A/N: My first fanfiction so I hope you like it :) And english is not my main language so I hope the grammar is fine. When I was done with the story, it reminded me of the song "Die with a smile" by Bruno Mars and Lady Gaga so if you'd like to you can listen to the song for better experience, it fits with Saizo x MC after all :) <3
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It was a beautiful sunny day when it suddenly happened. I had our third son tied to my back, he was only 2 years old at the time. I was in the kitchen making lunch for my family when I suddenly heard my oldest son call my name with a worried tone in his voice. I dropped everything to go out to the veranda where they were and spotted two angry looking men standing in front of them.
“Daddy will come home soon, now go inside and hide and don’t come out until we say so” I whispered as I removed my son from my back and gave him to my daughter. They did as I said, but reluctantly.
“You are aware that you are scaring my kids, including me when strangers like you come to our house looking angry and dangerous like that” I said with a strong voice. Maybe I provoked them too much, but I couldn’t stop myself from saying that. They themselves looked very provocative, like that’s their motive to make us scared just from their looks. “What are you looking for? Can I help you with something?”
”We are looking for Saizo… Give us Saizo and we will leave you and your kids alone.” The tall but skinny guy said with a determined voice. I could tell they were obviously not Saizos' friends.
”How did you find us?” I said as I slowly walked back inside, in case I had to grab my spear that was on the wall to protect myself.
”Listen lady, you don’t have to play hard, just tell us where he is and we will leave.” The other guy said, with a stronger irritated voice. He was shorter but bigger in a more muscular way.
”I don’t know where he is and I don’t know when he is coming back, he went on a mission a couple of days ago.” That was actually a lie and I could tell by the looks on them that they did not believe it.
Saizo had actually not been on a mission for almost 13 years since he ran away from Iga when I got pregnant with our twins. It was a dangerous time as a fugitive ninja in the beginning and not the ideal way of raising kids. At that time we had to move around a lot, sometimes living in an inn for a while and leaving just before they would find us. Sometimes we lived in abandoned temples or houses, and we did the same there, leaving before someone would find us. They did find us sometimes, mostly in the beginning and then it was fewer. There were a lot of times when I thought that I would lose Saizo. Since I did the running and hiding with the kids while he did the fighting. And when he was done he would come home to me looking almost like a dead person.
Then when we finally found this house, the kids were 6 years old at that time. I finally couldn’t manage running anymore, I was exhausted and not a funny person to be around at that time. I tried to be strong, but I was not a good mother or a wife and it was not a stable life for the children to be moving around a lot. Basically not having a home, not knowing where we are going to live and ending up sleeping in a rundown shed one night then leaving the next day. And Saizo… He was strong as always for us. But I could tell that his body was also reaching its limit, it actually reached the limit a long time before we decided to settle down. I could tell because his wounds were increasing and started to heal slower and he was visibly tired even if he tried to hide it.
So I told him we needed to stay. This house was the first one we found that was as far away from Iga you could go and that was out in the middle of nowhere. There was a small town, but you had to go for quite a while until you reached it. It was probably the reason this house was abandoned.
The house was quite big, not big enough for the five of us now, but at the time it was perfect because we were four and the twins were still small. It was a bit run down but I helped Saizo with some of the repairs, and we also started growing our own vegetables in our garden.
It took a while until we were confident enough to go to the town nearby. But after we did, he came home with weapons one day that he bought from a trader that was visiting the town. He bought two tanto knives for the children to use when they’re old enough to defend themselves. And a spear for me so that I could learn how to fight with it in case Saizo is not able to protect us. That I am happy for now. Because now I know I need to protect my kids until my husband comes home from his haunt again.
”You had your chance lady…” The big guy said as they both grabbed their katanas. I ran and grabbed the spear and pointed it at them and tried with all strength I had to fight them, to at least make them drop their katanas or just make them tired. But it wasn’t enough, I wasn’t enough. They were not faster than me but they were stronger than me. And just when a little of my energy started to leave my body, one of them stabbed me from behind, right where my stomach is. Just when I look down to see the tip of the katana pointing out of my stomach, someone comes in and kills the two men just in the blink of an eye…
I open my eyes feeling a sharp pain in my stomach. Saizo is holding me in his arms, trying to stop the blood from flooding with his other arm. It’s no use though and we both know it.
”Saizo… The kids, are they fine? They were hiding in…”
”Yes, then they should be fine…” I could see that his eyes were turning red, like he’s trying to hide his tears. ”We are safe now, little lady… I’m so proud of you, you did great. Everything will be fine. You will be fine.” He tries to reassure me that everything will be fine, but it sounds more like he’s trying to tell himself that.
”Saizo…” I say as I take his hand from my stomach to rest it against my cheek. ”I don’t regret it, my life with you, running away. All I wanted was you by my side and you gave me three wonderful children. I could never be more thankful.”
”All I want is you by my side too little lady… So stay with me.”
I smile at him as my body is starting to feel heavy.
”I love you Sai-”
”Mother!” The last thing I hear is my children just making it into the room before everything turns completely dark…
In an attempt to encourage myself to go back to writing, I think I shall adopt a practice of posting a snippet of what I'm currently working on every Sunday.
So, here's the first one, a fregment from an Oshu Boys ficlet , featuring an adolescent Kojuro:
“The maids up at the castle seem to be quite taken with you,” his sister says one day as he helps her prepare dinner for their rather boisterous family members. Shelling soybeans is pretty much the only thing she trusts him to do around the kitchen, so he finds himself sitting on the bench, his sword-calloused fingers full of bulging pods.
“They think you’re very pretty, you know, with your bamboo eyes and your broody ways. ‘Kagetsuna-dono is so dreamy’,” she continues, adopting a shriller, more nasally tone. And then, much closer to her regular timbre and with a smile too evil for somebody who was brought up in a shrine, she adds, “Probably because they’ve never seen the state of your room…”
Kojuro frowns and takes his vengeance on a particularly reluctant pod, popping soybeans everywhere. Kita sighs and takes the bowl out of his hands.
“Still,” she mutters after a moment or two of quiet work, eye-siding him in a rather speculative manner.“It’s not like they don’t have a point… We should probably start thinking of finding you a wife.”
Something inside him bristles at the suggestion, at the ease with which it comes to her lips, at the almost matter-of-fact way she uses to spring it on him. She’s done the same with the matter of his service - as if his choice in the matter of deciding his own future was a trivial thing, and getting in the way of her pragmatic plannings.
“Maybe we should be finding you a husband first…” he grunts darkly, only registering her sharp gasp a moment too late.
He ends up feeling the slap for days.
General NSFW Headcanons (SLBP Jinpachi and Kageie)
Requested by @pkmnmstrchf (thank you for taking part in my Followers Celebration 💕). I vacillated in between Jinpachi and Kageie for your request as Comte is a popular man and already has a couple of requests lined up for him 🤣
I hope these two head-canons each for them serve a sufficient replacement instead of a story for either. Happy reading!
Jinpachi
Jinpachi has, for as long as he can remember, lived solely as the agent of his Lord, Nobuyuki: his eyes and his limbs within the shadows.
His Lord is perhaps the closest he has ever been to another human being in his life; painting a perpetual silhouette of Nobuyuki ever since he was handed to the oldest son of the Sanada as a teen. Living only as Nobuyuki commanded, he has continued to support the Sanada, ever waiting in the wings. To be moved at a single command from his Lord.
The pleasures of the body, only ever put to use in the line of work — Jinpachi does not hold much interest in exploring the sexual pleasures to be derived from another. Until you.
The love you two explore together and the sex that comes after — it isn’t something incandescent that sparks overnight. It’s new for the both of you and yet, Jinpachi is willing to examine and break down these foreign emotions — with you. His heart — perhaps unbeknownst to him — finds you way, way before your bodies ever seek each other.
Jinpachi is unaccustomed to feeling what he does for you; his candid nature — a man of spare but honest words — perhaps endearing him faster to you.
When he has you in bed with him, Jinpachi is intent upon putting his knowledge, whatever skills are at his disposal — to use. Set upon plucking a myriad of reactions from your body, what makes you shiver underneath his touch. The exact pressure to be applied when he sinks those long, thick digits into your wetness.
Jinpachi gets off on knowing you as intimately as you allow the two of you to be.
Your moans, the quiver of flushed breasts. The fist you bring to your open mouth, biting into the skin as pleasured tears run free down the curve of your cheeks. It all sets his cock tighter within the confines of his clothes — aching to feel the ridges of your warm walls within.
Kakizaki Kageie
Specious modesty is a guise without use in front of Kageie. The man’s keen senses of perception see through every single movement, each inane action you craft to deny what you want from him — he sees through it all.
What Kageie wants is for you to be clear about your own wants. If you desire physical intimacy, the man prefers you admitting it outright; he sees through you either way. Your honesty with the man only serving to guide him better as he touches you in bed.
Kageie’s eyes are right there at your face, gauging your reactions when his fingers curl into you. Asking you questions every now and then, “That feel alright for you? How about this?”
His body as if designed to provide you the most intoxicating of pleasures. Although he may not point it out in many words, Kageie admires it if you let him hear your candid thoughts in bed. If it feels good, tell the man. He’s winding your body up higher than you ever thought possible when you give in to your desires.
Your lap is a comforting place to rest his head against during afternoon naps.
Kageie has had trouble sleeping at night and quiet, lazy afternoons are the only time he finds a moment to rest his eyes without unwanted demons worrying his sleep.
And the man rests better when he makes a pillow of your thighs. Often, when he feels you fidgeting beneath him; a languid eye cracking open to witness the peach blush of your cheeks, Kageie finds himself wanting to stir that color deeper.
Ghosting mischievous fingers across the sides of your waist, a vulpine smile stretching slow and sure across those delectable lips before he snakes a hand up the back of your head. Tapered digits threading through your locks before dragging you down onto his mouth for a kiss that leaves you grasping for air.
The languid way his lips move across your parted mouth, the slow caress of a wet tongue against the inside of your upper — then lower — lip before sliding into the heat of your mouth. Pointed tip caressing the roof of your mouth before coaxing yours into his own with an audible suck — the blood rushing from your head down to in between your legs; throbbing and wet.
Kageie, despite his lackadaisical attitude towards life in general, is a tease. And if you lower your guard down, he’s not above exploiting your weak spots. Leaving you breathless and dazed and turned on with a mere kiss.
Thank you, @catglomerate! I hope you’re having a nice Saturday 😊💕
☕️ — Favorite passage.
I have lots of favorites, and I chose this from one of my SLBP works because it’s the fandom we’re both in! (｡♡‿♡｡)
I’m very fond of this one because I find Ieyasu’s petty jealousy amusing.
From All Smiles.
Ieyasu scanned the room until his gaze landed on her sitting form on the opposite end of the hall with some of the other retainers. The first thing he noticed about her were her cheeks; the hint of pink in them slowly making itself known into a blush. She had been drinking, it seemed. Not that he minded that fact much; he has yet to see what she was like with alcohol flowing in her system, and for that, he was curious, very much so. Toramatsu sat by her side and said something to her—something Ieyasu was too far off to hear or to even take a guess—and then, her shoulders shook in laughter.
She was laughing at something Toramatsu was saying.
Whatever could that one be saying that had her laughing like that? To Ieyasu, Toramatsu was the most boring retainer ever. Surely, whatever he said could not be so… funny? The next thing he knew, Ieyasu was gazing at the way vague crescents appeared on her cheeks, how they got deeper as her lips spread wider into a smile, her eyes fluttering closed as she laughed once again, and the way they opened when she gave Toramatsu a reply. Briefly, he wondered why her movements caught his attention; it wasn’t the first time he has ever seen her smile or laugh, but somehow, seeing her right now made him want to—
His train of thought was interrupted when she glanced his way and caught him staring at her. She blinked a few times in surprise and offered him a shy wave. Her cheeks were now fully red, and her smile was more subtle, yet he still found himself drawn to them—to her.
Ieyasu smiled back, a touch of poison gracing his lips. It was the only acknowledgment he gave her as he looked away and tried to gather his thoughts in the process. He would have his fun with her later, but for now, he had to find a valid excuse to leave the celebration as soon as he could.
Hello, long time no see, everyone! I hope you’re all doing well and the new year has been treating you kindly. Unfortunately, this post doesn’t mark my return to the fandom, but it’s instead a draft that I had been working on for a very long time before I retired this blog. It’ll never be completed so I just wanted to post what I had, because I remember having so much fun writing it!
It’s a SLBP Nobunaga/Ieyasu/MC threesome. approx 1.4k words.
It seemed this night was destined to be one of exceptions.
The scattering kaleidoscope of stars across the galaxy were curiously absent, as if swallowed whole by night. A lonely moon hid behind misty clouds, casting pale beams across the balcony. Absently, you wondered if they would return by tomorrow before sliding the shoji door shut, cutting off the light breezes that usually caressed your room.
The biggest difference of all—Nobunaga had summoned Ieyasu to his private chambers.
After the attendant had left to go fetch the lord in question, you turned a quizzical eye to your lover. He sat with one leg propped up, an open book in a hand. Twin lamps summoned shadows from hawk-shaped covers onto the walls as he absently drummed his fingers. “Milord, why did you call for Lord Ieyasu? I’d assumed we were going to bed.” You’d already changed into your sleeping robes, the camellia-white fabric that matched his. “Should I change if he is on his way?”
Without a word, he beckoned you near with an easy stretch of his arm and an open palm. You obeyed by sliding into the lap he offered as the familiar scent of him embraced you along with taut arms, the book abandoned.
“You’re shivering.” The fresh breath of hot air into your ear was the true cause of your tremors as his calloused fingers slid easily underneath the back of the robe to meet your skin. He spread sparks wherever he brushed, dancing across your thighs, barely skirting the lips of the sweet heat he’d become so familiar with.
You bit back the whimper. “M-Milord, Ieyasu is…”
“So?” He playfully nipped at your ear, already knowing that you couldn’t resist the challenge in his words. Just as you didn’t have to turn around to know his mouth was curved into a cocky grin.
His toughened fingertips were eternally gentle on your clit as they flitted across the hood to coax another quiet, restrained moan. His lips found your neck, dropping chaste kisses that transformed into the drag of a slick tongue across smooth, creamy skin. Time was clearly of no concern to this lord. “Why should that stop me from pleasing my wife?” A thumb at your bead, he slipped the first inch of his index finger inside you, moistened with hunger. You were no stranger to the sudden craving that hit you for something thicker, something currently making its presence known against your back.
“Lord Nobunaga, it’s Ieyasu.”
The curt voice sliced through the feverish air, forcing sanity to return as you snapped to attention. You rushed to cover your shoulder with the fallen fabric, fully expecting Nobunaga to withdraw. You should have known better. Your lord was not one to surrender.
“Come in, Ieyasu.” That deep voice remained utterly calm, infuriatingly so, as he sank in another inch, curling against your walls; another shiver, a tender moan barely suppressed by a hand that was forced to drop away when the screen slid open.
“Milord. Lady Oda.” Accompanying the greeting into the room were a mess of blonde locks and a thinly-pressed smile that didn’t quite reach those crimson eyes.
That cold gaze swept over your precarious position perched between the devil king’s legs. “You called for me?”
“Yes. I had some thoughts regarding the upcoming campaign.” Nobunaga shifted as he continued to speak, but you barely registered a word when he began to rub so insistently against that sweet, shallow spot.
Arousal simmered beneath your flesh, fervent and insistent, only bolstered by the fear of discovery. Your cheeks were undoubtedly a shade of scarlet as you bruised your bottom lip with teeth that tried to staunch noise with minimal success. You snuck a look at Ieyasu, but he held Nobunaga’s gaze with seemingly-rapt attention.
A second finger joined the first, deadly weapons that shattered all semblance of self-control when he wedded them with an easy caress of your clit. “A-Ah…!” The sound was unmistakably erotic, suspended in the stifling air as all talk ceased. Silence sat in its wake, tremulous and uneasy.
To his credit, Ieyasu kept a stoic face. “Lord Nobunaga, should I come back another time?”
“No,” Nobunaga answered, “there’s no reason why we can’t finish this now.” The smirk was evident in his every word.
“Are you not… occupied, milord?” Now Ieyasu’s gaze shifted to finally meet yours. A chill crawled down your spine at the intensity lurking behind those eyes, as if they were merely the shores to a brewing tsunami that threatened release. There was no chance in hell Nobunaga missed the tensing of your cunt around him before you averted your eyes.
“Not in the slightest.” Another roll of the thumb made you thankful that you were seated, for your knees were reduced to mush, legs to trembles. “Are you uncomfortable, Ieyasu?” One final stroke had him buried as deeply as the position could allow. “Have you never watched a woman unravel?”
Ieyasu actually dared to smile. “I have.”
“Really? Even with that barbed tongue of yours?” Nobunaga lavished pressure onto your clit, chuckling when you shuddered into him. “I would think all the women would be afraid.”
You thought you noticed Ieyasu’s eye twitch, the first crack in his polite façade. “You’d think, wouldn’t you?”
A pause, just long enough for two beats of your anticipatory heart. “Why don’t you prove it?” Nobunaga dipped his mouth to your ear. “I’m sure you don’t mind, you brazen little thing. Not when you’re dripping like this, clenching me so obediently.”
He was right. He always was.
“No,” you answered in a tiny voice that spoke of lost breaths, “I don’t.”
Ieyasu’s grin had grown frighteningly wide as he drew close with unhurried steps. “If that is what you wish, Lord Nobunaga.”
You almost whimpered when your lord withdrew his fingers, but they didn’t stray far. The knot of your robes was his next conquest. Then there was nothing left to shield you, not when the fabric fell away from your naked form, baring you for the first time to a man other than your husband.
Damn. You swore you could feel Ieyasu’s eyes travel as if they were actual hands sliding across your flesh. He started at your collarbone, where a faint mark of red remained from Nobunaga’s teeth, having been so prominent in the mirror this morning. Then he lowered to your breasts, drinking in the taut peaks of pink that Nobunaga’s mouth often captured or wrapped within a teasing tongue. Finally, when Ieyasu swept between your legs, lingered on the cunt smeared with arousal by his lord’s skill, you watched him lick his lips.
“What are you waiting for?” Nobunaga’s voice carried clearly across the room as he traced idle circles across a nipple. “My wife needs to be satisfied.”
An airy half-gasp escaped your anticipating lips when Ieyasu dropped to his knees.
Breathing seemed to be of little importance, not when Lord Tokugawa’s fingers were trailing up the softness of your inner thigh like the delicate feathers of a clipped bird. Quivers rippled from the unfamiliar sensation, but you faced him with as much courage you could muster. You were rewarded when Ieyasu dipped his head, his torturous lips replacing the battle-weathered hands with nibbles.
“Do you like it when he touches you?” Nobunaga already had his answer by the way your trembling skin burned with fire, scorching the arms that held you still, but you knew his fondness for hearing your lust firsthand.
“Ye—hah!” To describe it as a lick would be too tame of a word. There was a fierceness behind the tongue that dragged across your clit like the crashing of a long-threatened wave upon the shore, not coaxing but insisting the moan of surprise and longing from your mouth. A stolen glance downward revealed that Ieyasu allowed himself a grin just before he drew back to settle into a tease once more.
That seeking warmth familiarized itself with the lips of your cunt, carefully avoiding where the need reached its peak. While you would have been embarrassed any other time by the starved bucking of your hips, you were too consumed by ardor to care now. Ieyasu, the damn tease, insisted upon experimenting with his pace. Nobunaga’s fingers pinched your nipple just when Ieyasu fastened his mouth upon your clit again. Every move, every stroke as much for themselves as it was for you.
(Writer’s notes: Omy gosh..finally, after so, so long...! I am posting the continuation of my Yasumasa fic again. It is not dead yet! My Yasumasa fic is still alive and kicking~ XD Whew~ (・ε・`*) … I had been writing and trying to finish these two chapters for almost a week now. (And if it wasn’t for the latest Tenka Yasumasa event I read from Agas-chan, I wouldn’t feel more inspired and try to reaally give time for my fic again. So busy with life that I had a hard time squeezing some time for writing this fic. But finally! I managed now to squeeze my time and finish these two chapters! Yehey! Waah I feel so tired ＿ﾉ乙(､ﾝ､)＿
I even had to reread the whole fic from chapter 1-5 just to make sure I am not forgetting or missing something XD
As always, please bear with my English and writing skills~ (๑•́ ₃ •̀๑) I am no pro, just average XD ~ And hopefully,ｖ(⌒ｏ⌒)ｖI hope you have fun and enjoy reading this fic as much as I do!)
Chapter 6-7
Running in the middle of the night,
Tomorrow morning with a cold.
And an evening full of sadness.
“Did something good happened?” inquire Umeko, her face observing me so carefully.
It is early morning, we have been tasked to prepare food early for some reason. The sky hasn’t lighted up yet but you can hear the roosters outside crowing already. A sign that morning sun is approaching. A brand new day for all of us.
“Haah!??” startled by her sudden question, I almost drop the knife I am holding. “Whhha--, why do you think so?” I reply.
“Well, you seem.. “ she pauses, giggling she continues and says, “you seem like someone who is in love.”
“A whaaat!!?” I find my tone suddenly rising.
“Who is the lucky girl? Ayeee, Yahiko!” squeaks Umeko while elbowing me in my side. “I didn’t know you have one!” exclaimed Umeko again.
“What are you even saying? I don’t know what you are talking about to be honest.”
“Tsk. You can’t fool me young man, I can see it and feel it. Something is different with you these days.” says Umeko as she continues peeling the potatoes beside me.
“I think you are just imagining things.” I reply as I hold the knife and the potato I am peeling more firmly.
“Imagining things? Maybe you are the one who is imagining something there! Tell that to your giggling face!” she says pointing the small knife to me. “Do you even take a look at yourself? You are giggling by yourself since we started peeling these potatoes.”
“Am I?? Reaally?” I say, caught off guard.
“Yeah! You keep on smiling and smiling while peeling these potatoes! I wonder why? Hmmm???” teases Umeko while she pinches my cheeks with both of her hands.
Do I look like that? Was I really am smiling?
I ask myself countless times inside my head.
***
Breakfast was served earlier than usual. After having breakfast, lord Ieyasu and lord Sakai with some of the retainers departed to Owari to visit lord Nobunaga leaving the castle for a few days to the trusted trio: lord Tadakatsu, lord Yasumasa and Toramatsu. The three are left in charge of the affairs in the castle.
So here I am, as usual, outside the veranda just finished everything that needed to be done. I am glad that I am able to do and finished every chore fast. Now finally, I can relax a bit. I look at the swaying sheets of my laundry that are hanging so perfectly out in the sunshine. I feel proud for the good work I have done. As I take in the breeze around me, my mind floats back to what Umeko was saying.
You seem like someone who is in love..
Whhhhaaaa! No no no! Haha, what the hell? Hahaha Umeko is so jumping into conclusions! Me? In love? To whom?? I was just smiling. I was smiling because of what happened a few days ago. Nothing more. I was just happy that lord Yasumasa even tagged along in getting the two children back home safely despite his nonstop complaints. And I was maybe, yes, giggling because lord Yasumasa doesn’t have the slightest clue that those are the very same children that secretly gave him pressed flowers before. I was just happy because everything feels like fate and such. Yeah, that’s it.
I clapped my hands together making a loud sound in the air.
Umeko is really jumping to conclusions. I hope she wouldn’t spread any rumours to our fellow maids.
“Anyway! Why am I thinking so hard about this? The weather is so nice today! Perhaps I should go out and buy some new ingredients for our dessert.” I tell myself with glee.
***
“Hey is that Yahiko? Toramatsu?” says Tadakatsu as he points Yahiko who just went outside the castle gates with basket in one hand.
“Yes, why?” says Toramatsu
Lord Tadakatsu together with Toramatsu and of course lord Yasumasa is currently walking outside in the castle garden. You can visibly see the sweat forming on their clothes and faces as they leisurely walk in the open garden. They have finished practicing their swordsmanship with their retainers a couple of minutes ago.
“Nothing really, haha. But, I can’t help but notice that he is really a hardworking lad. You must be so lucky to have him Yasumasa?” says Tadakatsu as he laughs.
“I think I have to agree with you lord Tadakatsu about that,” says Toramatsu, “Yahiko is a very hardworking person but I am afraid he might over push himself.” concern present on his voice.
Meanwhile, Yasumasa who is standing beside them nods in agreement for the first time with Toramatsu and says, “True, he is very useful I have to say. Way more useful and responsible than any other servants out there that worked under me.”
“Oooh..is that a compliment to Yahiko? Haha” teases lord Tadakatsu.
“Take it whatever you want, Tadakatsu.” says Yasumasa disinterested as he wipes his sweaty face with his kimono sleeves.
“But, I do really hope he doesn’t overwork himself too much. He handles almost all the chores in the castle. I think it won't bring any good to his health later on, if he keeps on abusing his body, doing everything by himself.” says Toramatsu in a whisper as the three of them walk.
As Toramatsu says this, Yasumasa looks back behind him. He looks at the castle gate with something on his mind.
***
As soon as I got back from my mini shopping, I start helping out in the kitchen. It is almost lunchtime, so the old kitchen ladies are all busy preparing the meals of the retainers. I help with ladling the hot soup, filling their porcelain bowls to the brim, then putting them in the trays that are lined up in front of me. After everything is prepared, we start to distribute the trays on the main hall so that the hungry retainers can eat their meal while it is still hot.
I go and serve Toramatsu, lord Tadakatsu and lord Yasumasa their meals as usual.
“Thanks for the meal, Yahiko” says lord Tadakatsu beaming with a smile.
“Why don’t you eat with us too, you must be pretty starving by now” says Toramatsu, smiling at me with some gentleness in his eyes.
Meanwhile, lord Yasumasa on the other hand is just listening to us three while he eats his food.
Feeling shy to eat with them so suddenly, I reject the kind offer. “I umm.. I am not yet hungry so don’t worry milord” I say when suddenly as I am about to stand up from my kneeling spot, my stomach rumbles without any warning.
“!!”
“I think your stomach says otherwise.” says nonchalantly by lord Yasumasa who is now drinking the hot steaming soup from his porcelain bowl.
Lord Tadakatsu laughs at me. I can’t help but blush so hard in front of them. My face turns slightly red like a ripened tomato. Toramatsu on the other hand, tries to stifle his laughter and end up just giggling quietly.
“Just eat with us, Yahiko.”
“Yeah, eat with us..!”
Invites Toramatsu and lord Tadakatsu again to me.
“Umm..haha, no, I am okay. And I still have some things to do. Well then, excuse me my lords!” I bow and walk quickly from the main hall not even looking back because of the embarrassment. Gosh, why of all time!!??? Why!!? I want to crawl into some hole and never go out. This is so embarrassing!
“Yahiko is cute, don’t you think Yasumasa?” says lord Tadakatsu innocently without any deep meaning at all.
“What’s so cute about a person who lets himself starve or lets his stomach rumble in front of everybody.” says coldly and unimpressed by lord Yasumasa.
“Ohh come on! Yahiko is cute! Isn’t he Toramatsu? You agree with me right?” lord Tadakatsu says again in a gleefully manner, pointing his chopsticks to Toramatsu.
“Instead saying that and giving him a cold shoulder, you should have asked him to eat with us. He was probably shy in front of you to say yes to us. He must be worried that you might not like the idea with him eating with us or maybe with you.” says Toramatsu in a faint stern tone towards lord Yasumasa.
“What!? So are you saying that it’s my fault now?” irritated, lord Yasumasa unconsciously slams his chopsticks on his tray. “Is it my fault that he was shy, that he couldn’t eat with us and rejected your offer? Why do you have to blame me for it, as if it is my responsible or something..”
“Just saying. You should have been more thoughtful.” Toramatsu replies without looking back, continuing eating his hot meal in a calm manner.
“Tsk.” lord Yasumasa snaps, now feeling a little bit guilty towards Yahiko who seems tired and really hungry just by the sound of his rumbling stomach earlier.
“Umm, hello? does anyone agree with what I am saying? Isn’t Yahiko cute??” beaming and smiling and waving like a fool, lord Tadakatsu asks them again.
“Oh! Just shut up for goodness sake, Tadakatsu!” yells lord Yasumasa, his brows furrowing into a deep arch clearly irritated by what Toramatsu said to him. “Just shut up..!” he says again to lord Tadakatsu who is oblivious of what is happening to his surroundings.
***
Late afternoon, alone in the kitchen.
It has been a tiring day somehow for all of us. After lunch, the retainers was tasked by Toramatsu to clean up their rooms, then their belongings. Lord Tadakatsu and lord Yasumasa on the other hand, tasked the other retainers to polish their swords and their armors and other weaponries they have inside the storage. When they all finished their tasks, us servants made them some refreshments and desserts. Now that everyone is just relaxing on their own, here I am in the kitchen--my favorite place-- doing some wiping. My peaceful moment is suddenly been shattered by some loud voice coming from outside.
“Hey, Yahiko! Is it true!? Is it true!??”
Umeko suddenly comes running to me shouting in the kitchen like she heard some kind of big news from outside, almost knocking all the clean pots on the table that I have been wiping so far.
“Umeko, would you just calm down.” I say as I stack the wiped and cleaned pots in order again on the table. “Why are you shouting? Did something happen in town?” I ask, inquisitively.
“You wouldn’t believe what I just heard!” she catches her breath, then for a moment starts talking again “they say lord Yasumasa struck an innocent civilian!”
‘What!? When?!” I almost yelled at her, so shocked at what I just heard from her mouth. Lord Yasumasa, struck a civilian? is this even true?
“Well, they say, he beat up an old man in the streets a few days ago. All the old man did was he was trying to teach this certain samurai lord to be respectful towards elders. But it didn’t end well. He got beaten up badly by that young man. And it turns out that the man they are referring to is lord Yasumasa. Many say that they saw the horrible scene too. It is the talk of the town!” says Umeko.
No way..How did the story turned up into something like that? Don’t tell me that it is the drunkard we met before. That man is saying such a big nasty lie to the townspeople. He is trying to make lord Yasumasa look bad!
“Where did you hear that? That is nonsense! Don’t believe such a big lie.” I snap at Umeko.
“Why are you getting a bit mad at me, Yahiko? I just heard it. And the old man himself was the one who was telling it all out there. He and some men also says that lord Yasumasa doesn’t deserve his title and such...that he is taking advantage of his position just because he is a samurai lord..”
I can’t believe this, why? Why say such bad things? There’s a faint pang lingering inside me that I can’t fully explain. I feel sad for lord Yasumasa who doesn’t seem to know anything. He did something good only to turned out bad like this? And at the same time, I feel very angry too, to the persons who spreads such bad lies about him. Even though lord Yasumasa can be a jerk, still saying such lies is still wrong. It is not right at all.
“Yahiko??”
“I’m sorry Umeko for snapping like that at you. But don’t believe them. That man is lying. I think he was the drunkard we met back then and he was trying to hurt some kids, lord Yasumasa just taught him a lesson. I was there. So believe me. I know lord Yasumasa can be snappy at all times, but after working under him, I can tell that he is a good man. He will not do something so bad like that.” I say to Umeko. Umeko, on the other hand is listening to me quietly and eagerly. “Is that so? I believe you then! I’m sorry too, I just got carried away because people were talking about it so I was just so shocked that I came running straight to you here right away just to confirm it. Don’t worry, if ever I heard someone here in this castle talking about it, I will say that it isn’t true.”
“Thanks, Umeko.” I smile at her, feeling happy about her sincerity and that the misunderstanding has been cleared up.
***
Just outside, the two servants don’t know that somebody has been quietly listening to their conversation. It is lord Yasumasa, standing just outside near the kitchen door. He didn’t mean to listen or eavesdrop. He was supposed to ask Yahiko something, maybe ask him to do some errands for him and maybe will tell him that he can have the day after his task. He stands there, looking at the two quietly. Or more so, looking at Yahiko with such bafflement. Eyes with a faint doubtful expression. His brows in deep furrows, as if he is trying to understand something in his head but he can’t. He observes Yahiko from afar and murmurs to himself, “I really don’t get...this guy..”
***
The setting sun paints the afternoon sky with splotches and smears of crimson and orange colors. Evening is approaching slowly as the sun says goodbye to the day again. After finishing everything I have to do in the kitchen, I make my way to lord Yasumasa’s quarters. Walking in the corridor with a tray of tea and manju on my hands, I can’t help but recollect inside my head what happened earlier regarding the false rumours about lord Yasumasa. I feel angry for lord Yasumasa. I wish I was the one who was out in town so that I could correct those bad people and tell the townspeople that those are nothing but lies. That they shouldn’t believe a word that that old man and his men was spreading about.
But no matter how much I wanted to do something, all I can do now is just sigh and hope that these will stop soon.
I see from afar lord Yasumasa’s quarters already lit up inside. Usually he is late going to his quarters but now he seems early. He must be so exhausted if that is so. Lord Yasumasa probably returned early to rest. Poor lord Yasumasa, he must have had no clue about what’s going around in town.
Should I inform him? Or not? But..ughh what to do. What should I do… I ponder as I get nearer to his quarters.
“Lord Yasumasa, I brought you some tea and dessert.” I announce myself.
“Bring it inside.” he says flatly.
I come inside and place the hot tea and his plate of newly made manju on his table. He has been sorting some paper scrolls again.
After serving his tea and manju I sit near the sliding door waiting, waiting for the perfect time to tell lord Yasumasa about it. At the end, I think he should know about this. But, soon as I try to open my mouth, I can’t say nor find the right words right away. I pause, and then ponder. Ponder but then when I try to speak, I find it hard. At last, after what seemed like an eternity, I take a deep breath, then I call him in a low tone that is enough to be heard.
“Lord Yasumasa, no matter how many times I think about it, I think you should know.”
“And what is that? Be sure that what you are about to tell me is really important or else don’t bother at all.” He says, his right hand stops from whatever it is doing. Finally he looks at me, as if he is ready to listen to what I am about to say.
I gather my courage, and opened my mouth.
“Somebody out there is putting such bad rumours about you, milord. I think it should be stopped or else the whole town will probably think that it is true.” I say with sincere concern for him.
“And?”
It was an unexpected dull reply. It caught me off guard.
“And?? I-- I think we should do something about it milord.”
“Why? Just like you said it is just a bunch of crap. Lies. Why bother?” he replies without a care in the world.
“But-- milord... don’t you feel..wronged here? Don’t you feel angry or something, because I feel angry.” I say somehow bluntly, my hands unconsciously gripping my hakama while sitting there in his room.
He observes me like he doesn’t understand me. Like he doesn’t understand what I am trying to say to him or where I am coming from. There’s this bewilderment expression showing on his face. His brows forming into an arch, like he is trying to figure out me on his head.
Finally, he speaks, breaking the brief silence that surrounded the room.
“I don’t understand you at all.” he says.
“Huh?? What do you mean milord?” I say in response to him, totally confused.
Then his expression changed into his usual annoyed expression, that expression that I see from him from time to time, whenever he thinks I am being stupid or being an airhead again.
“What I mean, fool, is that why would you feel bothered by it? Why would you even feel angry? It’s not about you. So why get so worked up about something that you don’t have business with?” he says sounding irritated like as if I am making a real big deal out of it--which I don’t understand.
“But milord--”
“Ohh, stop.” he interjects, “Can’t you even, for once properly use your head? Why don’t you put all your energy into something more productive? Instead of complaining to me about this crap that is not worthy of my time or your time, if I were you, I would just use it to something more productive. Know what? I don’t need you and your negativity here. Go take a bath or something. Don’t get into my nerves while I ask you nicely.” he says, his hands shooing me away like I am being a pest to him right now.
Seeing that the conversation is really over, I just give up. And make my way outside of his room.
***
“Ugggghhhhh..!! I DON’T GET HIM AT ALL!” I say aloud, my voice echoing in the whole room. I punch the water around me, making a huge splash of a mess. Here I am inside the public bathroom of the castle taking a nice warm soak in this wooden bathtub. As usual, I made sure that everyone had their bath before going here. It is hard living in disguise, you have to be cautious especially when it comes to taking a bath and changing my clothes. But it sure feels sometimes nice to have the whole room for me to use. It is quiet and no one would bother me. And I can let out all these hard feelings and frustrations I have in me.
“He is the one that I don’t understand. He always gets mad, complains a lot even by the slightest, small irrelevant things but he won’t even feel upset about somebody out there badmouthing him. What!? Mind my own business?? And here I am, worried for him. Worried that he might feel-- l.. Ughhhhh..!” I submerge my head in the warm, steaming water and letting all the frustrations and anger within me melt away.
I really don’t get how lord Yasumasa and his mind works at all. As I try to recall everything that happened, it felt like for him I was overreacting over something stupid. That I was stupid for reacting like that. The way he responded as if I am some kind of a pest, ughhh..I don’t get him at all. Use my head properly? Really? Ughh, I hate him. Here I was feeling sad for him. Oh, MC, why would you even feel concerned for that jerk? Really? Hah..!
When I couldn’t hold my breath any longer under the water, I hurriedly come to the surface gasping for air.
“Ha, hahh, hahh…*coughs” I let my head rest on the wooden wall, closing my eyes, thoughts wandering about the incident again.
To think they figure out lord Yasumasa’s name, or whoever they are, or I mean that old man must have done his research about it. He must have been so angry about how he was beaten up in public that he couldn’t let go of it unless he gets even to him. To think that there are people who would go to such lengths just because they feel wronged...it is scary.
Mulling over while my eyes are still closed and my head still resting on the wall, I hear the sliding wooden door of the public bathroom suddenly being opened. I open my eyes hurriedly and submerged my whole body in the bathtub. I quietly scan the area, and see someone really comes in. My body freezes, anxiousness creeping in. Thankfully, the area is dark and steamy so whoever it is still haven’t noticed me yet. The man removes his hakama, then his whole kimono robe, the fabric smoothly slipping down from the slender yet taut, muscled-body then falling to the floor. Without a sound, he walks in my direction. Even though I don’t look like it, I am panicking in my head.
Ohh god, what should I do? He is coming nearer and nearer here. No, no...MC just relax, just think. *getting nervous and lightheaded because of too much steam* Think!? What am I supposed to think? Besides there is a man naked in front of me! And he is walking now in my direction, so how am I supposed to think..! And haha *sarcastic laugh* I am fully naked too for heaven’s sake..!
I am starting to feel dizzy, and the only thing, the only possible solution that my mind comes up with is to just hurriedly run away from this place. No matter how hard I try to think, that is the only way I would be able to escape from this scenario. So I ready myself. I don’t care anymore if I see him naked or he sees me naked, as long as he won’t be able to see my face and discover my identity, I have no choice but to just run without clothes.
As he gets nearer, I grab the nearest small wooden pail I see without making a sound. The man is about to enter the bathtub, the moment I see his left foot has submerged in the water, I hurriedly stand up smack the man as hard as I can with the small wooden pail.
”Ughhhh!! What the!???”
I hear the man groaning in pain, hear him falling into the bathtub with a loud painful thud.
I’m sorry...really, really sorry..! I cry inside my head to the man who seems like in deep pain because of how he fell and got his head hit.
And like a mad person, I hurriedly jump off the bathtub, grabbing my clothes right away and flee from the crime scene.
***
“Ouch..What in the seven hells!! Who was that stupid fool..!?!? Uhhhggh..! My butt and my head..ouch..I will kill whoever that is..! That fool!” groan in pain by lord Yasumasa. Even though the place is dark, you can still see with the moonlight’s help the reddening back of lord Yasumasa. His head hurts like crazy because of the wooden pail that was smacked on him, while half of his body is in pain because of how hard the impact it got from falling hard on the wooden tub. If you are wondering why he is there at that time, well it was just an unfortunate coincidence. He was so exhausted that he was a bit late in taking his usual bath. Unfortunately, that is the usual time MC takes her bath..so..you know now.
“What a crazy guy.! I will surely kill that person! Just you wait..! Ouuucchh.. Aww, damn..my body hurts like hell..” curses lord Yasumasa in the air, alone in the dark.
***
I am panting so hard, like a person who just survived from death. Wet to the bones and naked, I am clasping my white kimono undergarment like my life depends on it. I am so looking weird, like an exhibitionist right now. I hurriedly put my clothes on despite my body still drenching from water. After checking nobody is outside, I hurriedly run to my quarters hoping and praying that no problems will arise tomorrow.
***
Morning, it is.
The weather is nice and as usual we prepared breakfast early and on time. Still cautious about what happened last night, I am on guard even though I am working like nothing happened. Thankfully, it seems like nobody knows who or what happened last night. With stacked trays on my arms, I go to the main hall to serve the newly cooked breakfast for the retainers.
“You looked flushed, you okay?” asks with a happy-go-lucky tone by lord Tadakatsu to lord Yasumasa who is sitting beside him waiting for their breakfast meals to be served.
“I hope there is some hot soup in the menu today.” says lord Yasumasa more like to himself, than to lord Tadakatsu who is beside him looking bit puzzled.
After serving the others including Toramatsu’s food, I go to lord Tadakatsu and lord Yasumasa’s side next. I kneel in front of them and start serving their respective trays.
“Here is your breakfast milor--- achooooo..!”
“Is there a sou---- achooooo..!!”
The sound of my sneezing and for some reason, another sound of somebody’s sneeze too surprised me, lord Tadakatsu, lord Yasumasa as well as the other retainers nearby.
“Wow. Did something happen? Both of you are looking flushed and looks like both of you caught a cold too.” says lord Tadakatsu a bit taken aback by our sneezes. I realized that the other person that sneezed the same time with me is lord Yasumasa.
“Haahaha…*nervous laughing. It must be the weather.” I countered. But at the back of my mind, I don’t want to think but I get the feeling that it was lord Yasumasa that I smacked last night with the wooden pail. The one who entered the public bath. The one I saw naked. The one I almost killed…! Realizing this, I feel like fainting right there on the spot.
Shoot..!! MC!!! Pray he doesn’t notice or don’t get any idea!!!
“But the weather is nice though..that is weird haha” laughs off lord Tadakatsu as he starts digging his meal. Meanwhile, as I try to catch a glimpse of lord Yasumasa, I accidentally make an eye contact with him.
Oooopppss..! This is not good. I can see the reaction in his eyes. There is a sudden brief faint of surprise in his eyes, something that tells me that he must have realized it all and now he is suspicious of me.
Damn. Please, please, please..don’t let him realized it was me. I cry to myself inside, hoping that he still hasn’t caught on about it.
“I am going now milords...” I say meekly to them and bow. Then I go out from the main hall going straight to the kitchens in a hurried manner but not obvious.
***
“Hey, are you not hungry? I thought you are craving for some soup??” pry lord Tadakatsu to lord Yasumasa who is somewhat murmuring to himself.
“So he’s the stupid fool..” smirk lord Yasumasa, as if he is having fun on his little discovery.
“Hmm?? What are you talking about?” questions lord Tadakatsu.
“Nothing. Nothing...don’t mind me.” responds lord Yasumasa back as he begins his meal by sipping the hot soup from his steaming porcelain bowl.
***
In town.
With a basket on my arm, I stroll the town aimlessly while my head tries to come up with a good, reasonable and believable excuse if ever lord Yasumasa realized that it was me who almost killed him with a wooden pail last night.
“Ughhh.. What excuse I would say to him... What!?” I murmur to myself.
As I am walking, oddly, I suddenly heard the name Yasumasa in the street. Curious, I move nearer.
“Even though he is a samurai lord that works under the Tokugawa still don’t you think that it was too much? What he did to an old man like me? He abuses his power no matter how you look at it .”
“Omy, well..that is true..” nods reluctantly of an old lady from the restaurant, somehow feeling pitiful but hesitant towards the old man.
“Is that really true though?” counter the manju vendor that has a mini stall next to the restaurant. “..because from what I heard from the other vendors too, you are the one who started picking a fight with some kids…” states the vendor matter-of-factly.
“And who told you that?” butts in by the man who is with the old man. “That cocky boy and his young servant started it, he beat up an old man here.”
“Still, maybe the guy had a good reason? And we know the young servant who is with him. That young servant of his usually buys manju to me, and some of us know him..He is kind and isn’t the type of person to do such a thing..so I wonder if you are telling the truth..” doubts the manju vendor.
“What are you saying?? Are you accusing us then?” yells the man.
“Ohh my.. Please don’t fight here.” says the old lady from the restaurant, worried.
“Hey, calm down. Let it go buddy..” says the old man--who is playing innocent-- tapping the shoulder of his friend who is yelling at the manju vendor. “Well, if you don’t believe us, if you don’t believe this poor old man me, then I have no choice.” As he walks from the place, he suddenly stops and looks back at the manju vendor who still doubtful about them. “And ohh.. If I were you, I wouldn’t get too close to them, especially to that lord Yasumasa. He seems to like beautiful young guys.”
“What are you implying or trying to say here?”
“Ohh nothing. Just saying.. You don’t want to give him a wrong impression, do you?” says the old man with a crafty smile. “You see, I heard he does things with that little servant of his that you are saying you know.”
This time, despite my hard efforts on trying to stay still, hearing those words made me finally lose my patience. And before I know it, I am charging forward to those liars almost ready to smack them with the goods I have in my basket.
“Hey!! You are really being too much!” I strike back feeling really upset.
“And who are-- Ohh, I see.. Are you here to defend your master now?” smirks the old man with meaning. “See how he acts so defensive, I wonder why..hmm?”
Trying to compose myself, I talk back to the old man who pretends to be the victim with civility. “I don’t know why you feel so wronged here even though you are the one who is at fault here. It is true that lord Yasumasa beaten the heck out of you, but because you deserved it. You wouldn’t listen to reason, and you were about to hurt the kids way way smaller than you just because they tripped you or something. I think you already had enough badmouthing him for the whole town to know your lies. So will you stop now?” I say, my insides fuming.
After letting everything out, I face the restaurant lady and the manju vendor that I frequent to whenever I buy manju, “Please forgive me for causing a scene here. I just want you to know that lord Yasumasa isn’t the type of person this group of men are saying. He may not look friendly outside but in the inside, lord Yasumasa is a good and decent person that does his responsibilities well as a retainer and follower of lord Ieyasu. He won’t do something unless there is a reason behind it. He may have a sharp tongue but he genuinely cares for his duties as a Tokugawa retainer and he admires lord Ieyasu’s leadership. So much as he won’t do something that will put lord Ieyasu’s name into shame, like what those people are claiming.” I gave a glare those bad men, before bowing and saying goodbye to the restaurant lady and the manju vendor.
***
It is almost late afternoon. I walk in an alley--a shortcut to the castle-- with the basket in my left arm filled with new goods and spices that I bought in town, now feeling somehow calm, my anger subsiding already. “I hope they will finally stop now that I--” as I am about to turn, someone grab me from behind, my mouth being clasp by a hand. I try to escape, struggling so hard when another person suddenly pops up in front of me and punch me on the stomach so hard that I lose my consciousness right then and there.
***
Meanwhile in some corner of the alley just a few walks near where MC is being dragged unconsciously, laughter fills the air as children are playing with some rocks and pebbles.
“It’s my turn!” says the little boy to his fellow little friends as he throws a big flat pebble on the road missing the target objects laid out in the rough road. “Ooops, hahaha sorry. Wait I am going to get my rock.” says the little boy as he goes to the corner of the alley, as he is about to pick his rock, he saw a familiar figure. “Ohh! Is that onii-chan? Onii-chan..!~” he shouts but MC doesn’t seem to hear him, as he takes a closer look, he realized that MC--the one who took them home after being saved from the old drunkard man-- is being dragged by some men. “This is bad…!”
***
In the castle, lord Yasumasa seems to be looking again for his servant Yahiko. “Where the hell did that fool go again?” He strides and scans the corridor and the veranda but to no avail. “Just you wait and see. If you think you could fool me then you are so wrong. I wonder what kind of stupid excuse will you come up with this time..” murmurs lord Yasumasa to himself as he strides in the veranda going to the kitchens. His face looking not irritated or mad but instead, oddly, he is smirking. A mischievous smile forming on his face, it is as if he is enjoying this. Like he found something that will give him entertainment later.
As he arrives in the kitchen, he is about to ask the servants and kitchen ladies there when suddenly a kid running in a hurry bumps into him.
“Aaagghh..!”
Lord Yasumasa clearly not happy about it, scolds the boy telling to pay attention to his surroundings. When the boy looks up and realizes that it is lord Yasumasa that he bumped into, total relief shows on the little boy’s face. The boy immediately stands up, he grabs hold lord Yasumasa’s hakama and starts to plead. “Onii-chan..! Thank goodness its you! Yahiko-oniichan was dragged by some bad men out there. One of them is that scary drunkard we met before! I don’t know what happened but it seems like they will do something bad to him!”
“That fool..!” huffs lord Yasumasa under his breath. “Where did you last saw them?” he asks, immediately, following the little boy.
***
It seems that it is evening. As I look from the small window, the sun had long set already. The surroundings outside starting to really get dark. I am here in some kind of abandoned small house in the woods, the whole room only lit by a candle. I am trying to think calmly, trying to figure out how will I save myself from this bunch of old men before they return and discover that I am a girl. Just the thought of it, of what they will do once they discover my real identity sends shivers in my spine. I tried so many times untying myself, but the rope is so tight that I couldn’t do anything about it. I tried looking for a knife or something sharp around me but to no avail. I tried standing up, but they have tied my feet so tightly it is beginning to hurt and my legs feeling numb too. As the seconds pass, I am starting to panic.
“MC, focus..focus. You need to be strong and smart at a time like this.” I say to myself but to no effect. The ropes on my hands and feet are too tight, I can’t loosened it. Nobody knows that I am here. I don’t have anyone that is close to me that will worry about me to be honest. I can’t think of anyone. But even if let say Umeko notice me not still there preparing dinner with them, she would just probably think that I am out there flirting with some women about my age.. So help from the outside would be impossible. Now, what? Now what, MC??
As I try harder to come up with some escape plan, I hear my abductors opening the door of this small cottage. I don’t know if it is the right thing to do but I pretend to sleep. I can hear them talking, and worse, the air smells sake. And it seems like they are drinking. I can smell the sake lingering in the place. Please, please, don’t let them do anything bad to me. I pray.
“So what we will do now?” asks the man.
“We will teach this boy a lesson. A lesson he will never forget so that he would not be bold enough again. Like what he did to us earlier.”
“So we will what? Beat him up? This thin, woman-like boy?”
“Oh hell..” replies the old man, that drunkard to his accomplice. “You should be a bit creative sometimes..”
“Creative? You mean?”
“Oh come on, just look at this guy’s skin? Almost similar to a woman’s. And guess what? When I dragged him, the smell..!!! Hahaha I have never smell a man so nice, so nice that I want to try and see myself..” the old man cackles, his laugh so menacing my whole body freezes, my heart beating so rapidly against my chest that it almost feels like it is about to burst at any moment.
Still lying on the cold floor, faking to be asleep, nervousness creeping on me, I say to myself that if ever these men starts to get near to me, I will really, really smack them hard with my head before they do something to me. And I need to do it so hard, so hard enough to get my chance to run right away from them. I brace myself. Readying to use my head. I feel them moving closer to me, the sake smell lingering more, smelling more stronger and nearer.
“Hey wake up little, pretty boy..~” says the old man in a very lewd way it gives me the chills.
“Hahahaha wake up boy, wake up wake up~” says the other too.
When I feel their hands almost reaching me, I open my eyes like an alarmed creature in the middle of the night, and smack them so hard using my head that I, too, almost stagger and feel some dizziness and pain. They stumble, both of them, then I take my chance when I find my balance again, I start to run towards the door only to be dragged by the hair by the old man. I lose my balance, and really fall hard to the floor. Suddenly the old man shouts, “grab him by the legs..!”. The other man, tightly hold my legs, my feet, I don’t know any more-- I struggle, struggle so hard that I feel the pain all over my body.
MC, you need to fight..! Fight..! Don't let them..! Don’t..!!
I shout inside my head, like a mantra, I keep on repeating those words.
But my body will not listen. It does not listen at all. The weight of the two man, ganging up on me, holding me so hard and so tight that I can feel their nails sinking on my sink, on my flesh. It is just too much. I try to fight so hard, so hard… I thought I was shouting but I don’t hear a thing at all. I don’t hear my voice at all. Strangely, my mouth is open, struggling trying to say something but no words come out from it. Just groans of me. Groans of struggling so hard from keeping them from touching me.
But my body starts to lose all the energy it has, my hands and feet getting weaker and weaker. But my mind keep on commanding me, fight..! MC you have to fight!.
They finally grabbed my kimono collar, the old man in a sudden force tear them apart, almost choking me. The pain stings on my neck. I told myself it is no time for crying but my eyes starts to get a bit teary and my vision starts to blur. But I told my head again, this is not the time for crying. I have to fight them.
I scratch the old man’s face, but he slaps me so hard almost sending all the consciousness in me away. He stops for a second, groaning. But the other man, hold me even tighter, I can’t move at all. Then that old man suddenly is on top of me, undressing me..my head is in a swirl as I try to stop them with all my might.
“Ohh..hahaha” cracks the old man.
“She is a girl..! So she is a girl..! We are lucky..!” says the other.
Somebody, please help..please…
As they are about to remove my hakama, the man on top of me suddenly is sent flying to the other side. While the other who is just below me, holding my feet and legs, gasps and then yells with a groan, “Aggghhh...!”
I don’t know what is happening but the man seems like his arms are being twisted, so hard I think I heard a crack like something snapped. Then the man yells and cries so hard, “Argggghh..! aghhhh..!!! my arms! my arms..!!!!!”
“You, who the hell are you!!??? Wait, you are--” then again the old man who was sent flying suddenly lost his voice, somebody punches him in the face so hard that I see blood spilling in the air. “urgkkh..!”
Everything's happening so fast, I don’t know anymore. My body feels so weak, I couldn’t move from the spot.
“Let us go..! let us go!! I don’t care anymore, you can have the girl, just let us go!!”
“My arms..! don’t come any closer! It is not my idea! It is his!!”
I hear shouts, then groans and then, I hear somebody scrambling to their feet, banging the door open and finally they are gone like the wind. Suddenly, the surrounding becomes quiet, so quiet you can hear the sounds and cries of the night insects in the woods. I am left here, almost lifeless. My body feels so cold against the ground. I couldn’t move an inch at all..
Then, I see a somehow familiar figure coming into view in front of me. He is looking at me, his eyes and his expression, I can’t figure out at first. But then, there is this brief surprised in his eyes, then a bewildered yet worried expression. I don’t know if it is just my imagination. Then in a very faint voice, almost like a whisper, I hear my little brother’s name.
“...Yahiko..?” so soft, his voice almost like he is careful of mentioning it.
It is lord Yasumasa, kneeling now beside me, helping me get to my feet.
“...you..you are such a trouble..I-- I mean, in a mess..” he says almost like a whisper. His voice seems like he is reprimanding me, but in a gentle tone and manner. Then without a word, he scoops me like a beaten puppy from the floor. I still couldn’t move nor say anything, my mind is blank.
Then, suddenly, tears comes rushing in. In his arms, like a lost child, I cry and cry. Muffled cries. He is a bit shocked, then I thought he would complain or get annoyed at me behaving like this but he doesn’t speak. He holds me in his arms, quietly and without his usual complaints. He listens to my sobs. He is just there, holding me like I am a dear thing.
I don’t know why I am crying now. There are these mixed emotions playing inside me right now. I feel so glad that somebody saved me. That those men are now gone. That lord Yasumasa is here. Yet I feel so scared and terrified about what just happened. My body is trembling as I cry. I am so scared. So scared that no matter how much I try to stop myself from sobbing, my tears just won’t stop from falling.
We are in that position for a little long. Him cradling me like a child. I can’t see his face clearly because my eyes are all blurred by my tears. My hands, then, find their way on his collar, grabbing and tugging it lightly. For some reason, I feel angry at him. Inside my head, thoughts and emotions are pouring out. Like, thoughts, why am I even getting mad for this jerk’s sake? Why i feel so concerned for this man. Why do I ended up in this kind of situation. Anger, fear and confusion is welling up on me. I keep on sobbing with anger and then relief that he is here. That someone looked for me, protected me. Because I thought no one would notice that I am actually missing, that no one would come for me. Huge relief and comfort washes over me now that everything is over. No more evil laughter, no more sake lingering around me. Just calmness, quietness, and him.
***
MC has now fallen asleep soundly in Yasumasa’s arms. Her face much better than before. All the fears and sadness and shock, already gone in her. Her pallor is getting better as the color in her cheeks returns. Her body temperature, still a bit cold, but much better than when he first held her in that state. It is dark, very dark now, the round moon, the only light in the wide evening sky together with the glimmering of the little stars. All the retainers are probably at the main hall right now, in the middle of their dinner. Thankfully no one is in the veranda, Yasumasa carries MC quietly to her quarters. Without so much a sound, he puts MC on her bedding, careful to not wake her up. He realizes now that her collar is ripped and opened too much, the fabric in tatters like it was roughly and forcefully pulled open. Her neck with bit of scratches and redness. He sees the bindings on MC, white strip of fabrics tightly wrapped around her to conceal her identity. Her being a woman.
He puts the collar back in place, swiftly yet carefully. He stands and get an extra blanket from a cabinet. He put it on top of MC until she is covered comfortably in blankets. The trembling of her body has finally stopped, exchanged with a sense of calmness showing on her whole face.
Yasumasa sits beside her, arms crossed, staring at her, observing her peaceful breathing. And at the same time, he seems like he is in a deep ponder. He has never been this puzzled before, so unsure of what to do, supposed to feel or say in this kind of situation.
Outside, you can hear the laughter of some of the retainers from the main hall. Merrily eating and having nice conversations and talks, perhaps. You can hear lord Tadakatsu too being weird again, and Toramatsu trying to stop him from doing something. Everyone is lively tonight as usual.
While inside MC’s quarters, the place is calm and still.
The candle, flickering, giving light and shine to MC’s fair skin and womanly features evident on her face. Why hadn’t he noticed of it? He foolishly asks himself in his mind. If you take a closer and careful look at her, you can tell that she is a girl. And yet he didn’t notice it at all. And why he--or she is pretending to be a boy? For what reason? does anyone know her secret? Does lord Ieyasu knows this?? or not? Questions floods into his mind like a torrent.
And why the hell did he--I mean, she got dragged and kidnapped by those worthless trash? How did she got herself into that kind of--
Lord Yasumasa just sighs and stops from asking himself such questions..
“You fool. I clearly told you to use your brain properly, but what is this?” complains lord Yasumasa under his breath.
He sighs again. “Did you tried to be a hero or something again? ..did you boldly speak up...for me? ...you stupid fool. Always poking your nose into something you shouldn’t be concerned to begin with. Now look at--- look at you.. why? I, I really..I really don’t get you at all. You weirdo..” says lord Yasumasa in a somehow light reprimand, sounding a bit irritated but with a tinge of concern and sadness in his voice.
“Now, what I should do with you...you-- you stupid woman..” whispers lord Yasumasa to himself, as he observes the calm breathing of MC.
Characters: Oniniwa Tsunamoto x Original Female Character
Summary:
Finally, Lord Tsunamoto stopped, admiring Airi's tender form that was sprawled on the bed beneath him like a predator trapping his prey. "Last chance, do you want this, Airi? After this, you won’t be able to leave after I'm done,” he whispered to her ear, his breathing fast and heavy.
[MATURE CONTENT!!!] Inspired by “A Date with Tsunamoto” a story from Grand Samurai Street Fair. And the continuation of my earlier work “Romance Under Wintry Sky”
PART 1: Romance Under Wintry Sky
Also posted AO3.
When Airi opened her eyes, the sky outside had lit up even though there were heavy winter clouds hovering below. The glow illuminated the things on the floor next to her. She could see several jars of empty and half-filled sake and two sake bowls: one was upright, the other upturned, whose contents had long spilled the futon she was sleeping on.
Airi felt her head splitting, her body much warmer than the cold air. Her ears with faint ringing as the strong flow of blood ran into her head. She unconsciously moved but felt someone was blocking her effort. In a daze, she glanced at her back and was instantly stunned.
She was lying beside Lord Tsunamoto, her back on his bare, muscular torso; filling her with his heat. Under the quilt they both share, she could feel both of his arms clutching her waist and her chest. Wait...when did we... She felt very lightheaded so much that she momentarily fails to remember the events last night.
Airi began to sit up, but felt so weak and in pain that she could only take in a deep breath. She made every effort to rouse herself, but nothing prepared her for what she's going to see.
When the quilt that was covering Airi's body fell off, she found the upper hem of her kimono undone, revealing a number of small yet tender marks on her supple flesh; the bottom part of her clothing was pushed all the way up to her thighs.
And, to Airi's biggest surprise, a dull ache between her legs.
Flowers suddenly burst out from Airi's cheeks. No matter how slow her thinking is right now, how could she NOT know what had happened here?
Airi's utter surprise made her memories of last night come into existence…
Airi had Lord Tsunamoto offer her jars of sake to celebrate her "love confession". The night had been young and both were in good spirits, talking, holding each other close to stave off the cold, until Airi felt a little too lightheaded that she collapsed unto Lord Tsunamoto...
So close that Airi could smell her lord’s scent on his nape, so intoxicating she had an urge to lick it.
"I think that's enough drinking." the man’s voice was concerned and sounded far away.
"Just one more please," Airi spoke as she struggled with keeping her mind afloat. But, she couldn't resist biting her lip when she saw Lord Tsubamoto's bare chest. Beautiful. She leaned towards her lord as her eyes traced her lord's jawline, and then unconsciously traced her finger ever so gently unto his well-toned torso. Her lord seemed to wince at her gesture but didn't stop her actions. Due to a momentary clear-headedness, Airi stopped and reached for another bowl of sake.
Oh no, did I just touch Lord Tsunamoto? Airi tried to shake away the clouds in her head. Her coordination was so poor that the bowl suddenly went upturned before she could pick it up.
Oh dear, what a mess…
"Aww. That's too bad. That must have tasted good for you to drink a lot," the man gave her a rakish smile but Airi's vision was somewhat off as it was more of an annoying smug to her.
"I drank more during my younger years, this is nothing," she pouted, her face flushed and her head started to spin. Chilling air finally settled on her as the cool snowfall became heavier outside the inn. She clung to him for his heat as if her life depended on it. This gesture made Lord Tsunamoto slightly wince.
"W-Wait, A-airi—?!!" her lord had looked flustered as the rosy color on his face became even redder. On a different circumstance, he would have indulged her but his honor wouldn't allow him to indulge a woman who is drunk. The sober Airi knew this, and yet at that present state, she needed to embrace him for his enormous heat for herself. The lord tried to free himself but his inner demon slowly crept out of him and had drained his self-control. His normal eye started to get darker each second.
"Sorry, I just feel cold," Airi tightened her arms around him so close she could hear his heartbeat beating so fast like a rabbit, and a warm hard bulge between his waist and hers. She looked down to touch it. Is this what I think it is?
Before Airi knew it, Lord Tsunamoto’s face was inches away from her. Her hand that was touching the bulge was immediately taken by him. She could barely see his eye, which seemed different? It was dark as if beneath its depth held intense hunger and thirst for something.
Or...for someone.
"Do you have any idea how my heart races in a way unbefitting of my years?" the tone became more raspy as if trying hard to contain himself. "You made it nigh impossible to maintain my sophisticated composure," he tried to humor her but he failed as his inner desire became more and more apparent.
Airi smiled naughtily, I love it when you're on the verge of losing control, actually. You look cute when you're flustered. However, it seemed the alcohol in her body made her speak her thoughts at that very moment.
Because for some reason, Lord Tsunamoto stiffened as if something inside him snapped. His aura completely changed as if this isn't the dignified samurai Airi knew.
Before she could ask him, he suddenly pulled her to his body so strong that it took Airi's breath away. "You have no idea what you do to me." he rasped into her ear and gave it a sweet lick that sent cold yet welcome shivers into Airi's soul.
"Huh, but I—," before Airi could finish, Lord Tsunamoto dragged her down to their futon for a deep hungry kiss. He pinned Airi underneath him but she didn't resist. Then, his warm moist lips fluttered down her neck, sucking and kissing her tender spots as excitement filled Airi's loins.
"Oh, Lord Tsunamoto…"Airi sighed as he gave her more kisses on her chest, and onto her breasts. Every time his lips sucks her supple flesh, her whole being arched in pleasure.
Finally, Lord Tsunamoto stopped, admiring Airi's tender form that was sprawled on the bed beneath him like a predator trapping his prey. "Last chance, do you want this, Airi? After this, you won’t be able to leave after I'm done,” he whispered to her ear, his breathing fast and heavy.
“Yes,” Airi’s own voice thick just as the same.
Afterwards, he was all business. He undone her kimono up to her waist, revealing her supple flesh, and kissed Airi deeply. She could feel one hand caressing her breast and the other snaking through her knees and into her inner thighs.
Then, Lord Tsunamoto gently licked and sucked her ear as he rubbed Airi’s sensitive spot below that sent Airi’s body arching in pure ecstasy: feeling the growing wetness in between her legs and the bulge from her lord’s lower regions.
“I hope you’re in for a sleepless night,” he breathed heavily into her ear as he removed his clothes and reached for his cock and stroked it to hardness, “because I’m not going to put you down for a second, Airi.”
And then, the next thing Airi knew, her world became a myriad of pleasure and pain, of cool air and warm bodies, heavy breaths and lusty moans and a force so strong as though she was enveloped inside a violent storm. She saw her lor face filled with desire. His sweat trickled down from his head and down into his jaw, and dripped onto her naked chest as he continued whatever his beast wanted him to do her: grunting and thrusting his rod in-and-out of her core as his rasps thick with his own lust.
“Gods...you are so <i>tight</i>”
“Ah...Ah…Please...,” Airi gasped in pleasure as her lord made his way with her. But she couldn’t finish her sentence because he had moved his fingers and stroked her sensitive core as he thrust her even harder.
“What?” the beast smirked as panted heavily, watching how his every thrust made Airi's supple flesh move up-and-down and how their bed shake with his actions. “Does that feel good?”
“Nnggh!” Airi felt much pleasure, that her alcohol-addled mind couldn’t sort her words but moan. Lord Tsunamoto gave her another deep kiss, his tongue exploring her mouth as he muffled her moans.
“Don’t worry," he could see a thin line of saliva connecting his lips and hers, which turned his beast even more. "You’ll feel even good after this.” Before Airi could respond, the beast inside Lord Tsunamoto turned her in such a way she was on all fours. His warm tongue traced her spine up to the back of her neck as her senses fired up in anticipation. His fingers began to stroke her core much deeper as if to explore until he hit the spot that made Airi scream.
“N-no...not that!” Airi’s eyes widened from the sensation but Lord Tsunamoto only grinned at her ear.
“Relax, this is the right spot to make you come for me.” He then proceeded to lick her ear and kissed it that gave Airi even more shivers. “Take a deep breath, don’t resist.”
Airi gasped as she tried to inhale more air as the pent up pleasure from her core becomes too much to bear. She could feel her strength failing her but she didn’t care. She could feel his fingers stroked the spot again and again until warm wetness flowed from her core. He then pierced her with his cock afterwards and thrust it from her behind.
There was something primal when doing it from Airi's back as she couldn’t help but feel the thrill of every fiber of her loins as his thick long rod went in-and-out of her, feeling its roughness while moving inside her. Just as her limbs had failed her from the exertion, the man grasped her hands, moving them behind her back as he used it to steady herself during his thrusts.
“Ah!...AAHHH!” her lord went in so deep that made her scream her loudest. For a moment, she was worried others in the inn might hear, but she is lost in her own pleasure just as her lord unleashed his most powerful thrust.
“Hang on!” Lord Tsunamoto wrapped his arms around Airi’s waist and her chest as his thrusts went even faster. His orgasm almost close. “Airi...Airi… I...love...you...so...very...much,” Lord Tsunamoto grunted behind her again and again as his thrusts became even deeper that Airi's mind became lost in her own ecstasy. Her moans and screams of pleasure only served to fuel her lord's inner beast to defile her innocence even further.
"Nggghh! Ahhhhh!" The storm within Airi reached her breaking point that her heart burst into fireworks just as her pent up pleasure broke free from her lips. Lord Tsunamoto gave her one last powerful thrust before his warm seeds filled the young maid’s core.
"Airi," she heard her lord's weakened voice from before her vision grew dim. "I love you."
Both passed out afterwards, still entangled for heat as the room once again became slightly colder as their deed died down.
“Awake?” a voice shook Airi from her reverie.
Airi did her best to restore her calm expression but no matter how she concealed it, there were some traces of panic and shame on her face. <i>I seduced him? I had slept with Lord Tsunamoto? Just like that?</i> When Lord Tsunamoto saw this, he began to laugh. His well-toned naked body exposed her for her eyes to see which only made her blush.
“You were quite…naughty last night, young lady. I didn’t think you had it in you. So why are you scared now?” the man smirked.
Although Airi had always dreamed of having Lord Tsunamoto for herself, she wanted to take things slow and orderly, such as letting people in Oshu accept her first as a potential bride for her lord. Making a name for herself so she could compete with other girls. Sleeping with him like this is like a blow to his and her honor. What would the people think of her? A temptress who dishonored a noble samurai with sake? She would be judged severely.
But despite that, she was happy she did it with him. She never regretted what happened last night.
Airi knelt down, her legs trembled in pain as her arms had even less strength than before. Yet, she made every effort to bow down before Lord Tsunamoto, “I have wronged you, Milord. My actions were…improper. Punish me as you see fit.”
The man frowned. He approached her, clutching Airi’s shoulders to help her on her feet. “Airi, you did nothing wrong. I was a bit tipsy too, so we’re even. Besides, your body really pleased my little brother. There is nothing wrong with serving your lord like this.” He winked at her direction.
That humor made Airi chuckle just as her face turned red from the implications. Oh, Lord Tsunamoto, you shameless flirt! For a while, his casual demeanor for being a flirty rake eased her discomfort.
"Do you regret it?" Lord Tsunamoto’s voice was solemn.
Airi looked up to see her lord. He was no longer smiling, as if he wasn't so sure of his actions were right and felt guilty for taking her innocence.
Airi cupped his face to cheer him up, "No regrets, I was asking for it, actually."
Lord Tsunamoto smiled, feeling relieved. He got up from the futon to get himself dressed.
But still, the question remained...
“So, what now, Milord?" Airi asked as she fixes her kimono, arranging it neatly on her body to cover the “love marks” born out of their tryst. It was a difficult chore due to her aching arms and legs. Not to mention that soft aching on her loins and the lingering pain in between her thighs had not yet fully healed. She could hardly walk properly at this state and she’s afraid the people outside will know what they had done last night. Will they gossip? Will the people from Oshu would get a word about it and criticize her?
"It’s not like we could undo what had happened yesterday,” Airi cautiously asked as she looked at Lord Tsunamoto’s direction. She wanted to prepare herself for what is to come.
Thinking of the way Lord Tsunamoto had taken her, Airi surmised that there is a high chance that she could become pregnant with his child. Her fate can go two ways: she either become his side consort, given her status, or she will remain as his secret mistress.
The first will, at least, give Airi and her would-be child some status since Lord Tsunamoto is an elite samurai of Oshu, but she would have to endure harsh criticisms from other people, compete with other women for her lord’s affection, perhaps suffer some mishaps orchestrated by Oshu’s enemies or by other jealous women.
The latter choice would be more difficult, Airi would have to keep her relationship with him from others a secret, perhaps even her pregnancy. If the rumors got out she’s sleeping with Lord Tsunamoto, her lord has the power to deny the claim at the moment of inconvenience. At the worst, she will become an outcast and a nobody, forever labeled as someone who tried to climb the social ladder by seducing her lord. Or, perhaps a loose woman who slept with unknown men and bore a child out of wedlock.
Both will definitely hurt Airi. She would hate the thought of sharing him with other women, and she would only suffer should Lord Tsunamoto decided to make their relationship a secret forever be apart despite working together.
Readying herself for whatever Lord Tsunamoto has to say. She froze with bated breath.
“You shall be my main wife, Airi.”
So when her lord spoke with certainty that Airi will be designated as his “main wife”, her jaws dropped.
“M-main wife? But, I am just a maid!” Airi spoke incredulously. Did I hear him right? She tried to hide her growing elation, just in case she heard him wrong.
“Didn’t you say that if you are to be my lover, I shouldn’t take another wife?” Lord Tsunamoto grinned in her direction. “So what if you are a maid, any bastard who says you are not a fitting spouse for me can all go to hell, but you are the only woman I truly cared.”
This time his face became solemn as he cupped Airi’s cheeks, his gaze blossoming with his determination. “For all my years, no woman but you had taken the time to watch over me. Anyone would have kept their distance, scared because of the scar in my eye, perhaps they hate my wild ways or my rakish smile, unlike you.”
His cheeks became colorful but he held onto his courage not to look away. “When you entered my castle, you treated me as a friend, not as the lord of the castle. Women constantly vie for my affection, but they always have an agenda in their mind. But you never treated me as if I’m different from the common people of Oshu. That is when I decided to slowly win your heart. ONLY you.”
Airi teared up as he said those words. Never did she expect Lord Tsunamoto to bare his feelings like this.
“That’s why...please marry me!”
Airi’s heart was so overwhelmed with emotion that she reached out to him and gave him a loving kiss so deep and passionate that she lost track of time. Savoring each second they spent embracing each other close.
“I accept!”
To Lord Tsunamoto, her answer was his best gift he ever had in his entire lifetime. For Airi, this is just the beginning of great things that will come into her life. But nobody except fate knows that she will soon become one of the women who will shake the world at war to its foundations.
"By the way," Airi finally said after looking at the messy state of their room "Please help me clean this mess, shall we? I could even smell the dry sake from the futon. Besides, my arms and legs felt sore..." She pouted as she smacked her fist to his chest, but then, she regretted her actions because the pain intensified even more, "You must take responsibility!”
"Ow! What was that for? Was that even necessary?" he winced in pain as he clutched the tender spot where Airi smacked him
“Ha! Big words from someone who slept me, and to think he even asked me to be his wife!" Airi laughed as she gave Lord Tsunamoto a knowing grin. She leaned closer to his ear and whispered, "If you help me, who knows, maybe we can celebrate again tonight.”
"Hahaha! You saucy little minx!" the man burst into laughter at the meaning of her words. Then, a smirk formed on his lips as his eyes darkened once again, "Why not now?"
