Masamune
"Lord Masamune? You here?" A familiar voice calls out from outside the kitchen of his manor. "You have a visitor."
"This early in the morning? Who is it?" Masamune says back, not bothering to figure it out for himself.
"It's the Princess. And she's brought Shogetsu with her."
A certain tone of amusement comes clear through Kojuro's voice, yet it's no wonder why. Naturally, those two have already gotten along really well in their short time knowing each other. That kitten… she really has a way to get through people, isn't it?
"Thanks for the heads up, Kojuro. I'll be there in a moment."
Satisfied with the result, Masamune makes quick work of wrapping up the finished provisions for his troops stationed up north in the outskirts of Azuchi. It's been some time since he tried out creating a new recipe, and with some luck that meal would last longer without having to go to waste. At least, that's what he hopes for.
Untying his sleeves and tucking the bags into his kimono, he cleans his hands and makes himself somewhat presentable before walking to meet his guest. Surprisingly so, once he slides the door open, the sight of the so-called Princess makes him chuckle low; finding her sprawled down on his futon, his tiger in her lap, playfully pawing at a strip of cloth in her hands that he's inclined to assume is the one she uses to tie up her copper locks.
Aside from their first encounter, it's the first time he sees her not dressed Princess-like—a dark red hakama wrapped hastily around her waist instead of the several expensive kimono provided to her by Nobunaga. However, it's not particularly displeasing to his eye, catching the way the clothes hug her figure quite appealingly so.
"Good morning, kittens. Having fun without me?" He says with a smirk, curling up into a full grin once their eyes meet across the room, hers sparkling prettily.
"Ah, sorry about crumpling your bed," Mai replies half-bashfully, quickly coming to a stand, "In my defense, it was Shogetsu's fault. He kind of dragged me over…"
"Hah, no need to be sorry. I know this imprudent kit can be like that," He laughs it off, walking to his desk, his eye instinctively giving her another once-over look. "I see you're dressed more comfortably today. Are you planning to move here?" He can't help the teasing jab, very much less so with the way she blushes every time he does so.
"I—ah, no. I'm just having my day off, so thought of being more comfortable, that's all!"
He pretends to be deeply disappointed, holding a hand to his chest. "Well, that's too bad. I wouldn't have minded bringing another kitten under my wing," His eye follows her as she comes around and takes a proper seat before his working desk. "Alright, so what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?"
"Uh, well… I was wondering if you can help me out with something," As the lass' face grows pensive, Masamune imitates her gesture and takes a seat as well, willing to hear what she has to say.
Turns out, as he does so, her plea isn't one he was expecting anytime soon.
"You want me to show you how soldiers live?" His brows knit together, growing skeptical. While he can't say what brought that up, neither is up for speculating about it, wondering instead, "Are you sure you're ready for it?"
"Um, why would you ask that?" Mai stammers a little.
"Because I'm not really sure you are." Shrugging nonchalantly as to not considering too much of a big deal, he explains himself, "You don't seem to be up to sparring with me as Nobunaga suggested, and that's alright, I won't push it if you don't want it. But if you don't want to get involved in the reality of our time, then I don't see the point of doing that either…"
When Mai's face scrunches up in apparent shame, suddenly he partially regrets what he said. Did I touch a sore spot there? "I just… you're right…" Her shoulders slump down, casting her pretty amber eyes away and hiding her face, appearing reticent. "I only thought that would give me a better perspective of what I have to deal with, in my time here."
That line of thought, he can understand it better. "Ah, I get it. That makes more sense," Pondering on it a little, Masamune realizes it wouldn't be too troubling bringing her with him to where he formerly was intending to go to that day. "I think I can help you with that. But you have to prove to me you're up for it," Tilting his head forward, he searches her eyes, "Are you confident?"
"Really?" The lass' face brightens up at that, his small spurring appearing to work nicely, "I'm more than confident! In fact, I'll leave you speechless!"
The determination in her gives him other kinds of ideas—certainly more appealing ones—a sly smirk clinging to his lips. "Remember those words." He says sultrily, shooting her a challenging look and prompting him to test her resolve.
Said one comes in the form of picking her up in his arms, rising to his feet with her.
Mai yelps in surprise, but doesn't pose much resistance. "Whoa—! You're making it a habit of carrying me…" As she looks into his face in sort of astonishment, he almost stops in his tracks at the sight of her blushing cheeks. "Where are we going?"
Such wide-eyed and innocent look makes his heart stop a beat somewhat.
She's so cute. Does she even know how kissable she looks?
"To see more of the real life in this time. Where else?" Not helping to tease her some more, he leans down to whisper low in her ear, "Don't forget you promised to leave me speechless…"
"Hey, Masamune?" The two of them have left Azuchi Castle way behind, and he's been leading her through the familiar path across the thick forest beyond the walls. "I thought you'd be taking me to the barracks or something. Maybe interview some troops? Is it safe to go this far outside the castle?"
Considering the current ghosts up and about, she does have a point. "Who do you think you're with? It's not dangerous, you're with me." Besides, her safety isn't precisely the main reason why they're walking out there, and rather the opposite of it. "Don't make me speechless with your cowardice." He snorts, half-serious and half-joking.
Through his periphery, Masamune can see her opening her mouth a couple of times but appearing to refrain herself from really speaking her mind; not surprisingly so, considering he's left her little room to argue with. "If I do, does that still count?" Instead, she seems to try going with the flow.
He snorts softly. "What do you think?"
"I'm just trying to look out for myself." The lass excuses herself, "That's why I wanted to come here, so I can find a good way to stay alive."
"And? Are you still alive?" It's a loaded question, but he can't refrain himself from asking it outright. "It's easy enough to say you do." Turning around to look at her, Masamune comes close with a brow arched questioningly. "Show me you're alive..."
"Mego, are you awake? Mego…?"
"Is she still alive? She's so… cold."
"Don't say that, Shigezane! She'll get better, she promised she will!"
"S-show you?" Mai's breath hitches, becoming flustered, but that only prompts him to take another daring step closer. "How else could I be standing here? What would show you?"
Anything. "What do you think would do it?" He says very low, barely for her to hear.
"U-um, pulse, respiration? I really don't know what you have in mind."
Turning a similar shade of red like her hakama, it's clear she's struggling deeply with a proper answer, but that's enough for him to prove it—the dead don't blush after all. Curiously so, as he can't help a partially relieved grin from spreading all over his face, the lass casts her eyes away once again; not precisely in a shy manner, but as if guarding herself against something.
For a moment, it feels as if she's afraid, but of what, Masamune can't truly tell. If anything, it makes him more interested in her.
And so, he opts out to brush it off for both their sakes. "Hahaha! You're a lot of fun, you know." Holding in his laughter, he pats her on the head. "Relax, really. Nothing in this forest, including me, is going to bite. Biting is what kittens do…"
A silly pout makes way to her face, and all in a sudden, it's him who has to look away in an attempt to contain a strange urge to kiss her senseless. And he definitely would, if they weren't in the middle of something else.
"You keep bringing up the kitten thing! Just let it go! Stop teasing me about it."
"I'll only bring it up if I mean it… or if I'm teasing," He says playfully, fixing his eye on the path ahead.
"Masamune!" A quarrel between them continues as they walk deeper into the forest, killing time between silly jabs and bantering comments.
"Oh, we're here." Masamune stops in his tracks, outstretching an arm for the Princess to wait there as well. Sensing someone close to their location, he brings two fingers to his mouth and whistles, imitating the coo of a falcon.
Soon enough, a figure appears between a patch of woods. "Lord Masamune! You're here again!"
"AAH! Ninja!"
In the blink of an eye, the lass jumps behind him as a familiar boy springs out from the thick vegetation, clinging to his back in sudden fright. At the motion, the newcomer raises his hands as to show he's unarmed, and Masamune can't help an amused snicker to escape him.
"Good eyes as always, Yojiro." He commends his scout, sneaking an arm around the Princess' shoulders to reassure her, "Mai, don't be scared. He's one of mine."
Yojiro's face twists, appearing mortified. "Oh, Princess Mai. I'm so sorry for surprising you!"
"Oh, no, I mean—yeah, um. Hello." At that, Masamune can't say which of them becomes more flustered, amusing him to no end.
"Have there been any changes?" He addresses his subordinate good-naturedly.
"In the whole two days you haven't visited us, my Lord?"
His brow quirks up, skeptical. "What? You want me to stop coming by?"
There's a fun twinkle in the boy's eyes, "How are we supposed to sleep on the job with you checking in on us all the time?"
Ah, so this is how it is today—acting cool in front of the Princess. He doesn't mind it at all, however, bursting into laughter alongside Yojiro as the three of them continue on into the forest, a hand wrapping itself around the lass' so to keep her at close reach.
They reach the packed camp in no time, where several of his scouts are currently stationed as well. "Hey everyone!" Yojiro makes quick work of gathering the men around, "Lord Masamune is here! And he brought the Princess!"
He can't truly blame the sheer curiosity from youngsters and adult men alike as they approach from their posts, some making themselves more presentable along the way with cleaning their hands, faces, and the sort. Sure thing, it isn't often when someone of the lass' stature bothers to make a visit to the soldiers' camp—even if said lass is merely a Princess by name and not by blood nor birthright, but very few people know that.
"Lord Masamune, here again? Don't you have a fief to manage?"
"I'm just here because someone told me you all were sleeping on the job!" He jabs, a chorus of cackles following. Stepping aside, Masamune lets the lass step forward, "Let me introduce you, Mai. These fine northerners are my scouts. They're here to keep an eye out for enemy spies, or slow down the enemy in case of an attack."
"Wow, that's amazing…" He senses she means it, although the smile she directs at the men doesn't truly reach her eyes, looking somewhat lost in her own thoughts. "Hello, everyone,"
It's not really polite to ask her about it outright, and besides, most likely she'd want to figure out whatever she's thinking by herself. Isn't it why she'd wanted to go with him? "Anyway, Takeda and Uesugi are on the watch list now. So be on guard."
"Understood, my Lord,"
Yojiro scratches the back of his head in apparent confusion. "You know, you already wrote us that. You didn't need to come all over here and tell us…"
"Huh, I didn't need to come out here? I guess you don't need these provisions, then." With a pretended dejected look, he pulls the packages he'd prepared in the morning out of the folds of his kimono.
"What!? You should've said so in the first place, Lord Masamune! Your cooking's great!" The entire group suddenly looks much happier, approaching further to gratefully take it out of his hands.
He can't help but laugh at the very eager look of some of the men. "Make sure to share!"
From the sidelines, he can notice the Princess watching over them with an awed expression in her face. Once the group spreads out, he takes the chance to go over to her, politely away from some prying ears.
"Huh? You make the provisions for them?" She wonders, wide-eyed.
Masamune tilts his head, arching a brow. "Well, I don't know what it's like in the future, but we don't have food that lasts long and still tastes good here. So, I've been experimenting with recipes, trying to come up with something that'll feed the troops." He says with a shrug.
"You're actually creating the recipes yourself!" For some reason, she becomes even more awestruck. "Is this how it feels watching history unfold? Wow…"
What? He blinks, confused at her reverie state. True enough, he'd never really pondered deep about every small action he made in life, very much less so considered something as trivial as food may be in any way life-changing. But then again, Mai Mizusaki comes from a world several leagues as different as the one they're living in.
Prompting the large pile of questions gathering in his mind aside—or else he knows it'll never stop—he opts for continuing on. "Yeah, these guys have a hard job. If I don't give them something tasty, they won't have anything to fight for."
She turns to look at him straight in the eye, seemingly finding something in his face, given how hers softens drastically. "You know, I'm starting to be impressed with you…"
The low voiced comment—as if a confession would be—briefly robs him of words. First, she barges into his room and gets comfortable, practically claiming his futon with Shogetsu. Then, she pretty much steals the hearts of every man near her without any effort but barely with a smile. And consequently, she reminds him of the small yet important things in life, such as just basking in each other's company, or living in the moment, or the mere act of how making food for someone else could make everything for the better.
Truth be told, he's rather impressed with her as well.
She's so kissable…
His small chuckle comes out a little weak. "That's dangerous talk. It means you weren't impressed with me before." A sly smirk clings to Masamune's lips, trying his best to look as cool and composed as usual.
The lass just shrugs, her gorgeous smile not faltering. "Well, to be honest, it fluctuates…"
"'Fluctuates' isn't good enough for me." He reaches out to playfully mess her hair, but Mai hastily ducks away, her reflexes seeming to kick in. His smirk turns into a wicked grin, more than lured to play. "Hey! Someone told me I need to make sure my kitten doesn't stray!"
Like a kid, she sticks her tongue out. "I told you I'm not the kitten!"
"What if I make you meow?" He proposes, teasingly waggling a brow.
"Tempting, but I think I'll pass."
"Thinking you'll pass isn't the same as passing!"
She ducks away out of his reach again, laughing silly in her haste and hiding behind a tree. Masamune wastes no time and falls right into their catching game, appearing from around the other side and pawing at her before she runs to another tree. He laughs freely and out loud with her as well, not currently recalling the last time he had the chance to play like that, idly wondering what he could do once he captures his prey.
But then, "Princess, watch out! The ground's unstable there!"
"Wha—AAH!"
Up the cliff, the soft ground sinks under her feet, then crumbles and breaks right off before his eyes.
No… not again…
Adrenaline kicks right in, unbothered by his own wellbeing and running up the cliff for dear life, to the last spot he'd seen her. His heart feels like beating again when catching a glimpse of her dark red hakama on a muddy ledge just below—she hadn't truly fallen. There's a sturdy root nearby, but no matter how far she stretches to grab it, it's out of her reach.
"Mai!" Without thinking, he lunches and throws himself forward, clasping her hand tightly in both of his. "Got you!"
However, the ledge seems to finally give up under the weight of the two of them. "Masamune—!"
Her panicked cry it's the last he hears before falling down together, arms full of her and eyes shut close, bracing himself for the landing.
Sopping wet to the core, he surfaces from the river they'd apparently fallen into. "Mai? Mai!" Shaking water off his face, he desperately looks for her, hyper-aware he won't hear the end of it should she gets injured in any way.
To his relief, she appears not that far ahead, gasping for air. "I'm here! I'm alright!"
They swim over to the shore together, throwing themselves atop the grass. At a first glance, she appears shaken but unhurt, although just as soaked as him.
"Where'd we fall from?" She wonders, panting hard.
"Up there, just down that slope." He points up. It's not much more than six feet up, the outcropping strategically well hidden by the trees.
Both take some time to catch their breath, the chirping of birds and their faint pant the only sound around them for a reprieving moment. Feeling like laughing it off, he refrains himself from doing so as he notices the stricken face of the lass at his side.
"I'm sorry that I got you drenched…" She says so low he almost doesn't hear her.
"It was my fault for playing around. I'm sorry." He admits his blame, "That was pretty fun, though." Better than to mull over it, he pulls himself farther up the shore, running his fingers through his wet bangs. "First time I've fallen into a lake. Guess you never know what'll be fun until you try it."
Mai snorts in disbelief. "I'm okay with swimming but not the falling. I'd definitely take out the falling."
"It wasn't too bad. Getting water in my eyepatch was the worst part." They take some shelter from the midday sun at the bottom of a tree, and Masamune reaches behind him to make quick work of pulling his eyepatch off. "I won't be offended if you look away. It's not a pretty sight." As he pulls the tie loose, she doesn't truly listen to his advice, frowning hard when she gets a fairly good look at the scarred part of his face.
He doesn't fully mind someone else being able to see his missing eye—it's who he is, after all, as much as all the scars running down half of his body. They're a map of experiences, past battles and illnesses; reminders of what it cost him to get to live up to that moment.
"I'm guessing you don't see too many of these in the future?"
She casts her eyes away in an instant, appearing guilty. "Sorry, I know I shouldn't stare. Masamune, can I ask what happened?" Worrying her lip, it's clear she's trying to be polite, struggling to tone down her natural curiosity.
It's an endearing and cute sight, though. "My eye? I ate it." He can't help himself with joking, smirking hard.
"WHAT!?" Her near pout shifts into a shocked look, but at least she's looking back at him again.
"I woke up one morning feeling hungry, wondering how it'd taste." He shrugs nonchalantly, secretly enjoying the view of her amber eyes, bright and wide. "Your eyes look pretty tasty too, come to think of it."
A blush creeps up her face when he mockingly licks his lips, making her even cuter. "Y-you can't have my eyes!"
A lively laugh finally gives him away, "Relax, I'm kidding!" It's a wonder how she takes everything he says so seriously. But fairly so, Masamune knows he should open up a little. "It was smallpox, got it when I was young. The disease spread to my right eye and left me blind." He manages a smile in spite of himself, "That wasn't the only thing it took from me, but I survived…"
My brother, Kojirou. My bride-to-be, Mego. My mother's love, my father's concern, my people's wariness…
His thumb brushes idly upon his wet eyepatch, feeling the texture. "Still, even after I recovered, I couldn't get over what I'd lost. I started to hate myself. Then, I realized I'd never truly get over it until I found a way to take control. So I asked Kojuro to cut the eye out for me. I'd say it healed up pretty good… What's with that look? You disappointed I didn't lose it in a fight?" In a way, he's disappointed it hadn't turned out that way, but what's done it's done.
It's not really a look of pity what she gives him, but rather one of concern. "Well, I thought you might've, but no. Of course I'm not disappointed." A sort of guilt appears to be eating at her still, however. "I'm sorry for asking."
"Don't apologize. It's just an eye."
As much as it may seem as if he's deflecting, in all honesty there's nothing the lass can do about what happened in the past. Besides, his scars and burdens are only his to bear, and he'd say he'd been doing fairly well so far.
A thoughtful silence washes over the two of them, and then, a small hand shyly wraps around the one he's been clutching his eyepatch with.
"You really are impressive, Masamune..." The lass says in a low voice, once again as if in admission.
He can't help frowning at that, letting her take the battered eyepatch from his grasp. "What's this about now?"
In a near tender manner, Mai squishes the water off the fabric with careful fingers, seemingly losing herself in thought. "It must have changed your life dramatically, losing your eye, losing control. Being that sick must have been scary, and having to make that decision to get over it and move on with your life?"
"You're making it out to be such a big thing…" And yet, for the split of a moment, Masamune has to wonder what she is exactly pondering about.
"What I mean is, all the things I know, all the ways I know to survive and prosper in my time period, those don't work here. I've been thinking that, without you around, I wouldn't even be alive right now…" She lets out a self-deprecating laugh, and he's no fool to not notice how conflicted she is. "I've been thinking about how I can't even protect myself properly, and how I don't like that. The other morning I almost thought I should just shut myself up in my room…"
"And why didn't you?" He fixes his eye on hers, tears faintly gleaming on that pool of amber that is her gaze.
"Well—" She hesitates, appearing to be recalling why, "I… decided it didn't suit me. Also, I was hungry."
A more genuine smile clings to him, "Two good reasons." He lets out a short laugh.
"But I'm worried I'm just faking it. That inside, I'm still scared."
"Mai…" The air around him shifts all in a sudden, but not in an unpleasant way—the very opposite, actually. "Life is there for you to enjoy it. You can do that however you like, just make sure you're doing that for you, not for anyone else."
"For myself?"
"What you said about it suiting you? That's what I mean. If you try to live anyone else's way, you'll end up with regrets." That small word of advice had worked with him in the past, so Masamune can only hope it'll help her as well. "You can curl up into a ball in your room, or go out riding and laughing with friends. Either way, you'll get hungry sometime. But I know from experience, the food tastes a lot better when you're laughing than when you're scared."
Their fingers meet over his eyepatch, and the rough texture of the fabric mixed with the warmth of her skin makes his heart skip a beat. It's an odd feeling to some extent, but exciting and new all the same—as everything about her is.
"When did this become about food? I'm beginning to think you're obsessed!" The sound of her laugh is different somehow, one he welcomes with open arms, pleased to see her finally relax. "Oh wait, it was me who brought it up!"
"What's so funny about food?"
"Nothing, nothing at all!" Her soft snicker turns into loud laughter; lighter, freer, all the more beautiful. "Thanks. I feel a lot better because of you."
Masamune catches his own reflection in her amber gaze, staring back at him with pure, unadulterated gratitude, and the sight makes something click within him, coming with an honest realization. He understands that peculiar feeling he's been having, and very few people had looked at him as warmly, as genuinely as her.
Hells and heavens, she's so kissable...
"You're welcome." He smiles more openly, more easily, reaching out to brush her cheek with his thumb, relishing in the warmth she radiates, in how alive she looks. It's a soft touch, and yet, she appears to melt in his hands, leaning onto his palm with half-lidded eyes.
"Masamune…" The sound of his name awakens something coiled deep within him; rumbling low, eager to be satiated.
And out of sheer instinct, he complies, leaning down and capturing her lips with his, kissing her deep and hard—the best way he knows how.
A-N: AAaAaAAA a wild cliffhanger has appeared! While I'm partially sorry for this, I can also promise it'll be worth the wait ansidooiasdoiaio, plz hang in there :D