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krys-loves-otome · 2 years

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Masamune Act 2 Plot Summary

Hey friends, good to see y'all again.

So, over on twitter, a friend (@snow-and-saltea) was wanting to get back into IkeSen after some time away and I had just finished giving some thoughts on the routes that I have been playing and they were curious about Masa's second act since I had gushed about it so much. So, I decided to gather my thoughts about it to give a plot summary for them. Took a day and wrote it up, saw that I had basically gushed for about 2100 words, and thought it was going to be a nightmare to repost to twitter, so I sent them a google doc of it instead.

Then, got to thinking about it and decided that I could put this on tumblr as well. Kind of like a call back to when I used to do an essay series reviewing various routes of whatever otome I was playing.

This essay will cover the basics of Masamune's Act 2, with some references to his Romantic route end and his Eternal End. Since it is a plot summary, there are going to be spoilers for a good portion of the route. I don't cover every single detail that went on in the route, I'm just covering some basic stuff along with some analysis. Should also say that as of this writing, I haven't done his Tragic End yet, so that will not be included in this summary. Maybe another time when I'm feeling braver about it.

Anyway, onto the summary!

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Masa's Act 2, like what I'm assuming the rest of the Act 2s are gonna be like, follows the events following their Eternal End.

For Masa's Eternal End in particular, his is focused more on exploring his want to be seen as strong all the time and why he has a hard time showing and or talking about his weakness and insecurities. It's kind of touched upon in his Romantic ending too when he would say super sweet things to MC when he thought she was fully asleep. Not that he wouldn't say romantic and sweet things to her when she was awake, he just didn't want her seeing him in an uncool state if he said the super-super sweet things.

With his Eternal End, there was a look into his past via MC talking to his old mentor and to his top vassal and confidant Kojuro. They tell the story of a quiet, sickly little boy that Masa was before Kojuro cut his eye out, about how he hated how weak and powerless he felt, his not-so-great relationship with his family, plus the trauma brought on from having to kill his dad. Basically, Masa bottles up a lot of negativity about himself which isn't a good thing to do, but Eternal End seemed to hint he's slowly opening up to the idea that sharing that shameful side of himself to MC isn't such a bad thing, that she doesn't care about his flaws, she loves him for all of his parts.

Act 2, well, it really brings his 'shameful side' out in full view and puts it to the test. How much can Masa handle before his 'cool' persona starts to fall away?

MC and Masa are returning to Azuchi after they hear about it being attacked, only for her to see that her Traveler's Guide is now blank. Not only that, but MC is starting to experience some memory loss, in particular about things she used to know from the future. The first instance is her forgetting how to make ruffles, which is troubling because she loves all things sewing, so for her to forget something like that makes both of them feel ill at ease. Not that Masa let's her see that, she's scared so he does his best to soothe her, wifey’s needs come first. Can’t have her being scared, it’s a ‘not good’ in Masa’s book. Once she's asleep (a la his romantic route’s ending), he expresses his worries to her and how he's gonna find some way to restore her memories back to her.

But the trouble doesn't end there. Both him and Ieyasu receive word from their respective provinces that they were being attacked, so they couldn't stay and help Nobu with the growing threat of Motonari and Kicho. Yasu takes off to Mikawa while Masa goes back to Oshu with MC in tow. From there, her amnesia gets progressively worse as she forgets more things about the future. She can't remember her family, when or where she was born, what certain things are called, and it starts to freak her out. Masa tries his best to help her remember things she's told him about the future, like about different kinds of foods or about cars and roller coasters, but her memory is still deteriorating.

Then, we're given one painful reminder from his main route after another. Masa had taken her on a scouting mission but they were ambushed. She tries her best to stay hidden but a lit gun rolls her way. She might have forgotten about all her future sewing knowledge, but she still remembers how to use a gun from Mitsuhide's teachings in the main route. She sees Masa about to get hit, calls to him to get down, and fires the gun. She misses and hits a tree, but still, she fired the gun at a person!

Because of an incident in his Main route, Masa got hurt because of her inability to fire on a guy that would have most certainly killed her if Masa hadn't come along. And there was a big to-do about when he stopped her from firing on Kenshin, that she didn't have to destroy herself and her beliefs to save him by killing someone. That she should leave the reckless dangerous stuff to him and how much he would hate himself if she lost her smile by having to destroy her beliefs.

Because of these previous incidents, we know that MC is against hurting another, no matter the cost to herself. But, because of this memory loss, MC did something that was against her moral code (attempting to kill someone to save Masa) and it disturbed both of them. She's shaken when she realizes what she had almost done, and, once again, Masa tries his best to comfort her, but if this memory loss thing didn't bother him before, it was definitely bothering him now.

Following that incident, MC loses her ability to make expressions. She can't smile or cry, her face now like that of a doll. Masa tries to make the best of it by having her do expressive gestures instead, like her hands on her face for surprise, or to give him hugs when she wants to say she loves him.

MC also notices that her body is slower to respond, like not being able to move her hand a certain way. As you'd expect, this comes back to bite them both in the ass.

Now, Kenshin comes after him for some reason (his reasoning is not really explained well, I'm just assuming that the plot needed for him to come do something, so Kenshin's here to cause chaos) but Kicho interferes with their fight, raining arrows on Masa's tropes. Masa tries to pull MC up with him so they can get away, but her body refuses to move, thanks to her new symptom of temporary paralysis, first hinted at before when she lost her ability to express emotions on her face. Masa gets hit by a poison arrow when MC suddenly can move again. They have to get away before the poison takes hold. So, they jump onto his horse and try to escape but guess who comes to stop them.

Kicho, the bastard.

MC pleads with him to move, but he refuses. Masa is getting weaker and more delirious from the poison, so MC has to think fast about what to do. Masa wants to fight Kicho but MC thinks it's dumb for him to fight in his increasingly weakening state.

So, she does possibly the worst thing she can do to Masamune.

She ties his hands to his horse, jumps down, and sends that horse off from the battlefield as he screams after her, having to watch in horror as Kicho comes up behind her and slices her back open. Masa basically gets to watch his loved ones die in front of him all over again. Fun times!

But! MC isn't dead! Matter of fact, she crawls her way to Kicho and gets him to save her life, which, surprisingly, he does! Wild.

MC's in and out of consciousness, sometimes talking to Kicho, sometimes having fever dreams about Masa. Kicho eventually leaves to do his dastardly schemes. The next person that finds her is Kanetsugu, Kenshin's top vassal. He had met with MC and Masa in a previous joint investigation of Kicho. And he stays with MC because leaving a defenseless, injured woman to die is ridiculous. He patches her up and listens as she laments her horrible actions, of putting Masa in the position of reliving his worst trauma and how much she wants to apologize for doing him so, so dirty.

Because Kanetsugu is a good guy, he gives her a proposition. If she's still sick and hurting in the morning, he'd take her to the nearest village with a doctor and she could go about her way afterwards. But, if she was feeling well enough to travel, he'll take her as close as he can to Masa's base camp, to see if he's still alive. And, true to his word, he takes her as close as he can.

Meanwhile, back with Masa, he drinks as much water as he can to nullify the poison. You can hear the defeat in his voice as he says 'it's always poison, isn't it, Kojuro?' (I don't think it's explicitly stated in IkeSen, but Masa never had a good relationship with his family, his mother in particular. She tried to poison him so his younger brother could take the position of clan head, according to wikipedia. It's more explored in SLBP's version of Masa (thus how I knew about it), but we're here for IkeSen Masa, so that discussion will have to happen another time) He does his own lamenting, that finding and keep love was never meant for someone like him, already losing two people he cared about, that he was too weak and powerless to protect them.

But, he soon finds his resolve again. He wants to find MC again, dead or alive, and live his life so she and others after her can smile in the future. Still weakened from the poison, but determined, he decides to face Kenshin again head-on (because he still wants to fight Masa, and if he won't fight or is dead, he's gonna take the territory he left behind, it's still kinda dumb), then he was gonna find Kicho and stop him from continuing to ruin the future his beloved came from.

I'm gonna first talk about the Passionate route as that's the one I completed first and then I’ll talk about his Blissful route.

Masa and Kenshin try to face off once again, but they're interrupted again (poor Kenshin, he doesn't get much to do this route). This time it's Motonari who comes to ruin everything and set things on fire.

Literally, everything is on fire. Not even kidding. Fire’s everywhere, man.

MC breaks away from Kanetsugu's group to see Masa, still weak but alive, as he's fighting off Motonari in the flames. Because MC is dumb and still very much injured herself, she tries to go and help Masa, but again, fighting going on, plus, again, everything's on fire!

Motonari finally realizes that maybe setting things on fire wasn't a good idea so he runs off while Masa, still weak and now bleeding and probably a little singed, tries to get away from the flames with MC supporting him, two dumb, weak, stumbling idiots in love. When help from the Oda arrives (they had been tracking Motonari and Kicho and now all our friends are together again, yay!) they both collapse then and there to the ground, clinging to each other.

MC wakes up again back in Azuchi, being attended by Ieyasu, with Masa nearby, still unconscious. He explains that while he would have preferred to treat them apart, he knew one or the other would try to get up and find the other and decided he didn't want the headache of them reopening wounds by moving too much, so he kept them together in close enough beds. He updates MC about the current situation and leaves the two of them to their rest. Masa wakes and they talk and apologize. Little bit of kissing too but not much because they both still can't move very well, but that's okay, at least they're together again. Yay!

For the Blissful route, meant as a Romantic Ending equivalent, is much lighter in tone and pacing than its other half. MC and Kanetsugu receive word that Masa and Kenshin are going to fight once more, so the two of them make their way to the battlefield as close as they can, in the rain.

As the two dragons are about to face off, both are suddenly struck by lightning.

No, not even kidding. Both Masa and Kenshin were knocked unconscious by a force of nature so they can’t fight to the death.

I laughed for a good five minutes while trying to process that scene.

Kanetsugu and MC part ways as the unconscious commanders are taken off the field. Kanetsugu lends her his horse, saying she’s smart and that she’ll return to him when MC releases her. Kanetsugu himself rides with one of his underlings as MC sets off to reach the Date base camp. When she arrives, her energy finally leaves her and she collapses. Understandable as she’s still injured, just rode at full speed both to witness Maa and Kenshin be struck by lightning, all in the rain, then having to ride back at full speed to reach Masa, collapsing is kind of expected.

When MC wakes up again, she’s lying next to the unconscious Masa, him soon waking up too. Cue sweet kissing times because ‘omg, I thought you were dead!’ reunion time. After their make-up session, Masa starts to open up to MC, about how he feels like a failure for failing to protect her and his territory. MC says that it doesn’t matter if he isn’t strong enough to do those things, she loves him because she loves all of him, not for how strong or cool he is. She’s glad he’s finally letting her in, to see this weak part of himself that he’s always kept hidden from everyone.

A few days pass (Masa’s aggressors that weren’t Kicho and Motonari take care of themselves, so now they’re free to return to Azuchi and help out Nobu and the others) and they meet up with Kenshin and Kanetsugu again. They make a temporary alliance so they can stop Motonari and Kicho once and for all. Kenshin is good when he finds out that MC is having similar symptoms that Sasuke has, and that stopping Kicho and co. will make him better, so that’s his driving force for joining this alliance. On the ride to Azuchi, Masa, now thanks to his opening up to MC, starts to show more of his negative emotions openly, mainly when MC and Kanetsugu talk about how her wound is doing and about the time they spent together in the hut while Kanetsugu cared for her. Masa, like Mitsuhide did back in his route, shows his jealousy and protectiveness by growling at Kanetsugu. Like he is about most things, he’s not impressed. He baits Masa for his lack of strength in protecting his beloved and MC has to calm them both down before the alliance breaks up because of Masa’s jealousy.

The gang meets up in Azuchi with Shingen and Yoshimoto already there. Masa and MC catch everyone up on current events (how many times both of them got injured in some fashion, much to the horror of everyone about MC’s own injuries; about how she’s from the future and that if they don’t do something about Kicho and Motonari, the future that MC and Sasuke come from will cease to exist, that she comes from the future, all that fun stuff.) They come up with a battle plan and take on their enemies, defeat them, and the future is restored. With that final battle, MC finally regains her smile, Masa is stunned into silence to see that smile after so long, cuteness abounds once again.

In conclusion, if I picked a reason why I loved this route so much (outside of Masa himself because I was already loving him before) it's the character growth shown here. Masa learns that it's okay that he's not as powerful and strong as he projects himself to be, that he can still protect his loved ones despite his weaknesses. I love the throwbacks to his Main route and to show that decisions have consequences, like if the scene from the Main route of MC not taking the shot was flipped on its head and she actually did take a shot at someone, and what that kind of thought process brought out of her. Kanetsugu was a sweet bean despite his sharp tongue. Got to see Nobu and Shingen bickering which was delightful (as well as Yukimura having a 'gross, I have to work with *him???*' moment with Mitsuhide. Yoshimoto also shows up to Ieyasu's aid so he can get the Imagawa clan off his back (because that's who was pestering him) and Yasu can get back to aiding the Oda (along with the lines 'I thought you were dead. Are you here so I can finish off the job that Nobunaga didn't?').

So, yeah, that’s my thoughts on Masa’s Act 2. I do have a bias as he’s my numero dos when it comes to favorite ikesen baes, but I think this is hopefully a good example of how good this route was. The writing was bumped up a notch, there was plenty of drama, character growth, I just love it so much.

So, that’s it for this little summary. Hope you guys have fun reading it. Take care of yourselves out there and I hope to see you all again some time!

#bae in review #kind of #not a true one but it's done in the spirit of #ikemen sengoku #masamune date #masamune act 2 spoilers #masamune eternal end spoilers #I say initially that I had blabbed 2100 words to Yuu about Masa's Second Act when it was actually 2800 words #when I wrote the original summary #thus adding on the additional 700 words #like damn krys #kinda missed doing fandom essays and summaries like this #maybe if I get more spoons to do more someday I'll do some more waxing poetic about otome #but for now #here's me gushing about Masamune and how much I love him #💖

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mangolover · 3 years

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First Light of the New Dawn (Masamune Date x reader)

Title: First Light of the New Dawn

Fandom: Ikemen Sengoku / Ikesen

Pairing: Masamune Date X gn!reader

Genre: Angst

Warnings: fighting, blood, major character death

Spoilers: none i think

Word Count: 1000+

Description: Only loose end left before you can go back home is him. Tie up that lose end and you can finally be free and on your way home.

Enjoy!

Something different again.

Honestly, been going through a lot of shitty stuff lately so this was kinda my way to let out some bad emotions.

One of the reasons I haven’t been writing at all, I’ve been too busy with the mess in my head.

Honestly, this could be a bit ooc, but I really love this and I love this man so feel free to tell me what you think.

Caped in shadows casted by the light of the moon, you made your way to the hidden temple, your mind running as fast as your legs carried you. Dressed in all black, only the silver from your armor and the sharp sword glistening and giving away your presence. But you didn’t fear a sudden attack. He was a man of his word.

The roots of the high trees tried to stop you, almost wanting you to fail and to stay here. But their voices fell on deaf ears. You had no intention of failing and you are certain that you will be off in the morning, having Sasuke already waiting for you at the meeting place.

Finally, you spotted it, there was a small light peeking from it, welcoming you and informing you that he had come. You slowed down to a stop in your tracks and pulled down your face mask, taking a deep breath and letting the chill of the night freeze your thoughts and fears. It was time, there is no turning back now. Take care of the last loose end, that’s the only mission right now.

Inside you saw the silhouette of the man you hoped to see. His back turned your way, he almost looked like he was asleep, sitting crossed legged with his two sharp swords next to him on the floor. You stop before him and carefully watch his every move. As much as you hated to admit it, a plant of doubt and second thoughts had it’s roots still deep in your mind. He turned his head to his side, his dark brown hair with lighter tips now splashed in the orange and red hues of the small flame by the wall.

“You really came lass” his voice still a melody to your ears, leaving you with almost a nostalgic feeling.

“I too am a person of my word, Date” a cold reply fell out of your mouth, attempt to rid yourself of that weed in your mind.

A small chuckle rung out in the air, if he turned to the side without eyepatch you were sure you would saw an edge to his sky-blue eye. He got up slowly and only picked up one sword in his right hand.

“You’re not going to use both of them?”

“You wanted a fair fight.” He was right, he was far more skilled than you, but deep down you knew it wasn’t fair. If only he wasn’t so stubborn,

Finally turning around to face you, a graceful smile tugging on the corners of his lips, but a dangerous glint like a pure fire of the One-Eyed Dragon staring you down. You finally pulled out your sword, cutting at the roots of that annoying plant. You are at the point of no turning back, finally reap what you sow.

“I hope you’re prepared” you wanted to say you’re sorry, but that would be your heart speaking and right now there was a war in your being, Masamune only being caught in the crossfire.

“Show me what you got lass.” You finally smiled, you both were quite unpredictable, but you were ready to kill or to die trying and that would give you an inch he didn’t have. Still victory wouldn’t just fall in your hands.

Rising your swords, you were the first one in offense, but your strike was quickly blocked by impressing skill, a loud metal clang ringing around you. But you knew how to stand your ground after almost a year of training in secret with Sasuke.

Both of you tried to strike the other one down, both of you repelled the other’s sword. Exhaustion started to set in, both of you breathing heavily but neither wanting to back down.

“I must admit lass, you’re much better at this than I expected” after what seemed like eternity he finally spoke again.

“I’ve got nothing left to lose. I am going back in the morning” you finally laid out your reasons to him.

“It’s alright Y/n” finally your name was spoken, “we both knew you would go back in the future one day. I just hoped it wouldn’t be this soon.”

You had to grit your teeth to prevent yourself from crying. A quick glance cast upon the small window told you that sun was soon going to be out, wormhole losing its patience along with you.

You let out a battle cry, startling Masamune before you finally got the upper hand, knocking his sword far away on the floor and bumping him with your shoulder square in the chest. He lost his balance and fell to the floor, letting out a silent sigh as you pointed the tip of your sword to his neck.

The blade reflected in his eye, soon washed away by calmness, a storm finally coming to an end after extinguishing a fire. The dragon has admitted his defeat and awaited the price he had to pay.

All the time you spent with him has flashed through your mind, all the dates, all the feelings you felt, all the distant nights spent together.

“I’m sorry Masamune” a clear regret was evident in your voice.

“Thank you, lass, now go and be free” Masamune knew you were doing him a favor, after all he wouldn’t be feeling the pain caused by your absence. He gave you his blessing and you smiled, a tear sliding down your cheek and falling on his chest right where his heart was, his armor not protecting it anymore.

“Rest in peace Masamune Date, you shall be missed, but never forgotten.” Your blade struck down, blood splattered like rose petals in the air, a scene so sorrowful, yet so morbidly beautiful.

You stuck both his swords in an x outside of the temple, your sword next to the fallen warlord. You extinguished the flame before leaving a note next to the sword and taking Masamune’s horse to arrive to Sasuke on time, leaving behind the hidden temple where the One-Eyed Dragon of Ōshu has met his demise in the first light of the new dawn.

Finally, you were free and on your way back home.

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thescentoflavender · 4 years

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From now on I’ll be recapping scenes from Masamune’s Eternal End! Spoilers ahead; read at your own risk.

Translation hidden below the cut for this post, but not for future ones.

If anyone wants to be tagged let me know!

Motonari playing both sides 😂

Fun fact: Shōjumaru is actually Motonari’s childhood name. I’m surprised he actually used it and not some other alias.

~Please don’t repost this translation in any way~

???: Ye need not be so guarded. I’m here t’help ya.

Kennyo: !? Why... Why do you wish to join forces with me?

???: ‘Tis such a pity to let a kindling like ya get extinguished, that’s all.

---

Nobunaga: He claims to have information on Kennyo’s movements. Enter.

Shōjumaru: Rumours have it that a monk who has reneged on his vows is hiding in Azuchi, and is gathering followers.

Nobunaga: Where is he located?

Shōjumaru: From here, head northeast, pass through the Chikusa streets and he can be found deep in the mountains.

Masamune: ...That agrees with Mitsuhide’s intelligence.

Mitsuhide: Oh, but the intelligence network this trader has is excellent. I even find it comparable to my network of spies.

#ikemen sengoku #ikesen #ikesen tw #美男戰國 #masamune's route #eternal end #motonari mouri #kennyo #nobunaga oda #masamune date #mitsuhide akechi #thescentoflavender translations

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aurora-godshawk · 4 years

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Ikemen Sengoku: Bromances Across Time Episode 5 - Ikemen Attic

SPOILERS UNDER THE CUT

Attic? I didn’t even know they had one...

KITTY! KITTY! MEOW! MEOW!

Well I can see where this is going.

Mitsuhide, we’ve been over this! How am I supposed to trust you when you’re always talking to shady people? (Can’t wait to read your route all the way though. I’m going to read both Nobunaga and Masamune’s Eternal Endings first though.)

Awe, Kennyo. You so goddamn cute! Let me pinch those cheeks.

Kennyo: “Which ones?” with a smirk

Me: giggles like a crazy person... “Both.”

Mitsuhide! Why would give the enemy knowledge like that?

Kennyo, don’t trust Mitushide, he’s a Kitsune!

WHY ARE THERE MIDEVIL TRAPS EVERWHERE?!?!

Wait! Sasuke? How did you build a robot version of yourself in the Sengoku Era?

Run Kennyo Run!

Hideyoshi if that’s your arguments then what about Mitsunari’s can?

Ieyasu! WTF?!?!

Blow dart that’s been positioned. Nice touch Kennyo!

Kennyo you should should just give up. The universe at this moment is literally telling you to give up. It gave you a cat.

That’s right Kennyo just feel the KITTY KITTY MEOW MEOW

This was the momet I became interested in Kennyo

#cybird #ikemen series #ikesen #ikemen sengoku #nobunaga oda #masamune date #yukimura sanada #ieyasu tokugawa #hideyoshi toyotomi #shingen takeda #kenshin usugi #mitsunari ishida #sasuke sarutobi #mitsuhide akechi #kennyo #ikemen sengoku bromance across time #ikemen sengoku anime

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lorei-writes · 4 years

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Ikesen Masamune Analysis #3

1st part: the trauma & the grief 2nd part: discovering the new meaning to love & getting in touch with himself

For the 3rd part, I want to focus on what makes Masamune's dramatic route really tragic.

Major route spoilers ahead.

To start with, getting familiar with the second part of my analysis may be necessary for an in-depth understanding of the events. To just summarise it briefly: Masamune loved MC at least as long as she loved him, but it took him way longer to actually understand his feeling and to realise it was love. I'd say it's only after battle with Kenshin that he finally knew what to call this strange happiness he had never felt before to that extent. Let's remember, that's pretty late in the route itself.

Now, finding this new, deeper meaning of love (love being both physical and emotional; I suppose he considered lust to be love before meeting MC) allowed Masamune to make another discovery - he wanted his future. He wasn't content with just the present anymore. Masa reclaimed part of himself, the one he had sacrificed long ago for the sake of the Date clan.

Let's look at how much (or rather, little) time passed between this revelation and MC getting swallowed by the wormhole right back into the future.

Personally, I think that about half of the pain comes from the emotional distress. Masa, after finally being able to actually desire something for himself, something authentic, something long-lasting, had it all taken away from him. He tasted the unconditional love, just to have to look helplessly as it was taken away. He was powerless, yet in the way also powerful - he did follow his code of the good lord and silenced his pain, just to ask her to keep smiling.

On the physical plane, his body hurt as well. As we can suspect, the shot wound wasn't quite healed yet and the rubble from the collapsing temple did fall on Masamune's shoulder. The fire spread fast and burned him. Also, keep in mind that in the future, MC was in the hospital for a couple of days due to the smoke poisoning - and Masamune was in the building for so much longer than her.

I think we can more or less guess how that year passed for Masamune.

Firstly, he had to recover physically - considering what we know of his scars, it would take at least a month for the burns to heal (he got scarred, but he still had feeling in the skin, so it's reasonable to think he got 2nd degree burns, maybe less severe 3rd degree burns). Meanwhile, Masamune would also have to deal with a rather heavy blow to his pride - he wouldn't had survived if Yukimura wasn't there. The possibility of them clashing one day in battle wasn't slim.

Then, he had to explain what happened to MC and arrange a rather unexpected move to Kyoto. And how exactly do you convince others that your beloved just traveled in time and that changing your base of operation was totally rational, just like that? Even if the Azuchi warlords believed him instantly, not all people would - I wouldn't be surprised if rumors arose, if people just assumed the princess died in the fire. Though that's frankly the least important thing, as I suppose it wouldn't bother Masamune much.

After all, she promised to come back and in turn, he promised to wait for her, even if it meant waiting forevermore. Oh, and he was ready for that eternity, even if it was to be full of uncertainty and painful hope - because maybe he had to wait just another day, maybe just another hour, maybe she'd come back tomorrow.

I suspect Masamune wouldn't be able to ever fall in love again like that. MC was the only woman ever to see him as just a man and that came from her upbringing in the future. She didn't perceive him through the lenses of what may be beneficial to her - she wanted him as a whole, the ugly, the weak, the scarred and the traumatised included. Even if Masa found a woman as bold, brave and stubborn as MC, it would be almost impossible to recreate that sort of tender, kind, warm and unconditional love. After all, MC lived in the time where political marriages weren't a thing anymore, where people could provide for themselves and didn't have to marry into prosperity. Not to mention the fact that he'd have to bare his heart to another again, after breaking a promise. Which just isn't like him.

Now, imagine a day of pain, intensified by it being the anniversary of her disappearing, and combine all of the above into one wave of feelings. The moment MC came back and crashed into Masamune, he got engulfed by it all - the longing, the pain, the happiness. After all this time, it felt surreal to him - and once this dream came true (or much rather, his nightmare had ended), it was so overwhelming he couldn't keep his veneer anymore. The very Masamune who rode into battle while heavily injured, the man who'd hide his injuries, who'd smile when sad and who'd laugh when about to cry - that very man would tremble, while holding his beloved, he missed so painfully for the past year. Being torn away from her was just too much.

That, I believe, is where the pathos of the dramatic route lies.

#Masamune Date #ikesen masamune #ikemen sengoku masamune #ikesen #ikemen sengoku #ikesen masamune analysis

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shogetsus · 5 years

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Stripes of Auburn, Eye of Sapphire

25. Mai

Read on Ao3 | Read on FFN | Masterlist

Summary: Her heart tries hammering its way out of her ribs, wanting more than anything in the world to say something that could sway him, whatever that might cut him off. But not a single idea crosses her mind, panic overtaking her senses.

All she knows is, there’s no way she would ever forgive herself if Sasuke gets killed trying to protect her. If anything, she’s not a damsel in distress.

Hot, blazing anger seeps through her veins, and her voice booms throughout the room. “ENOUGH!”

TW: Canon-typical violence Spoilers! - Masamune's route

Mai

The door Mai has been leaning against split moments ago gets thrown wide open with a strong kick, a very familiar figure stepping in. “M-Masamune!”

“The One-eyed Dragon?” Sasuke gapes, somewhat shocked to the core, sounding as if he’s been expecting anyone else but him.

“Correct.” Masamune replies smugly, standing in a battle stance on the other side, katana at the ready.

“W-what are you doing here?” She can’t help but wonder. “H-how did you find me?”

But Sasuke interposes himself between her and Masamune’s blade, drawing his own kodachi on his back. “You better get back, Mai.” She breaks out into a sweat, keeping her eyes fixed on the current threat looming over them. “I must recall, this is no appropriate place for a fight. And I’ve got no intentions of hurting Mai.”

His diplomatic approach proves futile as Masamune takes a step further into the room, making her flinch involuntarily. Fear spreads in the pit of her stomach like hot, molten lava, her pulse racing at the sight of his single eye; beautiful and yet, so deadly.

Whatever his intentions are with showing up out of the damn blue, they clearly contrast Sasuke’s.

“Wa-wait! Masamune, let’s just talk things out, like you did with the farmers—!”

However and in the flash of a moment, Sasuke turns and flings her to the floor, throwing himself over and shielding her with his body. The sound of steel slashing air rings in her ears, breath catching in her throat. The edge of a sword then stands where her head had been a second ago—Masamune’s sword, most precisely.

Swinging again, Sasuke appears to act on his own reflex and jumps forward with his kodachi in hand, placing some distance from her and Masamune. “Thought you’d be more of a spy than a fighter, ninja. But you’re good,” Their blades cross with one another, and her friend gets pushed to his knees by Masamune’s sheer strength.

She feels fear in a way she’d never felt before—not even when she’d met the edge of the same sword a month and so ago. If Sasuke hadn’t pushed me to the floor…

Masamune’s eye carries a wild blue fire as he stares Sasuke down, at the mercy of his katana. “You actually thought having her hostage could stop me? I’m ready to take both of you down!” His words make her throat go dry, his thin smile sending cold shivers all over.

He’s completely serious.

“Masamune, stop! Just STOP!” Mai shouts, but he doesn’t tear his gaze away from her ninja friend. “I’m not his hostage! Sasuke is a friend of mine from the future!” But her insistence only makes Sasuke stir in some sense of realization—though it’s no moment to apologize for spreading their secret—straining further to push back Masamune’s katana. “He didn’t kidnap me, I came willingly! You don’t have to kill him!”

“And you’ve clearly gotten the wrong idea. I’m not killing him for kidnapping you...” Masamune takes a tiny moment longer to make that remark, his brow twitching oddly. With his voice low, it seems her plea hadn’t really stirred him. “This guy’s been on the watch list, framed as the potential ninja from Uesugi’s ranks—the same who’s been seen sniffling near the Castle, digging up information. If he brings it back, our side will suffer in the upcoming war.”

A more confident smile breaks into Masamune’s face, strengthening his resolve. “As one of Lord Nobunaga’s allies, it’s my duty to see he doesn’t escape.” He leans further into the strike, the blade drawing closer to Sasuke’s neck.

“Agh—!” Sasuke grunts, on the verge of running out of steam.

Her heart tries hammering its way out of her ribs, wanting more than anything in the world to say something that could sway him, whatever that might cut him off. But not a single idea crosses her mind, panic overtaking her senses.

All she knows is, there’s no way she would ever forgive herself if Sasuke gets killed trying to protect her. If anything, she’s not a damsel in distress.

Hot, blazing anger seeps through her veins, and her voice booms throughout the room.

“ENOUGH!”

Pulling one fan off the folds of her kimono, the steel surface isn’t cold enough to ground her in the moment, exasperation taking its toll as she wrings herself in between the men, breaking the clash of their blades in a swift strike. Masamune’s eye finally lands on her, aggravated, its intensity matching her own.

Sasuke staggers backwards, and wisely takes it upon himself to flee the scene, rolling onto his feet. He can’t seem to help to look back at her for a split moment before crossing the threshold, the desperation in his eyes only proving how much he hates to leave her like that.

‘Run!’ She pleas not with words, but with her gaze, and her ninja friend complies with a solemn nod, disappearing into the shadows.

“Dammit! Get out of the way!” Attempting to move past her, she blocks Masamune’s katana with the metallic end of her war fan again, using the momentum to push him back. “Mai, I’m serious…”

“So am I!” She fears his fierce glare would stop her heart dead, but turns out it gives one large beat, then another, until her breath comes in fast, a rush of adrenaline kicking in. Masamune fumes, staring at her as if having a new prey upon his sight.

“Move, or I will kill you.”

“Then do it!” She growls back, just as scared to death as she is irrepressibly angry, spreading her feet in a defensive stance and daring to pull out her second fan for good measure.

His brow twitches once again, a haunting look crossing his face. Although Mai could pretty much have imagined that for, as fast as a blink, Masamune swings another blow her way. The katana gets caught in between her two weapons, his overwhelming strength getting a wide edge over her determination.

Still—and nearly against all impossible odds—she doesn’t move.

Resolute, she meets that wild, nearly unfocused blue eye, “I won’t let you get to Sasuke!” Stepping aside and parrying his blade, he swings from the side and Mai stops the blow once again, doing a preemptive kick forward to procure them some much-needed distance.

It doesn’t give them so much of an inch, unfortunately, and Masamune strikes again, this time meeting the ends of her hair as she cranes her neck downwards. “I won’t let you kill the one true ally I’ve got in this world!” She taunts him, hardly caring about the remnants of her rational sense all but screaming in her head how unwise it is to do that with a dragon such as him.

If he truly is such a beast though, and the violent scene merely serves as to show Masamune Date’s true face, then all that’s left is to demonstrate how steely determined a tiger can be.

With a newfound strength burning within her, a clash of wills come across the two of them, her flexibility giving her an equal hand against his natural overwhelming power. They start a dance around one another, silver and black meeting gold and crimson, dodging and deflecting.

Until, finally, Mai finds a small opening and goes for the kill without a second thought, hitting the inside of his wrist with her fan.

Masamune hisses, his fingers prying open in reflex and katana slipping off his grasp, landing on the mat with a thud. Left with nothing to do but pressing forward, she prompts the sharp, metallic edge of her other fan against his throat, eager to meet the end of such madness unfold—

… Only to meet the tip of Masamune’s second sword grazing her obi, against her stomach.

Panting hard, their eyes lock in no small surprise from both sides, sheer tension wafting heavily between them. She doesn’t even dare to blink, the silence feeling as if it’ll choke her all along.

It’s a tie—or that is, until one of them decides to finish the job.

And then, after giving her a long, cold gaze and for what it seems like an eternity later, Masamune lets out an aggravated sigh.

“I can’t fucking believe this.” Taking a step back, he sheathes his sword with a quick, angry movement—appearing close to regretting it if he doesn’t do it fast enough. ”I’ve never let an enemy escape before.”

Am I… I am alive.

The bare second she processes that thought, all shreds of energy threaten to leave her body, feet turning to jelly, hardly feeling able to stand. Unceremoniously, Mai drops on her knees, sucking on as much air as she can.

As for Masamune, he rakes a hand through his hair, barely containing his frustration. “Can you at least tell me why in all hells did you protect him?”

“Because… Sasuke is not my enemy. Both of us came from the future, and I’ve got literally no reason to lie about that,” She pants, forcing herself to speak.

“People get killed here for way less than that…” He says matter-of-factly.

“But he’s my friend, trying to survive this hellish place, just like me,” Mai retorts, gathering enough strength to look up at his face. “I’m not going to let you kill a friend.”

He crosses his arms, “Did your friend happen to tell you he’s an enemy spy? Making sure he doesn’t get back alive is my job. It doesn’t matter whether he’s a friend or family,” He sounds coldly certain of that.

“So you’d kill your friends, your family… just because it’s your job?”

“Of course I would!”

She feels her blood turning to ice. I can’t really have just heard that. To some extent, that alone makes it easier to believe she was the one who miraculously managed to put up a fight with a veteran samurai mere minutes ago.

In fact, a desperate attempt to survive does make people do the craziest of things, and this Mai is well aware of. Her father and Nobunaga—the two people in her life she’s danced with—have never indicated otherwise.

Though either had suggested there would come a time in which she’d have to fight back against someone she cared about.

“Let me make this clear to you. I have responsibilities as daimyo of Oshu, head of the Date clan, and ally of Nobunaga.” If Masamune’s glare didn’t stop her heart dead moments ago, the one he shoots her then might very likely do the job. “If I must, I’ll kill anyone. Even you.”

The words are sharper than the blade he just swung at her several times, going pale as a ghost. Is he the same guy she’d been playing around, teased and had a hot, steamy make-out against the wall with just some hours ago?

“… How can you even say that?” Her voice comes off thin and weak, barely having it in to form a sentence.

“Because it’s the only way to live here,” Masamune insists, as serious as ever, “Standing up for enemies like you just did does nothing but get you killed.”

“I just can’t believe—“ What can she even say to that? “I know Sasuke means nothing to you. Probably either do I and… I can understand that. But would you really kill your own friends? Your family? That’s… that’s cruel.”

“Pointless slaughter is cruel!” He shoots back with a snarl, “But if you had decided to plunge that fan into my throat just a moment ago, say, to protect your friend? I wouldn’t think you were being cruel.” There are so many wrongs in that single idea she hardly knows where to begin with. “In this chaotic time, you need something to believe in, something to kill for, and something you’d die for. Consider this another lesson to stay alive in this time, and learn that your life, or anyone else’s, could end at any moment.”

So, that’s his motto? Kill someone—even your own blood—so several others might survive? How can that come from the same person who had experienced death not at the hands of men firsthand?

Tears brim her eyes, blurring her vision; all the anger, frustration and close experience to death bottling up to a point it’s difficult to discern what’s rational from what’s not.

“… Is that what you truly think duty is?” But she quickly shakes her head, realizing what’s pointless is actually having that argument. “No, it doesn’t matter. I’ll probably never know how you possibly bear with the thought of people important to you getting killed. And everyone has someone important to them.” Like you are to me, for starters.

Her tears trail hot down her cheeks, wetting her hands while she rubs them away harshly, starting to feel sick to her stomach. And still—

“… Not me.” Masamune replies after a silent, more solemn moment, “As a daimyo, as the head of a clan, as someone who has a damn lot of people under them, I’ve been taught there are some things I just can’t yield.” His detached words manage to pierce her heart further, “And so, when the time comes, I refuse to hesitate.”

Gulping to keep the awful bile where it belongs, Mai raises her head to take a good look at the completely unknown person in front of her—the sight can be compared to the classic one seen on the movies, when the nice, reliable character finally reveals their dark side to the audience. It’s like we’re not just from different times, but different realities.

Her head begins throbbing hard, most likely from the adrenaline wearing down combined with the fit of rage she can’t find within herself to put down. The dim light only shows half of Masamune’s figure, highlighting scars of old trailing down his neck and shoulder. And while in another time she’d have thought more positively of those marks of war and illness, the current view of it isn’t as easy to fathom as it once was.

It takes a long while when he does, but at last he deflates somewhat, sighing tiredly. “Here. We’re going back.” He says, offering his hand as if finally recalling his good manners.

However, there’s no way for her to take his olive branch. “’We’ are not doing anything.” Mai snarls, having the mere decency of slapping his hand away with her own and not with her fan as she deep down wants to. “Don’t you dare to touch me.”

Standing on her own, she gathers up the little that remains of her pride, turning her back on the utterly shocked look in his face. Her headache comes back with massive force after getting on her feet, white little dots dancing on the back of her eyes, but at least she manages to keep her head straight as she steps out into the hallway.

Killing because of an order? Because someone higher up demands it? Because of duty? I’d rather have something to live for, not the other way around. But these people have been fighting each other for so long they’ve just lost it.

And yet, the swirl of her thoughts ends up making her sadder than mad or scared.

Masamune’s upset yelling echoes through the practically empty main floor, “Mai, wait! Just wait—!” Outright ignoring him, she exits the inn alone.

Outside in the streets, it’s completely dark, shortly coming into realization she has no real clue where they are, or the road back to the castle. To make it worse, a downpour falls upon her, soaking her wet in no time, most likely to cope with her regular bad luck. Though to be fair, I might have run out of my stock of luck after that crazy fight…

Like a—if very slight—silver lining, though, a couple of familiar faces come to view as she keeps going forward: The young recruit she’s met in the morning, Tadamasa, joined by Hideyoshi and a bunch of his men.

Tadamasa’s gasp can be heard through the heavy rain, “Milady! You’re hurt—!“

“Let me through.” She growls back menacingly.

Not even meeting the boy’s eyes, she bumps his shoulder while walking past him, but sadly not getting much further to avoid Hideyoshi as well. Putting himself in her way, the frown in his face only shows how deeply worried he is about her, but she’s in no mood to entertain any of the men’s pleasantries.

“Thank goodness we found you, Mai.” He sighs in sheer relief, pulling off a coat to presumably cover her in.

Regardless, her tongue acts quicker than her brain, shooting him a sharp glare. “Am I your prisoner, Hideyoshi?”

He’s taken aback for a second, tilting his head back. “What—? Of course not…”

“Then I can walk back on my own.” She’s quite aware of her insolence, but that’s hardly a concern to her in the current moment, what little remains of her dignity overtaking her good graces, concentrating on merely returning to safety.

Is it Azuchi Castle even safe for her, though? After the death threat Masamune just pulled on her? Is even plausible to call a place with a bunch of blood-thirsty commanders of armies playing conquerors somewhere ‘safe’?

To add up to her misery, as the weather does no good to her headache, a cold shiver mixed up with her soaked clothes reveal a small gash on her upper arm. There’s little more than a pinprick of blood, though it’s enough to sting at the brushing of her wet sleeve. Hells, of course this madman did get me in the end. I still can’t believe he cut me after all!

She can hardly recall the last time she’s felt so miserable in her life, but the current experience could pretty much belong to her hall of fame by then, not even strong enough to scream all her frustrations out into the night. Her feet begin to feel like made of lead with every step she takes, and grunting under her breath she pulls through as much as she can, managing to finally enter town and a route that would surely get her back where she came from.

However, it takes but a gust of wind for her knees to buckle under her, the world tilting before her eyes.

“Mai!”

It’s a repeated event, so she’s not surprised when someone catches her before she falls into the mud. “Shit, I tried telling you it was raining outside…” Masamune’s face shows up among the shadows, pressing a hand to her head. “You’re burning up.”

Why did you follow me? Though her vision goes foggy and blurred, she can, if very vaguely, make out his worried features.

“Aren’t I your enemy too…?” Of all the things she wants to say, that’s the only thing it wheezes out of her mouth. Are you back to finish the job?

“No, you’re the most reckless lass I’ve ever seen… now with a fever.” Sighing, he says matter-of-factly, looming over her figure, perhaps if to cover her from the unrelenting rain.

A couple of steps splashing against the muddy road signal more people incoming. “Lord Masamune, you’re here! What’s wrong with the Princess?”

“We need to keep the rain off her.” In her barely conscious state, she can’t really keep up with Masamune talking with the person that unquestionably sounds like Kojuro. “Hideyoshi had a coat. He’s over there, get him quick.” A blue glimmer is the only indication his gaze is back on her again, “Just rest up, lass. I’ll bring you back home.”

Back home? Aren’t you going to finally kill me?

Strangely so, his voice sounds as tender and like the guy she met for lunch, brushing his fingers over her eyes to close them. Out of shame rather than anything else, she complies, if only to erase the sight of that sparkling eye off her mind and, most of all, her conflicted heart.

Just who are you?

Regardless of her struggles, it doesn’t take long before finally running out of steam, and touched by the warmth of that hand, she lets darkness overtake her at last.

Or that she prefers so, before breaking into ugly tears once again.

#Cassie writes #Stripes fic #Ikesen #Ikemen Sengoku #Ikesen Masamune #Ikesen Masamune x MC #Mai Mizusaki #Ikesen Sasuke #Ikesen fanfiction #SPOILERS: Masamune's route

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