobunaga's restaurant a few times. Mitsuhide knows this, but received information worth more than the meal so he let it go.
Notes: This is kind of inspired by the screenshot @akiyasu-appreciation-blog, my online friend Arthemis, showed me. Writing this as a small "thank you" to them, for always having my back.
Kennyo's wife is referred to as "she" here, and is still unnamed. Everything, including timelines, has been kept a little vague.
Always. The. Same. It is always the same. It has always been this way. I do not remember a dream that was different. Their screams only keep getting louder, as their hands reach out to drag me to the depths of hell.
I wake up, covered in cold sweat, only to realise that it was all illusion, a nightmare.
But these days, I see a soft light coming from above, and feel soft arms holding me from behind, not letting the hands of the damned take me to the dark, murky depths.
I wonder why.
Ever since she had come to my life, the dreams have been a little different. The strange light seems almost protective, as if trying to convince me to return to the old path that I walked.
But I had determined myself, hardened my heart, to get my revenge. To avenge my brethren, my family, all those who passed away that night.
I know, we got married only for political gains, but she looks at my face, her eyes so full of kindness and hope. As if, I were never a demon, a murderer.
I do not need her, nor her kindness, yet she tells me she loves me.
I do not know what to think of this. What fool would even love the demon that I am?
As I wake up, from one of the usual nightmares, I look at the woman sleeping next to me, rolled up in the bedding like a cocoon, with that silly smile still on her face. And it strangely calms my heart.
This is my story Bittersweet, originally written for the First Time For Everything Zine ( @ikemen-watch ), awesomely organized by @lorei-writes and @dicenete. Writing for this zine was a wonderful experience. It was nice to know that Lorei and Dicenete were there for me if I needed them and I loved having their support for the ideas I brought to them. I would absolutely do this with them again. Thank you both!
If you haven't yet, you can (and should) download the whole Zine here.
Title: Bittersweet
Characters: Shingen, Kennyo, Yukimura, and (briefly) Mai
Logline: Shingen takes two quiet rainy moments to think about time and mortality.
Bitter…
Nothing could chase the metallic tang of blood from his tongue. The acrid powders handed to him by a succession of healers and herbalists only compounded the problem. Sweet desserts never fully covered the taste of death in his throat. Even the softness of another’s lips beneath his own was just fleeting pleasure made more painful by the knowledge of mortality.
Mortality.
True, Shingen had always been aware that life was finite. He lived through wars, experienced the loss of loved ones, felt despair when his homeland fell. But he had never felt, down through the marrow of his bones, that his life would end. That he might not have enough time to revenge broken promises, retake stolen lands, or bring security to his people. He could no more avoid his own death than he could erase the flavor of blood from his throat.
Perhaps that was in fact what mortality was. Not death itself, but that first understanding that he must die, that realization of the inevitability of death.
Steady footsteps behind him, as another came to join him in the temple gardens. “My friend, you are soaking wet.” Kennyo’s words were dispassionate. Factual. His tone of voice, however, didn’t disguise his concern.
Shingen turned toward the monk, noting his friend was gesturing at the warmth and shelter of the temple. “I want to enjoy-” His throat constricted, as the words ‘the rain’ drowned into a thick cough. He swallowed the blood before it could surface and reveal his state.
But Kennyo was, as always, observant. “You’ll make yourself sick. Sicker.”
Had he told Kennyo that wet weather made his cough worse? Maybe once, when he was brushing off the man’s questions about the lingering cough. He’d explained it was only a reaction to weather, something to be endured, something that always vanished in the sun. Unfortunately, there was no more strength to deflect the truth. “Nothing will prevent that. I might as well take pleasure in the rain.”
It might be his final autumn rain. If it was, then he would at least savor the sight of the orange and yellowed leaves, glistening as droplets of water rolled across the surface, reflecting the light of the evening lanterns.
One such leaf detached itself from the branch and spiraled to the muddy earth below.
Thanks, leaf.
With a mental sigh, Shingen allowed Kennyo to shepherd him inside, and after shrugging off his damp cloak, accepted a cup of tea. It too, was bitter. “Is this your version of medicine?”
“It, perhaps, will be of help to stave off a throat infection.” Kennyo filled an incense pot and set it nearby. “As might this. Breathe.”
Nothing would help, but Shingen allowed his friend the illusion. For a long while, they sipped their tea in silence, as he tried to ignore the tightness of his lungs. Ignore the lump he could feel pressing him from the inside. It was no longer a matter of if, but when. “What is time?”
“Are you asking a philosophical question?” Kennyo settled himself on a prayer cushion, looking like … well, like the sage teacher he was.
“I might be.” He took one last gulp of that horrible tea, vowing to hunt down some Nanban sugar candy to replace the flavor. “I never considered the concept… before. At least no more consideration other than ensuring I would not arrive late for anything.”
“Time does not exist. We are all one moment, and yet all moments. One place, and yet all places.”
Trust Kennyo to jump right into mysticism. In another reality, Shingen would have enjoyed the debate, appreciated the game of parsing the theory out until the conversation turned into two friends sharing thoughts over tea or sake. But that reality was… before. “In that case… it was not a theological question. Because I am unable to stop thinking of everything in my life as before – and after.”
“What you are discussing is not time. It is simply your mind organizing knowledge.” Kennyo swirled tea around in his cup, apparently, and mysteriously, enjoying the flavor. “You have always been able to take the long view of things. To step outside of details; to understand the whole.”
True. Until now. Now the whole revolved around the moment when he stopped avoiding the knowledge that whatever lived inside his chest was killing him. When he accepted that he would not die honorably on the battlefield. He would not slip away peacefully, surrounded by a beloved wife, children… grandchildren.
Everything that followed that epiphany would be considered after. He wondered if this, the first autumn rain after would also be the last. Shingen closed his eyes and let his focus turn to the gentle thrum of rain on the roof, the warmth of the cup in his hands, the sharp aroma of incense… and the taste of bitterness in his mouth.
No. He refused to fill his after with despair. What would be the use in that?
If his end was in sight, he would be wise to take on Kennyo’s conception of time. Every day would be the last and the first. Every bitter would be turned to sweet.
Sweet…
“What the hell are you doing out here?” Yukimura’s exasperated tone trailed off when Shingen turned and gave him a look. A look that said, ‘I’ve known you since you were a skinny boy hitting out at the world with sticks.’ With a guilty expression, Yuki added, “My lord. It’s raining.”
Shingen turned his face to the sky as the spring rainfall cleansed the sleep from his eyes. When the first patter of water hit the roof, he had gotten up, leaving his lovely angel slumbering in their bed. He’d been tempted to wake her up, so they could enjoy a relaxing morning, cocooning safely from the elements. But the water called out, beckoning him to drink in its sweetness. He caught a droplet on his tongue, allowing the refreshment to slide easily down his throat. “I’m aware, Yuki.”
“You’ll get sick.” The threat was half a grumble, half an unspoken worry.
Before… he indeed would have. Shingen took a deep breath, reveling in the feeling of his lungs expanding. He stretched his arms outward, as if he could hug the sky to him. “I might. But I will get better.”
No matter how many times he explained to his Sengoku family that the voyage to… the future cured his disease, that the doctors in the future removed the ‘tumor’ and therapists taught him how to breathe unfettered again, that after years of sucking air through an increasingly small passage, he knew he was unlikely to die from a spring rain… they did not understand. Maybe it would only take time for them to accept his renewed health.
“That’s no reason to catch a cold.” For all his impetuousness, Yuki could be an old grandmother when addressing the issue of Shingen’s health… and his eating habits. “My lord.”
He reached over and ruffled Yuki’s hair, causing it to stick out all over, despite the rain tamping it down. “Give me this moment Yuki. I thought I would never see another spring rain. It isn’t cold out.” In fact, even the sun was visible, low on the horizon, rays threading through the raindrops. They gleamed on the petals of a budding rose, turning beads of water into shining gems. “And stop ‘my lording’ me. We both know you only do that when you’re annoyed.”
“I am not, my lo-.” Yuki broke off, looking like he wanted to slap his hand over his mouth.
“Caught!” He sent a smile of triumph to his young friend and was rewarded by Yuki’s obvious sulk. “Go back to the castle, Yuki. I’ll be inside soon enough. There’s an angel waiting for me.”
The sulk turned into a blush, then an awkward bow as Yukimura escaped.
Shingen laughed at himself. He likely shouldn’t have teased Yuki, but sometimes it was too easy. It always had been. At least where Yukimura was concerned, there never were any “befores” or “afters.” Yukimura lived in the now.
He cupped his hands together, collecting rain from the sky, filling his palms with clear cool water. Raindrops bounced on the surface of this miniscule pond, rippling outward. When he’d visited the future, during those long weeks of rehabilitation and recovery, he’d run across a poem that stayed with him to this day. To see the world in a grain of sand and a heaven in a wild flower, hold infinity in the palm of your hand, and eternity in an hour.* He could see infinity in the water, rippling to the edge of the circle, then bouncing back to center.
“Shingen?” The sleepy voice of his angel. She stood in the doorway of his quarters, her yukata loosely tied. “It’s raining.”
“So it is.”
“Come back to bed…?” She reached out to him, and he took her hand, squeezed it gently. Holding her… holding eternity in the palm of his hand.
“Of course, goddess.” There would be more spring rain in his future. This was only the first one in his restored life. The thought was neither bitter, nor sweet. It was neither. It was both.
Maybe that was what Kennyo had been trying to say all those years ago. Whatever moment he was in, if he stood still and simply breathed, he could see all the befores and all the afters, all the lasts and all the firsts, all the bitter and all the sweet. He could hold it all in one breath.
