A few months ago, someone requested that I write a Tsuruhime x Ieyasu fic. Here's my attempt. I will be writing more chapters eventually. Sorry I never responded to you, but I've just been thinking it over!
The sun rose high in the sky over the land of Mikawa. The air was thick with tensions rising in the north. Mitsunari Ishida was making quick work of acquiring allies out from under Ieyasu. This time, he sent Tadakatsu to retrieve the little crane from Iyokono province.
He heard much about the young oracle. She was known to be very perky and sweet, loved by all. Ieyasu looked on over the horizon searching for any sign of Tadakatsu. He grinned jumping out of his window out of pure excitement. Tadakatsu was headed towards his castle, and from the looks of it he was not alone.
He was overjoyed to say the least when the oracle dismounted from Tadakatsu's shoulder thanking him politely with a blush across her cheeks. She pushed back her bobbed hair, tossing her hair about in the wind. Ieyasu couldn't take his eyes off her.
"It really is such an honor to meet you, Tadakatsu! OH!" Tsuruhime turned noticing Ieyasu's presence.
"Hello there! Are you Ieyasu Tokugawa?"
The muscular man chuckled. "Yes, that's me. I hope Tadakatsu kept you good company on your way here."
Tsuruhime blushed again watching the noble samurai walk off towards another side of the castle.
"W-why yes! It was great, really! He really is an amazing hero, don't you think? Come to think of it, I've heard a lot of stories about you, Ieyasu. I thought you would be a lot older! I was thinking someone with wrinkles, and a long ponytail, and a bushy gray bead even!" She spoke animating her thoughts with her hands showing just how long she thought his beard would be.
"You sure are energetic! That's perfect. I will need all the help I can get with you at my side, oracle."
For once, Tsuruhime was quiet and only blushed hard and nodded.
"Well, come inside. Tadakatsu's waiting on us, I'm sure."
Tsuruhime made herself at home inside Ieyasu's castle. She chatted with their allies being fond of a certain gun slinging woman who had taken up residence for the night in the castle.
Ieyasu watched from afar as the two women spoke, Magoichi with an introverted attitude towards the girl's pestering questions. Lucky for her, a cat walked by and she ran off to catch it.
Magoichi sighed coming to stand by Ieyasu.
"She's going to be a handful, you know that, right?"
Ieyasu grinned shaking his head. "A handful? You really think so? I think she's...very adorable." He said happily.
Magoichi's lips twitched into a smirk. "Hey now tough guy, don't you go getting too attached. Anyways, I'm going with my men. Send for me when the time comes." She looked serious at Ieyasu and left.
Ieyasu glanced over at his new house mate. She held the cat petting it behind the ears. Ieyasu could hear it furring from where he stood.
"A handful... we'll see."
A few nights later, Date Masamune sat with Ieyasu drinking sake celebrating their alliance.
"Ah..this is pretty good." Masamune licked the sake from his lips and grinned.
"Now about Mitsunari...we've got a score to settle, so don't you be getting in my way when it's my turn to have a go at him. He's insulted me far too much. I can't let it slide."
Ieyasu poured them both another drink.
"While I understand you have a score to settle, Mitsunari is my rival and I doubt he-"
"Hello everyone!" A bubbly voice announced. Ieyasu and Masamune turned around seeing a skinny girl pop a confetti firecracker into their faces.
"Congratulations on joining team Tokugawa~!" She waved a small yellow flag with the black Tokugawa crest on it and began to cheer.
Ieyasu sweated wondering how his new ally would handle Tsuruhime's sudden intrusion.
"Ha...hahaha!" Masamune laughed heartily, and the other two did as well.
"And who might you be, kid?" Masamune folded his arms smirking.
"I am Tsuruhime, the little crane! I am the oracle at my temple!"
"The oracle is on our side, eh? Hmph." He stood, his armor clanking together.
"Thanks for the warm welcome, little crane." He gently patted her head and turned back to Ieyasu.
"If you need me, you know where to find me."
Ieyasu nodded and bowed respectfully.
The Oshuu lord left and Tsuruhime watched him walk down the hall.
"So cool!" She turned red admiring the samurai. "He fights with six swords? Amazing!"
Ieyasu rubbed the back of his head. He felt a pang of jealously well in his gut. Tsuruhime seemed to think all the men he was allied with were 'cool', but she had yet to say something like that about him. He shook it off his mind deciding instead to play a game of shogi with the oracle.
"You know, Tadakatsu sees through all my moves." Tsuruhime pouted across the game board from him. He smiled.
"He's had a lot of practice." Ieyasu moved his golden general forward.
"Hm. Where would Tadakatsu move...? Let's think." Tsuruhime thought to her self and moved her knight piece forward capturing one of Ieyasu's lances.
"Darn it." Ieyasu rubbed his chin and smiled at Tsuruhime.
"You're learning a lot from Tadakatsu, aren't you?"
She smiled happily. "Oh yes! I admire him a lot!" She brought her hand up to cup her cheek giggling to herself.
"I see. Are there other warriors you admire?" He moved a piece forward on the board.
"Oh! Hehehehe~ Yes, there are so many I feel like I've lost count!" She started listing off soldiers from her home town, soldiers she fought with, fought against, people who she had never met but had heard stories of their deeds. Of course Tadakatsu was thrown in there.
"And what about Masamune?" He cursed himself watching her put him in check. He quickly moved his king.
"He's super cool, don't you think so too, Ieyasu? I mean, the way he talks, the way he walks. He screams bad boy!" Her cheeks heated up and she continued thinking about all the exceptional soldiers she had come across. Ieyasu took that moment to gain the upper hand in the match and grinned.
"Hey, it's your turn."
Tsuruhime blinked down at the bored.
"Hey! You put me in check!" She pointed at Ieyasu's face. She huffed looking all over the board for a safe place to move her king, but none could be found.
"Ohhh! I guess you win!" She pouted.
Ieyasu chuckled lightly. She was the epitome of cute.
"That's alright. I'll treat you to some dango to make up for it, how does that sound?"
"Ah! Yes! I haven't ever tried it!"
He marveled at just how sheltered the little crane was a before coming to his castle.
He walked down to the nearest tea house and ordered tea and sweet dango for them both. He watched her eat the sweet treat happily.
"It's really really reaaaalllly good! Teehee~ Thank you, Ieyasu!"
He sighed smiling at how blissful she was over a sweet dango roll.
"Hey, what about me?" Ieyasu questioned.
"Hmm?" She bit off the last piece of dango, her brown eyes on him.
"What do you think of me, Tsuruhime?" He held his breath, his thumb flicking at the rim of his tea cup. His heart beat faster watching her swallow the last bite.
"I really like you, Ieyasu!"
He let out his breath grinning from ear to ear. "I really like you-" H started softly but was interrupted.
"You're just like an older brother to me!" She said honestly without any misgivings as to how Ieyasu felt.
"I see." Ieyasu's stomach dropped.
"She thinks of me as a brother!" Ieyasu paced his work room talking with Tadakatsu."Ugh!" He put his hands on his hips looking at the ceiling.
"She admires everyone except me!" He palmed his face shaking his head.
There must be a way to make her change the way she looks at me..." He thought aloud.
"...!" Tadakatsu watched his lord struggle with himself.
"I can't just make her like me, Tadakatsu-"
"...!?"
"Wait...what if I...tomorrow morning I could... Tadakatsu, that's a great idea! She won't be able to ignore me after that!" He smiled at his friend.
"Tadakatsu, you always have the best advice!"
Ieyasu rose before dawn the next morning. He ran around the castle ten times. He put on his gauntlets and practiced his punches on a wooden dummy until day break.
"589...590..."
He counted each punch making sure not to miss a beat. He jogged up the many steps leading up to his castle doors. The sun was peaking out from behind the trees. He knew Tsuruhime would be up by now.
Ieyasu walked inside seeing Tadakatsu holding a towel. He took it putting it over his bare shoulder.
"Is she out here?" He whispered to Tadakatsu looking around. He could hear voices in the dining room.
"...!" Tadakatsu warned. "What? What is he doing here?" Ieyasu walked into the room seeing Yoshiaki having breakfast with the little crane.
"And that's when I said, ' If you pull the wings off of a fly, does it become a walk? '" The two began to laugh like a pack of hyenas. Ieyasu frowned. He didn't expect Yoshiaki to be here this morning.
"Oh my! Good morning handsome~" Yoshiaki winked at Ieyasu making him feel a little silly for baring his sweat glistening chest in front of them both.
"Yoshiaki...good morning. Little crane." He smiled her way and she smiled back as if everything as normal.
"I heard all about the little oracle being cooped up inside this castle. It's no good for a beautiful bird such as this to be caged inside all day! How about you come over and visit my castle, hm sweetie? I've got lots of snacks and goodies for you~"
Ieyasu sent a death glare Mogami's way.
"Oh please! Can I, Mister Tokugawa?" She begged with her hands together and head bowed.
He sighed wiping his chest off with the towel. "Alright, but I'm sending Tadakatsu to go along with you."
"Yay!" Tsuruhime jumped up and hugged Ieyasu jumping excitedly.
He turned a little red finally getting some affection from the cute girl.
She sniffed the air by Ieyasu and pulled away holding her nose.
"Phew! Ieyasu, you should really take a bath! Hee hee!" She skipped away with Mogami and Tadakatsu in tow.
Angrily, Ieyasu threw down his towel.
He failed once again at attracting any positive attention from the oracle.
"Damnit!"