#ikesen fandom

She had been locked in the castle dungeons until Sariel appeared with the keys in his hand Now that the king was dead he was going to give her a second chance. She was going to behave in fear of being locked up again.

 She walked the palace grounds on a peaceful night when wind picked up blowing her hair frantically around her face. Thunder roared, and lightning illuminated the sky.

The next thing she knew she was in the Sengoku time period in Japan. How did this even happen? She wasn’t even in Japan, she was in Rhoadalite. Thankfully, she was versed in speaking various languages and could speak Japanese.

In a mess of events from that night she ended up in Nobunaga’s care as Chatelaine. 

It was beneath her she was no maid. Mostly she bossed around the other maids. 

While she was in her room a tile moved in her ceiling making her go into defensive mode.She grabbed her sword ready for an attack. It was a ninja named Sasuke who claimed he was also a time traveler in the same way she was. He had seen her before the wormhole appeared then it swallowed them both. He hoped that nothing awful had happened to her while she had been here. 

 He had been in Sengoku Japan a lot longer than she had. For some reason the wormhole had decided to release him a lot sooner than it had her. He saw her that fateful night that the wormhole opened for her. He idly waited till she was alone. He stated they had three months before they could go home.

Three months was a long time, or so she thought, but somehow within the weeks that went by one sharp tongued warlord made her heart flutter every time he came near. Never had she let herself feel for someone as she did for Ieyasu.

 Lustelle always told herself she could give herself whatever a man could. She didn’t need a lover and wasn’t interested in matters of the heart. She decided she would avoid Ieyasy as much as she could. She had no business having feelings for someone she couldn’t be with

On a night where all the warlords were gathered and food was served and alcohol was  flowing, She had hit her limit, 

“I’m going to retire for the night.” Lustelle announced as she stood to her feet.

Nobunaga nodded. “Ieyasu, walk her to her room, make sure she doesn’t stumble on the way, yeah?” 

“Yes my lord.” Ieyasu didn’t complain for once, which was out of character for him.

“You really don’t have to, I'm fine.I’m not drunk.” Lustelle said, wanting to avoid him.

“ Well here we are,” he said as they stopped outside her room

“So we are.” Lustelle said quietly.

They had been silent the whole way to her room, and now conversation was hard. Neither of them moved, seemingly rooted to the spot. 

She gazed into his eyes, and he lifted a lock of her onyx hair, and placed it behind her shoulder. His eyes were full of desire and longing.

 “Are you going to go in?” he asked, but with the heat in his eyes she couldn’t resist and leaned up and pressed her lips to his.

Ieyasu sighed into the kiss and they kissed from every angle until he slipped his tongue into her mouth. Their tongues danced together and he pulled her closer to him, so she was flush against his body. 

Breathless they pulled away from each other. He stroked her cheek with his thumb, and smiled at her, but Lustelle was conflicted, she wanted to be with Ieyasu so badly, but her time was limited. They could never have a real relationship, maybe fool around sure, but a relationship? She knew better damnit! Why did she kiss him? She was so stupid. 

He kissed her forehead. “I’ll let you settle in for the night.” He said as stroked her cheek.

She was confused, he had kissed her so fiercely. Now he’s going to just send her to bed? What the hell?! No, she wouldn’t have this.

“Come in, I’ll make some tea,” she insisted

“I don’t think that’s a good idea.” He expressed, trying to be respectful.

Lustelle rolled her eyes.

“I just want to talk,” she explained.

“I suppose,” he relented.

She slid the door open and motioned for him to go in. She closed the door as she entered the room, and made tea as promised. The first sip brought a suprized expression to Ieyasu’s face.“This is good.” 

“I’m glad you like it, my little brother taught me.” A smile graced her lips as she fondly recalled Yves in the kitchen teaching her all about tea.

 Ieyasu lifted his head, suddenly interested. “I wasn’t aware you had a brother.”

“I have eight” She said, as she took a sip of tea.

 Ieyasu’s eyes grew wide. “Eight?! There’s nine of you?” 

She laughed. “I’m the oldest, conceived from a one night stand…My dad was an asshole.”

 He took another sip, and raised an eyebrow. “Was?” 

She nodded. “He passed away”

 Ieyasu immediately regretted asking, fearing he brought her pain. “I’m sorry”

 She laughed sarcastically, “Don’t be, I hated him, I’m definitely not losing sleep over it. If anything I’m glad he’s dead.” 

“I see.” Ieyasu didn’t know whether to feel releived that he hadn’t overstepped by asking about him, or feel sad that she had a bad relationship with her father.

They both sipped at their tea, and a silence fell over them.

“Ieyasu.” She finally spoke his name, breaking the awkward silence. “What is it that you want?” 

He shook his head and snickered. “You kissed me, remember so I should be the one asking you that.”

 She narrowed her eyes. “And you kissed me back.” 

 “Fine, you win.”  He set down his cup and studied her. “Isn’t it obvious? I want you Lustelle, all of you.” 

That’s what she was afraid of. 

“We can’t be together like that,” she said matter of factly

He felt conflicted. “And why not, you obviously feel the same.” 

She licked her lips.  “I do, but you see I’ll be leaving to go back to my home town.”

“You have a duty to Nobunaga now, he’s not going to let you go. You do know that don’t you?” he said bitterly.

“He won’t have a choice…I… don’t have a choice.” she confessed, her voice low.

“What do you mean you don’t have a choice? Explain Lustelle” He spoke firmly, he was baffled not knowing what was going on.

“You won‘t believe me,” she said quietly.

Now he was genuinely curious. “I’ll be the judge of that.” 

“You’ll think I’m crazy,” she added.

“I already think you’re crazy,” he took her hand in his.“Tell me.”

 She sighed nervously 

And so she told him everything from the wormhole appearing to the night when she was spat out and met all those different people. She told him about Sasuke, and how she only had three months. She held her breath as she waited for Ieyasu to say something.

“I believe you, it’d be unlike you to make up a story like that, and I remember what you were wearing the night we took you in. It’s nothing I’ve seen, even in the western countries.” 

She let out a breath in relief. He put his finger on his chin as he pondered for a moment.

“I see what you’re saying, you don’t want to get involved because you’ll be leaving. I don’t see it that way. I think we should make the most of what time we have to be together. At least we’d be able to love each other, even if it is for a short time.” He brushed her dark hair behind her ear.

“You still want to be with me even when you know it’ll bring you pain?” 

He stared into her crimson eyes with resolve and brought her hand up and kissed the back of it. “I still want to be with you.” 

She shook her head, “Ieaysu, I -“ 

He placed a finger over her lips, “let me love you.” 

She bit her lip, then finally relented. “Okay” 

“No regrets,” he said as he took her hands in his.

“ No regrets,” she repeated back to him

When that fateful day finally came, they had made love for the final time that morning. Everything seemed surreal. They had been so blissfully happy it almost felt like a sin. They spent the day together, going into town and enjoying each other’s company.

 He took her to a vendor who sold jewelry. “I want you to take something back to the future that’ll make you remember the time we spent together.” 

She put her hand on his forearm. “I want you to have something too.” They looked through the jewelry and finally she found something, she held up two stone necklaces in front of him.

“One green, one red. To match our eyes,” she suggested.

Ieyasu smiled, “I like it.” 

He purchased the necklaces and they helped each other put them on. He took the red and she took the green. Lustelle looked up at the sky and saw the sun setting. Her gaze settled on Ieyasu laced with grief. “I know, it’s time for you to go.” 

He took her hand, and they interlaced their fingers together instinctively. 

They mounted the horse and she sat behind him. Although, they were silent the whole way, she held onto him tightly placing her cheek against his back wanting to be as close to him as possible. He had his free hand interlaced with hers.

When they arrived to where she was meeting Sasuke they dismounted. Sasuke was already there, but he waited to give the lovers a moment to say goodbye. Ieyasu tied the horse to a tree, and noticed how the sky darkened and wind picked up. He turned toward Lustelle, and  traced the outlines of her jaw. Cupping the sides of her face with his hands he stroked her cheeks with his thumbs, and she put her hands around his wrists. Their lips crashed together in a needy kiss. Tears intermingled as they kissed. 

Sasuke cleared his throat. “ I don’t mean to interrupt, but it’s time to go” 

They pulled away from each other, and Lustelle combed her hand through his hair. Then she embraced him and he held her tight. When they separated she gave him a sad smile. 

“I’ll always love you, Lustelle” 

 “And I’ll always love you, Ieaysu.” She kissed him on the cheek.“I must go.” 

“I know” His voice was shaky with emotion.

“Goodbye Ieyasu. Be happy.” She turned to leave, their hands struggling to let go. Their fingers to slip away one at a time.

Sasuke walked up to them, and Ieyasu turned to him. “Make sure she makes it home safe.” 

Sasuke nodded. “of course” 

Then Sasuke held out his hand. “Ready Lustelle?” 

She nodded and put her hand in his. 

 She was leaving Ieyasu here in the past, she had to focus on the future the best she could with her brothers and son.

It was late, and mostly everyone was in bed. You felt the rumblings of your stomach, so to the kitchen, you went. You had found strawberries you had picked earlier in the week; they looked delicious. That was when Ieyasu appeared, “ You’re still up?” He asked. “ I was hungry,” You said as you bit off the strawberry. He looked at you with wanton in his eyes. He reached for the bowl of strawberries and grabbed your hand. “Come with me.” 

He led you to your room and looked down the hallway before entering with you. He placed the strawberries on a table in your room. Not another word was said, but he was holding a strawberry to your lips, and you slowly bit into it. “You seductress, I don’t think you realize what you do to me.” This time, you put a strawberry in his mouth. As he chewed the fruit, you saw his strong jaw moving, and that in itself made you weak. 

“ And I don’t think you realize what you do to me.” You pondered for a moment. Had the two of you just admitted you had feelings for each other in a roundabout way? “ Ieyasu, we need to stop this.” He regarded you for a moment, searching for a reason why he had upset you. “ I don’t think I can stop. I’ve become addicted to you.” He leaned forward and kissed you, his tongue tasting like strawberries. Your body was already heating up from the ferocity of his kiss; he had never kissed you so thoroughly before and with so much passion. 

“ I don’t think you get it.” He says as you looked into his emerald eyes, they were soft and tender. A complete opposite from the raw hunger that was usually burning in them when the two of you were alone. “ You’re intoxicating, the taste of your skin. He lifted your hand and kissed the inside of your wrist. Your breath hitched, “the sound of your voice.” He kissed your fingertips so gently that you barely felt his soft lips touch your skin. 

What was he doing to you? You had denied that you had feelings for him to yourself repeatedly, however, with how your heart thumped against your chest and how you suddenly felt nervous with butterflies fluttering in your stomach. Your body was saying the opposite of what you had told yourself. “How your smile reaches your eyes and your nose crinkles when you laugh.” Ieyasu l drew a line on your inner arm from your elbow to your palm, making the hair on your arm stand on end. “ How ticklish you are.” He looked up, “ How you have a bleeding heart. I’ve seen you willing to fight for someone if it meant it was the right thing to do.” You swallowed, and the butterflies in your stomach increased their fluttering.  He put his warm palm on your cheek. “ You are invaluable to me, and I want you all to myself.” 

“ Ieyasu.” You said quietly. His lips curled up, and he combed your hair behind your ear.  He slid his hand from your cheek to the back of your head and captured your lips. He kissed you slowly as your mouth moved with his; his tongue slid into your mouth, still with a lingering taste of strawberries. He reached behind you and untied your obi as he continued to ravage your mouth. “ I’m going to imprint myself into you so deeply that not only will our bodies be one, but our souls as well.” He kissed down the side of your neck, and you moaned sweetly for him. He picked you up and carried you to the futon. Your legs hanging over his arm and your arm around his neck. 

He placed you down gently onto the futon and continued to drink in your body. He discarded each article of clothing with a gentle ferocity.  You looked up at him as he disrobed his clothes; the moonlight shone in the room, the light highlighting his muscles and giving him an ethereal glow, making him reminiscent of a god. You looked at him heavy lidded, Finally he kneeled and as he climbed over you he kissed each of your eyelids, and he took you in. The luminous glow from the moon making you look angelic, as if you had been carved out of the heavens and placed here just for him. He placed tender kisses across your body as if you had been made out of porcelain and would break if he was too rough. 

As the two of you bathed in the light glow of the moon, your bodies came together. All the nerves you had felt before had turned into love, and it poured out of you and into Ieyasu. It was hard to tell where he ended and you began you had truly become one.

She walked over to where cherry blossom trees were gathered and overlooked a large clearing. She put her hand out, and a petal landed in her palm. She closed her hand tightly and looked up at the tree. “Are you sad when your petals fall?” She asked the tree, knowing it couldn’t talk back.  She sat against the tree, watching the petals fall around her. She looked into the clearing, and a single tear escaped her eye, and she wiped it away as soon as it fell.

A shadow appeared, and she looked up to see a tall figure standing there. “Hideyoshi?” He gave her a sad smile. “What are you doing over here by yourself?” 

“I needed to be alone,” a deep crease formed between Hideyoshi’s eyebrows. “If I may?” He motioned to the ground, asking if he could sit with her. She nodded. “Sure.” He sat next to her and extended his legs, crossing his ankles. “I’m worried about you. You seem to be in low spirits. You can talk to me; you can talk to any of us.” She forced a small smile. “I know, but if I talk about it, I’ll start crying.” Hideyoshi took her hand. “It’s okay to cry. Keeping your issues inside isn’t good.” When it finally fell from her lips, she mulled over what to say, “I want to go home, Hideyoshi.” He nodded.

“I’ll walk with you.” He went to get up, but she squeezed his hand. “That’s not what I mean. I want to go to where I’m from; I need to get away, at least for a while. I need space.” He looked at her with a pained expression, “Are you okay _ _ _? I understand if you want to leave, but are you okay?” She stood up and shook her head. “No… No, I’m not, and that’s why I need to leave.” She said, looking down at Hideyoshi. 

“What about Nobunaga?” The mention of his name made the emotion fill her, and she had to take a deep breath to push it down. “It’s him, he’s the reason.” She sighed, “I’ll tell him,” She said, and Hideyoshi stood up. “He won’t be happy.” She looked into Hideyoshi’s worried amber eyes. “I’m not happy. I’m going with or without his approval.” Hideyoshi bowed his head. “If you need this, I support your decision, but he loves you. I hope you know that.” She scoffed. “I don’t know about that. I’m going inside.” Hideyoshi went to follow her, but he hesitated, as it was apparent she wanted to be alone. He watched as she walked towards the palace.  If time is what she needs, he’ll find a way to give it to her, even if it means that Nobunaga is unhappy.

Once in the tenshu, she looked at their lives together: her clothes, his clothes. It made her heart weep. She hadn’t realized she wanted to return until she blurted it out to Hideyoshi. She sat at Nobunaga’s desk with a brush and ink. She drew up a letter to her most trusted ally and best friend, Sasuke. She blew on the page and waved it in the air, trying to speed up the drying; what she would give to have a pencil at that moment.

Finally dry enough that it wouldn’t smudge, she rolled it up and tied it to the foot of Haguro, Nobunaga’s hawk. Using Haguro to send Sasuke a message about leaving felt like a betrayal, but she needed to do this. Once the letter was secured onto the hawk’s ankle, Haguro jumped off the window sill and flew away, heading towards Echigo.

She had purposely left the letter vague in case someone got ahold of the letter. She said, “Come see me, it’s important.” She signed her name next to the words “with love.” She wrote the letter in the handwriting from the modern world. Even though she had become accustomed to writing in the Sengoku, she always wrote to Sasuke that way. It was their special way of sharing the secret of where they were from.

Two days later, she was in the market enjoying the feel of the luscious silk fabrics, looking at their intricate patterns, and taking in the beauty of the Sengoku market with the hustle and bustle of business owners and patrons.  She was looking at a fabric roll when she felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned around and saw Sasuke, and she gave him a small smile and hugged him. “Is everything okay? You’re letter was vague it made me worry.” She frowned. “I’m sorry.” He shook his head. “No worries, so what’s going on.” She bit her lip. “Let’s sit down somewhere and maybe get a bite to eat.”

They found a restaurant and shared a drink and a sweet dessert. She looked up and felt conflicted as she took a bite, but she had to do this. “What is it?” She pressed her lips together. “Is there any way you can get me home?” She said, holding back tears, but the emotion seeped through her voice anyway. “You mean our hometown?”  She closed her eyes. “Yes,” He studied her. “Are you sure this is what you want? You don’t seem certain.” 

It was awkward afterward; they couldn’t even look at each other, then the warlords left. First, there was acne, and her emotions were all over the place. Then Mitsunari finally figured it out when she cried over dropping an egg on the floor. Then, not ten minutes after breakfast, she was vomiting in a pail. “I don’t mean to pry my lady, but is it possible that you might be pregnant? I’ve been researching all your symptoms in Ieyasu’s library of books, and that’s what I’ve come up with.” 

She smiles at him and ruffles his hair. “You noticed, huh?” She says with a sad smile. “I wasn’t sure until recently myself when I started getting nauseous. “I’ll try to do my best to take care of you in Lord Ieyasu’s stead.” she laughs. “You can hardly take care of yourself.” He chuckles, “Maybe I’ll do better knowing I’m taking care of you and your growing child.” He smiles, but then her face falls. 

“How’d you know it was Ieyasu?” Mitsunari takes a drink of water with his breakfast. “It wasn’t hard; he walked you to your room and never returned, even though he left his scarf in the dining hall. Then you two wouldn’t even look at each other. If I’m wrong, please let me know.” She laughs. “You aren’t wrong. I guess it was pretty obvious.” Mitsunari finishes chewing and sets his chopsticks down. “Should we send him a letter?” She shook her head adamantly. “No, I want them all to focus on their jobs; my job right now is getting through this.” Mitsunari grins. “I have to ride out there next week. You’ll be okay with me being gone for a couple days?” Laughing, she shakes her head. “I’ll be okay, Mitsunari.” 

That’s how it stayed; Mitsunari kept his word and took care of her, holding her hair back when she had to vomit and rubbing her shoulders and feet. Her belly had finally popped out. 

She looked out in the distance one evening and saw them riding up to the castle. “They’re back! Mitsunari, where are you?!” He appeared at her side. “He looked at her, and thankfully, with her haori on and her obi wrapped around her waist, it was hard to see her little baby bump. He didn’t want it to be a shock to the warlords as soon as they saw her.

As they rode up, they all looked weary, but alas, the war with Echigo would continue. She hugged each one of them with armor and all. Mitsuhide smiled at her. “I must say you are positively glowing; it’s nice to come home to have a greeting such as this.” She smiled, but she knew it wasn’t because she was happy to see them; it was the pregnancy.

Nobunaga had planned a celebration for their return after a full day of rest. _ _ _  went about her day as normal. She was walking through the gardens, and Mitsuhide and Ieyasu were nearby talking when they both saw her; not that it was abnormal, she often made sure the gardens were being properly attended to. She put her hand on her stomach and sat down on the bench, putting her head in her hands. “She doesn’t look well.” Ieyasu sauntered over to her, “If you aren’t feeling well, you should be lying down.” She looked up; she knew who that deep voice belonged to. “Ieyasu, “he grimaced, “Come on. I’ll help you get to your room.” Normally, she would have said she could do it herself in order to avoid him, but she felt awful and was exhausted, so she accepted and put her hand in his. 

“Thank you,” she said as he pulled her to her feet. Mitsuhide had a knowing smile on his face and continued on his way as he watched Ieyasu help her inside. His arm wrapped around her shoulders as he helped her to her room. “I’ll untie your obi. That way, it’s not so constricting, especially if you’re nauseous. I have something for that; I’ll get you some.” He snickered, “Last time I was doing this, things turned out a lot different.” she blushed, and he chuckled. “can we forget that happened and be friends again?” He asked, her obi fell away, and she turned around to look at him. 

“I wanted to talk about that, actually, and I hope you don’t get mad.” He was perplexed but listened to her. “I’m not sick.” He tilted his head slightly. “What do you mean? You seem sick to me.” She bit her lower lip, trying to figure out how to tell him. “I feel sick, but I’m not. I’m pregnant.” He searched her eyes, so much emotion filling them. “What? It’s mine, not Mitsunari’s. You’ve been here alone with him for months. “Let me show you then. She faced him as she took off her kimono and lifted up her undergarments to expose her swelling belly, proof of the growing baby inside of her. “Mitsunari and I are friends; he’s been helping me through this, but nothing more. It’s yours, Ieyasu.”  

Tears filled his eyes, and she took his hand and put it to her belly. Tears rolled down his cheeks, and he looked at her. “but I don’t want you to be with me just because we’re having a baby; if you don’t want me, I’ll understand -“He glared down at her. “Don’t be ridiculous; if you weren’t being an idiot and actually paid attention, you would’ve realized that I’m in love with you.” Stunned, she gazed at him, searching his eyes. “I guess I’m an idiot too. I don’t know how you feel either.” She put her hand over the hand that was placed upon her belly. “I love you.” 

He took her face in his hands and crashed his lips upon hers. He kisses her thoroughly, his tongue twining with hers. She drops her undergarments, and her arms wrap around his neck. When they pull away from each other, he gazes into her eyes. “Come live with me. I’ve already missed five months. I don’t want to miss anything else. I want to be there through your sickness, through your being upset, through joy and happiness. I don’t want to miss any of it. I want to be a family.” Tears trickle down her cheeks. “Of course, I’ll live with you. I want to be with you.” He kissed her again softly. 

“I’d like to lie down now. I’m still not feeling that great.” He held out his hand and guided her to her futon. “Sleep now, I’ll be back later to check on you.” She nodded as she closed her eyes. Ieyasu smiled and slid the door shut. His heart felt light. Even if the war hadn’t ended victoriously, he was happier than he had ever been, and no one could ruin it for him. He went to the library, grabbed a book about pregnancy, and sat down, reading as much as he could, absorbing the information on how he could help her medically and what herbs he could use for her nausea. “She might have to tough it out .” He comments out loud to himself.