Our Daily Greeting...

Meanwhile, after Oda-Uesugi War...

I am always up to read Event Stories no matter how angsty, cheesy, outlandish or predictable they are.

But. CLIFFHANGERS.

#2 (#1) (V-Day Edition)

Shattered Bonds

Fandom: Samurai Love Ballad Party

Character: Inuchiyo

Summary:  His heartache came from the fact that he didn't ask for this upcoming war to happen; and yet, just because two of his most important persons decided one cannot live with another under the same sky, he found himself forced to choose sides and fight against his former friend.

Slightly based ON REAL HISTORY. How this young lord must have felt when he found HIMSELF on the other side of war against his close friend. One-shot (possibly out of many).

Also posted on my AO3.

Little pieces of white fell down from the blackened skies as the overcast clouds suppressed the dignified fortress atop a mountain. The wind blew its coldest as anxious servants within the stronghold struggle to make fire, soldiers rummaging through the stocks for extra blankets, and scouts braving the intense cold to look for signs of enemy ambush, or infiltration beyond its walls.

Or signs of invasion from their former allies.

At least, this is what the young lord of the castle (who is inside the war council room alone at the moment) wanted to think with regards to their "enemy"—a belief that is shared by the majority of his people. The lord may be young, but if there is any indication, the dark circles around his eyes suggest he had aged a lot from all the stress. A jar of sake was placed on the table, beside it were two cups: one for the man himself, the other was for the special somebody the man had all but lost thanks to this conflict. Filling the second cup was his usual habit whenever he and his friend would meet up for drinks in the past, and now, as an homage for his absent friend. It was meant to calm him, help him relax a little; obviously, it didn't work.

His heartache came from the fact that he didn't ask for this upcoming war to happen; and yet, just because two of his most important persons decided one cannot live with another under the same sky, he found himself forced to choose sides and fight against his former friend. If it were up to him, he would have stormed towards his dear partner on that fateful day, and beat the crap out of him for his crazy plan of following THEIR LATE LORD'S dream—and hope it will be just that. But no... his friend had coldly shrugged him off, as if his words are nothing and proceeded to leave without saying anything to him, he didn't even look at him in the eye! That usual smugness of his had always made the young lord's blood boil, but that day, he feared he had crossed the line, a point of no return.

So, now that the conflict has escalated, the young lord remembered that he had volunteered to lead the front and fight the good fight, hoping the prodigal himself will somehow turn back after a few defeats. Unfortunately, he got stonewalled by his superiors, given his ties to their supposed "traitor". There were no words just how angry he had been, angry at the people he and his departed friend were supposed to protect. Angry at his friend for not trusting HIM enough. Angry at himself for not knowing just how bad things had gone after their lord died on that tragic fire. Angry that he was forced to station at the rear by those scheming bastards who may or may not have designs for him and his clan. The bad memories only made the lord bit his lip and clench his sake cup hard until whites from his knuckles had formed.

It wasn't easy for the young lord to handle things at the rear, even though they were far from the actual fighting. A while ago, he had a fight with a vassal, whom he secretly knew as a spy from the old guards who had stonewalled him. Logistics had said that their supplies are barely enough to last for a month, a grave matter. The vassal in question had strongly suggested to scour nearby villages for food, water and heat by pillaging them. This was, of course, met with gasps and indignation from the young lord's loyalists but couldn't openly complain due to the vassal's backing.

Fortunately (or unfortunately, depending on how one sees this incident), the young lord refused the vassal's advice and even reprimanded him without regard of the political ramifications. To say things became chaotic is an utter understatement and the lord was at wits end during the ordeal. In the end, the vassal and his army left, leaving the castle almost defenseless and short of manpower at the present.

Frustration and a lingering sense of fear loom over this lord's heart as he sat inside the room, alone, waiting for someone from the shadows. There are a lot of things in this man's mind, questioning his own capacity as a leader. Was he wrong to refuse that vassal? Was he right to separate his own army from his? Hard questions poured into his mind as lines between right and wrong blur in every passing moment.

And the fact that all the tension from the upcoming battle and worsening weather got him at this breaking point...it is terrifying how much more burden he could take, before everything else snaps; before he himself become a cold heartless monster, all because of this wretched war.

He gulped down his sake and closed his eyes to find himself some semblance of peace, some form of control over the looming rage within his heart. The hearthfire failed to ease his foul mood and the silence only serves as a reminder of how poor morale is at the moment.

The castle lord stood up, his family sigil evident from his blue-black silk kimono. He made his way to the armory, passing through the wintery cold of the outdoors, checking on his soldiers, pages and servants along the way.

Once alone in the armory, he made his way towards his ornate spear, gently touching as if trying to recall a happier memory in order to keep himself sane. Lost in his own thoughts, he recalled his past as a young boy learning to wield his weapon. The time when he was still naive from the hard truths of war.

One sunny day, he had once held a practice spear in the middle of a match. Cheers of encouragement and jeers by the audience had filled the air. Old war veterans on the sidelines had looked thoughtfully at him and his opponent, assessing their strengths.

Across him had been another boy whose hair was a soft brown. His eyes were like clear brown sugar candies. His height couldn't match his own and his practice katana had been too small, but despite the obvious disadvantage, his opponent had given him a familiar lopsided grin; as if he knew how to turn things into his favor.

A time when both boys began as rivals, before they became best of friends, who still (ironically) fight here and there due to some simple crazy differences.

Before they became great vassals of their lord and achieved great things in their own right...

Before they inevitably became enemies after their lord had died…

Once upon a time, before he became the head of his clan and lord of this fortress, he was a rebellious boy of a prestigious samurai clan named Inuchiyo, and his enemy was his former friend, a clever peasant boy named Tokichiro.

God, Toyotomi Hideyoshi was the worst person.

(Mild Spoilers) Thug Life: 🐶&🙊

H: Want me to off your bully, bro?😎

I: WTF! MAN!?😨

(paused, and then thought that was actually a good idea…)

I: Fine, let’s do it.😡

Romance Under Wintry Sky

Fandom: Samurai Love Ballad Party

Characters: Oniniwa Tsunamoto x Original Female Character

Summary:  He is a noble samurai, she is just a lowly maid. For all intents and purposes, she could only watch her lord from afar, serving him as his maid, not harboring any forms of desire for him..Knowing his character, he could easily marry a lot of beautiful ladies and frankly, she doesn’t want to be in that difficult situation where she had to share him...So, even if he is unmarried, even though she was secretly in love with him, she can only swallow her feelings inside.

Inspired from "A Date with Tsunamoto" a story from Grand Samurai Street Fair. NO SMUT.

Also posted on AO3.

PART 2: Tryst Under Wintry Sky [MATURE CONTENT!]

When Airi agreed to Lord Tsunamoto's idea of cuddling together inside the room as the cold wintry snow poured outside the inn, she hadn't expected him to embrace her so—fiercely, not that she expected him to pull her tight onto his warm body; hands on his chest, feeling his rapid rush of blood pumping. Nor she expected that her own quickening heartbeat would be so obvious to him and, to her utter embarrassment, shades of red became evident on her face.

"Haha. You're red to the tips of your ears you know." he chuckled as he lightly pinched both of her cheeks.

Airi gave him a fierce look to cover up her shame, Not funny. She wanted to say something; but knowing the position she's in, she inwardly felt joy even though her exterior is anything but comfortable with the arrangement.

He is a noble samurai, she is just a lowly maid. For all intents and purposes, she could only watch her lord from afar, serving him as his maid, not harboring any forms of desire for him. Well, she could become his concubine if he so wished, but the thought of possibly sharing him with his official wife or another concubine one day could only breed resentment within her heart. Knowing his character, he could easily marry a lot of beautiful ladies and frankly, Airi doesn’t want to be in that difficult situation where she had to share him. If there is anything, what Airi doesn't want to admit to Lord Tsunamoto right now, it's the fact she harbored desire for him for a long time and wished that he had only his eyes (or rather, his eye his left was scarred long ago) on her.

So, even if Lord Tsunamoto is unmarried, even though Airi was secretly in love with him, she can only swallow her feelings inside.

"I'm only joking. You can rest easy around me." the lord gave her a rakish grin as he stroked her hair.

A joke? Airi thought in horror.

"What? You were just teasing?" Airi said, indignation and hurt apparent in her words. I knew it, things between him and me, it won’t work! She tried to wriggle out of his grasp but he kept her so tight that her arms lost its strength to resist, "Ugh, I have no idea what to do with you, Lord Tsunamoto!" Of all the things Airi hated, even if its the man she had a crush on for a long time, being told that all his advances right now, and reminding her of the obvious signs how hopelessly she was in love…her one-sided love….

Telling her his advances right now is a joke. It was the worst thing he could possibly say. Which is why she hardened her face into a look of pout filled with frustration, regardless if the one on the receiving end was her superior.

"Sorry. Don't run away on me." he smiled but his voice was solemn as if regretted his earlier remarks. However, Airi continued to pout, trying to hide her hurt inside. She looked away from him to hide her reddened cheeks and shame. Does he have any idea what his actions do to me? Does he have any idea how I truly feel right now? I wish he knew.

"It's just that you're so cute when you blush. I couldn't help myself." he added ever so fondly as he gently cupped Airi's cheeks back in his way.

What? The meaning behind his was not lost on Airi. Could it be…

Nah, he could be teasing me again. I know how he’s like...

Airi closed her eyes and gently free herself from Lord Tsunamoto's grasp. On the outside, she seemed calm thanks to her years of experience being his maid as she put up with several noble women who also vie for his attention; but inside, her heart is raging like a storm: torn between her desire to embrace him even just for tonight and her duty to stay grounded.

"Hm. What's wrong?" he asked, his head leaned forward to see her clearly. Airi could see the scar on his left eye, and the soft brown on his right. It was filled with care despite him being so teasing. And for a moment, Airi doesn't know how to respond.

"You are constantly giving me the run-around, Lord Tsunamoto," she mumbled in a soft voice before she could put a stop to it. This isn't what she wanted to say, however, but because her frustration of holding back her feelings was so great, her subconscious controlled her.

"Am I?" the man gaped in surprise.

"N-no. It's not like that. I mean..." Airi lied, she had to or else Lord Tsunamoto might misunderstand her intentions. However, her voice pitched so high that it was evident to Lord Tsunamoto her poor attempts at covering it.

"Tell me, why do you think I am giving you the run-around?"

Airi could see Lord Tsunamoto's once gentle right eye turned darker, was it due to his irritation or something else? Airi wasn't sure.

But, right now, she couldn't hide her frustrations to him anymore.

"Remember that time I was almost blamed for putting poison on Lord Masamune's food? You defended me in front of all those retainers who couldn't wait to put me down." she began recounting her story and how her feelings of him grew.

That time, Lord Tsunamoto had to put a good word with Lord Masamune to let Airi stay in his castle to keep her from the accusing eyes of Date retainers. In the castle, he had constantly teased and flirted with her but she only laughed treated him as her master and a dear friend. She had believed she doesn’t deserve his affections and that there are better women than her.

But slowly, Airi had warmed up to him, serving him with all her heart in gratitude. Of course, Lord Tsunamoto was thankful for her efforts. And then, time passed, before Airi knew it, her fondness of Lord Tsunamoto grew into something that longs for his attention. She became accustomed to his teasing eventually but she knew she couldn’t go further for she is just a common maid and he is a noble samurai. He needed a wife that could further his cause, or Date’s cause. They live in harsh times where anyone can be a friend or foe, and marriage is a very strong tool to solidify an alliance.

What is worse, she also met several guests of high status, many of them were women who also had eyes for Lord Tsunamoto. They too made it difficult for Airi to tell her lord how she truly felt. They would constantly order her around while they spend time with her lord’s presence while she goes to the sidelines fulfilling the guests’ requests. Once, when a retainer complimented her cooking, one arrogant lady, who is part of a powerful merchant clan, shamed her awful desserts, though they were obviously delicious.

Unfortunately, the retainers have no choice but to agree with the lady, not wanting to offend her and her connections. She was going to be punished by the castle matron when Lord Tsunamoto tried Airi’s desserts and claimed to the wider public that he liked it. That incident changed the opinion of Airi by the castle occupants. For that, she was thankful. However, it also dawned upon her how little she is to the grander scheme of things and can only survive under Lord Tsunamoto’s good graces. Marrying him will not benefit him at all.

And so, she had remained as Lord Tsunamoto's maid bound by duty to serve, no feelings attached. That was supposed to be her cover, her facade.

Yet she couldn't deny her growing feelings for him for so long.

And then, an opportunity came, Lord Tsunamoto was tasked to go onto the village near the border to check on its security and other pertinent problems. Lord Tsunamoto brought Airi along. She had wanted to tell Lord Tsunamoto her feelings, away from the prying eyes of his retainers and of those women. If he would not return them, she would understand. She will let go of him without any resentments...but until then.

However, a heavy snowfall came. And their journey is cut short.

"So, now, we're stuck together here in this room. And then you made me cuddle you like we're lovers, and then you say its a joke?" Airi wiped off her tears and said the next words as though they are filled with sadness, “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have these feelings for you, Milord. I should have set these dreams aside.” Dreams of you looking out for me as I did and no one else. Airi shook her head, numbing her own feelings. It would seem her feelings won’t be reciprocated after all.

Lord Tsunamoto sat silently, his eye and mouth wide in surprise. And for a moment, there was only the howl of the wind outside, bitter coldness crept towards their room and Airi shivered from the coolness of the atmosphere. Was it the cold? Or was it fear?

At last, Airi couldn’t stand the silence any longer. She shifted away from him and--a hand caught hers. Before she could react, she was pulled towards Lord Tsunamoto’s embrace so strongly that the force made them collapse on the tatami mat they were sharing. After a moment of confusion, she found herself on top of him. Her kimono disheveled, slightly revealing her exposed chest to him. The hand that had been pulled was now at Lord Tsunamoto’s broad chest so that it’s resting on his heart. To her surprise, he could feel the fast and strong thumping of his heart. Airi felt her face reddened in shame, knowing the compromising situation she’s in.

“Get it now?” he asked. He wasn’t smiling, instead, he looked serious. For a moment, Airi couldn’t respond. What could she say? She just confessed her whole heart to him and she isn’t even sure if he would return it.

“I saved you that day because I know you were still too young to die just because of the backhand schemes of the enemy. When you arrived to the castle you made everything, from making good desserts and keeping my castle orderly, in gratitude of me...even if I don’t deserve it.” his voice was soft, without his usual teasing attitude.

Airi looked up. Gone was Lord Tsunamoto’s usual rakish grin, only to be replaced by pensieve solemnity: a sad look on his face. For the first time in a long while, Airi could see wrinkle lines boring onto his skin and an expression that know despite his seemingly youthful vigor, he had a lot of experiences to tell, and he is tired by some of it.

“When those women fawn over me, I knew they weren’t really attracted to me. Ha! The nerve…” he cracked a grin, but it was without any mirth. “These wenches were only after my position as Lord Masamune’s trusted retainer, nothing more. Some of them were actually planted by the enemy to spy on me, like that lady who said your desserts were awful.”

Airi was silent, but the revelation struck her hard. It wasn’t easy for her to keep he feelings to herself, but knowing Lord Tsunamoto NEVER looked at these women with any sort of liking? I should have known. If only I wasn’t so hung up with hiding my feelings...

“Then, I saw how your sunny smile faded in time. I missed your laughter, Airi. That’s why…” he trailed off and he let go of Airi’s body from his own, and he looked away as if trying to hide his expression from Airi due to shame. However, this time, Airi embraced Lord Tsunamoto, gently placing his head to her bosom.

The man looked up and saw Airi’s smile like sunflowers under the sun. It was a smile that tells unadulterated joy, the one Lord Tsunamoto saw a long time ago on this young maiden’s face. Memories of good times flooded him as his own happiness once again filled his heart.

“Thank you, Milord,” tears of laughter slowly fell from Airi’s eyes. Her lord gently touched her face and wiped her tears in reverence. To which Airi started to laugh.

“Aw, you laughed,” he smirked, hugging her closer.

“I’m sorry.” Airi said, welcoming his embrace, feeling the heat radiating from his body. “It’s more a relief than anything.” That you and I felt the same way she thought but didn’t voice it, she need not need to.

Lord Tsunamoto cupped her face. He is back to being his usual self, full of youthful vigor and charm Airi always loved. But then, shades of redness filled his face and from her position, she could feel his beating heart. Together cuddled close, the coolness of the air became nothing but a warm wind.

“Don’t go telling people that you’ve got me wrapped around your finger, young lady.” the man pouted, “I’d never live it down.”

“Then,” Airi smirked, “if I am to be your lover, let me tell you, I HATE sharing you with anyone. If you decide to tie yourself to another woman. I won’t be angry at you, but I’ll leave. Just so we’re clear.”

“Aw, my girl is a jealous-type, I see,” Lord Tsunamoto leaned closer to her ear and whispered her some words. “I like that.” his voice husky with desire that made Airi’s heart thump faster in anticipation.

This is what I always wanted. Him looking at me...and only me. On this house, under the cool snowy sky. I could never trade this precious time together with anything else.

ICE made a decision to order all international students whose universities are online to leave the country or risk facing immigration consequences and getting deported which essentially means that students will have to decide between leaving the US or risk their health. many countries don’t even have their borders open and some people may not even have places to go so please sign this petition which requests that international students get the option to finish their degrees and remain in the USA

Ranking Prizes TT_TT

I spent millions of credits on these.

Brings back memories :)