An Imperfect Science | Ikemen Sengoku

Chapter 36

They made their way home from the castle in the fiery glow of the setting sun. The beautiful sight didn't help Ness feel any less like she was walking to her own execution. They probably won't kill you, Ness. That thought was not as confident as it should have been. Ieyasu had been wound tight with anger but now he seemed very calm. Too calm. Mitsuhide was made of ice, and he wore one of his fake smiles. I haven't seen that one in a while.

It wasn't a long walk, but by the time they arrived at Ieyasu's room, she was so sick with tension that she considered just offering them her head and being done with it.

Just take the scolding with good grace. You deserve it.

Then the scolding didn't immediately come, and that did nothing to help her tension. Mitsuhide moved across the room with his usual casual elegance and began to brew tea. Ieyasu drew open the terrace door and stepped out in silence.

The scent of the garden drifted into the room. The plants that bloomed there at night had a distinct sweetness. She usually enjoyed it, but the scent mingled with the tightness in her temples and her head began to ache. Maybe I should talk first? Ieyasu did say that I had a lot of explaining to do. She was still debating internally when the kitsune walked past her with the tea, indicating with a tilt of the head that she should follow. She did so, reluctantly.

「This is what you were apologising for,」said Ieyasu.

He didn't speak until she stepped out onto the terrace. His back was to her. Her feet stopped, refusing to go forward, and she wasn't even sure why because Ieyasu sounded... really calm. This is really messing with my head.

「Yes. In part.」

Her voice sounded calm too, which surprised her. She took a deep breath. Inhale. Hold. Exhale. Then Ieyasu turned towards her, and she forgot to breathe. His expression was as calm as his voice. His eyes, though, were two pools of green fire, burning with fury. Fuck.

「Mitsuhide said you were planning something.」

Ieyasu took a step towards her, and she didn't move. She didn't think she could. She already knew that his genuine anger was a much quieter affair than the contrary mask he used as a disguise. But this was on another level. His presence had a physical pressure.

「But... we severely underestimated just how stupid you could be.」

Ieyasu took another step towards her, and the tension in her temples burst in a surge of anger. She had resolved to just take the scolding and not complain. She had meant it, too. But you have such a gift for making me angry. Isn't it enough that I have to do this? Do you have to berate me for it too?

「This is a good deal for the Oda forces, and you know it!」

「And why should that matter to you? 」said Ieyasu.

「It... doesn't. But it should matter to you!」

「Oh? Is that what you think?」

「This is an opportunity to resolve two problems. You should take it.」

He bowed his head until all she could see was blazing green eyes. His voice was quiet and steady, as his words washed over her lips in pulses of warm breath.

「The only problem I can see,」said Ieyasu, 「is that you have clearly lost your mind.」

Oh. Her new resolve to fight faltered with the whisper of that breath. Then he crossed the last breath of space that separated their lips, and the kiss that followed was one of bruising force. His lips captured any noise of protest before it could escape. His warm tongue invaded her mouth, fiercely, bullying her into submission until her legs grew weak. When he finally drew away, she had to twine her hands in the silks of his bronze kimono, no longer able to support herself without help.