Masterlist and guide
Fox!Shigezane's route is adorable, Spider!Kenshin's is dubconny in parts but good for what it is.
Fox spirit Shigezane
I haven't seen much of this guy but he seems like the slightly mean flirtatious jokester type, which certainly works for a fox spirit. There's something off-putting about his expressions but I'm hoping he'll grow on me, and be less intensely mean than Ieyasu.

You can't see it here but he has big round bells on his obi.
One thing I like about these AUs is we get to see MCs life in the restaurant with her mum and brother.
MC convinces herself she dreamed Shigezane stealing her inarizushi. Apparently foxes are traditionally obsessed with aburaage tofu, the deep fried pockets used to make inarizushi. Ah, and
flamebyrd just told me it's named after Inari the god of fox spirits, who is actually kinda non binary! It's still my least favourite type of sushi, sorry foxes.
I don't mean to kinkshame MC but there's a lotta descriptions of Shigezane's fluffy tail when he shows up again. He cheerfully asks for more inarizushi but when she grumpily says that was an order for someone else is very apologetic and says he was just really hungry after a long journey to Kyoto. As an apology he cheerfully takes her to a hill with a pretty view. As evening falls she realises she's spent the whole day with a strange man, and is in such a hurry to get home she falls off the cliff, oops.
In his rush to save her he breaks a little mirror he sadly says was a gift from his dead parents. MC is overcome with guilt, even though he says it's not her fault, so he says she can make it up to him by showing him around Kyoto. "Becoming friends with humans is the key to becoming a magnificent fox spirit"
He shows up looking fully human and MC doesn't recognise him without the ears and tail. But this time she seems to find him hotter this way, and very aware of how datelike this all is. He buys a bun and shares it with her, saying food is nicer when shared...and also he could only afford one.
Old man: Rei, be careful, there's a thief about.
Shigezane: :(
Me: Oooh.
Old man: By the way, are you two on a date?
Shigezane: Yep :)
MC: (Why is he lying?? Well, it would be rude to correct him)
MC, come on.
After several dates she gets him as close a replacement mirror as she could find. He's grateful, and says he envies how bright and beloved she is with everyone.
MC: It sounds like you want to be some rich, flashy man of the world, but I think anyone who met you would love you anyway.
They both get cutely blushy, aw.
Shigezane saves her from some creeps using his fox form. Afterwards he hugs her with relief, drawing close as if to kiss her...before pulling away with a sigh.
The next day the two creeps are publicly accusing Shigezane of being a fox spirit, and thus untrustworthy. The other townspeople decide Shigezane must be the thief, who's stealing various things including...mirrors.
Shigezane, turning into a fox spirit: Fine, you caught me. I...tried to deceive you. Oh well. Time to move on to another town :/
Aww and I won't have enough points to see the end until tomorrow :(
Time passes and MC doesn't see Shigezane again. She goes to all the places she thinks she might see him, and makes an offering at a small fox god shrine.
MC: aren't foxes bad?
Old man: They're like people. Some are good, some are bad.
MC thinks that the worst thing she ever saw Shigezane do was eat someone else's sushi, but he did many good things. She decides to trust him, regardless of what everyone else says.
(Good? You trusted the other guys when they nearly killed you, don't be fox-ist MC)
And then he appears, telling her to stop coming every day. He says that at the start, he was using her. But even though fox spirits are meant to trick humans, he couldn't bring himself to betray her. Because he's fallen for her.
MC: ...oh????
Shigezane: That's all I wanted to say :)
And then he starts to walk away. She stops him, saying she loves him too, and that's all that matters.
"His eyes flick back and forth uncomfortably. A complex expression, both troubled and delighted, spreads over his features. At last, he offers me an artless smile. It's like he's resigned himself to being cared about."
AWW
Shizegane: See, that's what I love about you. You just see me as me. *cough* With your permission...
And then he draws close, and she closes her eyes....only to realise she's kissing his fingers.
MC: HEY
Shigezane, blushing: Sorry, I do things like that when I'm nervous.
She bursts out laughing and he cuts her off with an actual kiss.
MC wakes up next to the human Shigezane, who nuzzles her as she tells him her dream.
Shigezane: That sounds fun. Was I a bad guy? :D
MC: No, you were (wonderful, kind, shy...) your usual self.
Shigezanme: Aw, no spooky powers? Well, I'm glad I got to be with you.
MC: Who and whatever you are I hope to always be by your side.
He blushes and gives a bittersweet sigh and tells her he's never been so happy. He gives her a chaste kiss, which MC makes sexier then is all "Oh but it's morning". He obediently plays the seducer and she happily plays the seduced.
Epilogue:
Aw, I got the impression from the preview that he's annoyingly needy when MC is busy at the restaurant, but he comes in human form to help out and it's really cute.
Mother: Are you MC's friend?
Shigezane: No, I'm her lover :)
Mother: Well! That's me told!
He says he really liked hanging out with her brother Yahiko and asks if the restaurant could do with a cute foxy waiter, saying today reminded him how much he wants to spend the rest of his life with MC. ADORABLE.
Spider spirit Kenshin:
They really went for it with the bondage motif and I respect that:

He comes into her restaurant to order some delivery, and she convinces herself that this beautiful man smelling of sandalwood can't really be the scary guy she "dreamed" meeting in the forest. But when she makes the delivery, she finds herself in the forest, unable to turn back.
A cute little bunny with a cord around it's neck hops up to her, smelling of sandalwood. It leads her to a little house.
Kenshin: I'm glad you made it, this house can be hard to find. Thank you for being a capable guide, little one.
MC: (I doubt a rabbit would let it's guard down around someone truly dangerous)
But she still feels uneasy, and as she turns to go, finds herself feeling heavy.
Kenshin: Where are you going? :) It hurts that you would leave so soon...our business isn't quite concluded, you see.
He has a cloyingly sweet seductive tone that feels like it's winding around her.
MC: I delivered the food, so....?
Kenshin, stroking her cheek: I've never encountered such an enticing aroma, this will surely fill my empty stomach nicely ^_^
MC, holding out the food: If you're hungry may I suggest this instead?! I'm not a menu item you know!
It gets KIND OF INTENSE in a "is he going to eat her or rape her" way and as she struggles he admires the way fear makes her sing and tells her she will enjoy the end of her life. But in her flailing she manages to graze the tattoo on his chest and he pulls back in pain. GO MC.
The whole house shakes, and she pulls him out of the way of a large falling vase.
MC: Are you ok?
Kenshin: I just tried to eat you, it would be natural to run.
MC: I can't abandon a person in pain, especially when they might get hurt.
Kenshin: o.O
MC: But you seem all right now so I'll be on my way...
Kenshin: Wait! If I swear not to attack you, will you continue to make deliveries to me? Please. I have been alone for a very long time now.
Dude you seem able to come into town and talk to people fine, maybe if you stopped seducing and eating food delivery girls...
He says he was a human samurai a long time ago, but his village was attacked by a jorogumo- a spider ayakashi (which wikipedia says are usually women, nice) He managed to kill her, but she cursed him with the spider's web tattoo. He had to run from his village before they killed him, and he's lived alone in these mountains for centuries.
MC: How sad :(
Me: And how many people have you killed in that time...
He puts his hand on his heart and swears not to hurt her, causing the tattoo to disappear: it's connected to his heart, and appears when his spidery desires take hold. He apologies for his earlier behaviour and asks shyly to be her friend. She's still a bit afraid, but says yes.
(Ok but will he be eating OTHER people?)
MC finds she enjoys Kenshin's company, especially since he enjoys all her cooking and asks questions about how it's made. He's mostly been surviving on people's life force.
Kenshin: I always put it off as long as I can...but whatever pretty picture I paint, I'm a monster.
MC realises that while Kenshin enjoys her food it doesn't actually fix his hunger. Meanwhile we see Kenshin decide to just let himself die: perhaps all he'd been waiting for was to die happy. But MC visits unannounced and sees him collapsed on the ground, clutching his chest.
She runs to try to help him and he politely asks her to leave, saying he doesn't want to beak his promise and lose his dearest and only friend.
MC: Let's end this friendship.
Kenshin: :(
MC: Then the promise won't count.
Kenshin: Don't say that, I beg of you, you're the only one I have...
MC, taking his hand: Then don't make me watch you die. Take of me what you need.
Oh goddd....he's begging her even while his hands pull at her kimono to reach her skin. She meanwhile is happy, thinking about how much she loves him...until he gives her a sad smile, pulls out his sword, and stabs himself in the chest.
MC: Why would you do this to me?
Kenshin: It's like you said- don't make me watch you die. I could never live with myself knowing I'd sacrificed the woman I love. You love me, but I love you too.
MC: (!!) Save your strength!
Kenshin: So kind...I am a fortunate man. May I make one final request? Will you kiss me?
Tears splashing on his face as he rests in her lap, she gently cups his face and kisses him gently. He smiles and tells her to live on and be happy, and then he dies.
MC wakes, crying, next to a concerned human Kenshin. The details of her dream fade but she holds onto him sadly asking if he'll abandon her. He pulls her close and says they'll be together forever, and they both vow to stay by each other's side.
That was sweet, in a messed up mutual deadly dubcon kind of way.
Looks like in the epilogue he wakes up, free from his curse, but is too afraid to have sex in case it comes back and he kills her. But obviously MC isn't going to stand for that haha.
Aw and there's a letter spider!Kenshin wrote for MC to find after his death, telling her of his feelings and thanking her for everything she did for him.
I decided to replay the start of Kenshin's route for the free energy but goddd the lack of a fast forward made it annoying.
You know what, I love interspecies supernatural romance, I'm going to do these epilogues.
Epilogue:
Ahaha, he's SO into MC he thinks it might be a supernatural hunger and refuses to touch her. MC refuses to accept this when they nearly lost each other. Even though she also thinks it might kill her she throws herself onto him so he falls to the floor, and kisses his chest.
MC: Forgive my boldness. Are you still afraid?
He lies there silently conflicted while she touches him, which is very much not the dynamic I expected going into this path but carry on.
Naturally once he's convinced she's not being hurt he takes over and ends up on top, because otome, but they're both very affectionate and happy.
Kojuro Epilogue: (will also add this to the previous post)
So I wanted to see how they'd fix the amnesia thing but we start with MC at home waiting for him to show up with no signs of memory loss?? Ok they 'agreed to find a way to live together without wiping her memory' but they were about to be overtaken by an angry mob??
They have a cute date and there's some slight playing with Kojuro being able to read the thoughts she's too shy to say, but HOW ARE THEY IN HIS HUT WITHOUT BEING MURDERED. I was more convinced when Kenshin and Masamune's routes brought people back from the dead. Hmmph.
ANYWAY. I'm not doing Ieyasu's epilogue because screw that guy. Overall this event was pretty cute.
Fox!Shigezane's route is adorable, Spider!Kenshin's is dubconny in parts but good for what it is.
Fox spirit Shigezane
I haven't seen much of this guy but he seems like the slightly mean flirtatious jokester type, which certainly works for a fox spirit. There's something off-putting about his expressions but I'm hoping he'll grow on me, and be less intensely mean than Ieyasu.

You can't see it here but he has big round bells on his obi.
One thing I like about these AUs is we get to see MCs life in the restaurant with her mum and brother.
MC convinces herself she dreamed Shigezane stealing her inarizushi. Apparently foxes are traditionally obsessed with aburaage tofu, the deep fried pockets used to make inarizushi. Ah, and
I don't mean to kinkshame MC but there's a lotta descriptions of Shigezane's fluffy tail when he shows up again. He cheerfully asks for more inarizushi but when she grumpily says that was an order for someone else is very apologetic and says he was just really hungry after a long journey to Kyoto. As an apology he cheerfully takes her to a hill with a pretty view. As evening falls she realises she's spent the whole day with a strange man, and is in such a hurry to get home she falls off the cliff, oops.
In his rush to save her he breaks a little mirror he sadly says was a gift from his dead parents. MC is overcome with guilt, even though he says it's not her fault, so he says she can make it up to him by showing him around Kyoto. "Becoming friends with humans is the key to becoming a magnificent fox spirit"
He shows up looking fully human and MC doesn't recognise him without the ears and tail. But this time she seems to find him hotter this way, and very aware of how datelike this all is. He buys a bun and shares it with her, saying food is nicer when shared...and also he could only afford one.
Old man: Rei, be careful, there's a thief about.
Shigezane: :(
Me: Oooh.
Old man: By the way, are you two on a date?
Shigezane: Yep :)
MC: (Why is he lying?? Well, it would be rude to correct him)
MC, come on.
After several dates she gets him as close a replacement mirror as she could find. He's grateful, and says he envies how bright and beloved she is with everyone.
MC: It sounds like you want to be some rich, flashy man of the world, but I think anyone who met you would love you anyway.
They both get cutely blushy, aw.
Shigezane saves her from some creeps using his fox form. Afterwards he hugs her with relief, drawing close as if to kiss her...before pulling away with a sigh.
The next day the two creeps are publicly accusing Shigezane of being a fox spirit, and thus untrustworthy. The other townspeople decide Shigezane must be the thief, who's stealing various things including...mirrors.
Shigezane, turning into a fox spirit: Fine, you caught me. I...tried to deceive you. Oh well. Time to move on to another town :/
Aww and I won't have enough points to see the end until tomorrow :(
Time passes and MC doesn't see Shigezane again. She goes to all the places she thinks she might see him, and makes an offering at a small fox god shrine.
MC: aren't foxes bad?
Old man: They're like people. Some are good, some are bad.
MC thinks that the worst thing she ever saw Shigezane do was eat someone else's sushi, but he did many good things. She decides to trust him, regardless of what everyone else says.
(Good? You trusted the other guys when they nearly killed you, don't be fox-ist MC)
And then he appears, telling her to stop coming every day. He says that at the start, he was using her. But even though fox spirits are meant to trick humans, he couldn't bring himself to betray her. Because he's fallen for her.
MC: ...oh????
Shigezane: That's all I wanted to say :)
And then he starts to walk away. She stops him, saying she loves him too, and that's all that matters.
"His eyes flick back and forth uncomfortably. A complex expression, both troubled and delighted, spreads over his features. At last, he offers me an artless smile. It's like he's resigned himself to being cared about."
AWW
Shizegane: See, that's what I love about you. You just see me as me. *cough* With your permission...
And then he draws close, and she closes her eyes....only to realise she's kissing his fingers.
MC: HEY
Shigezane, blushing: Sorry, I do things like that when I'm nervous.
She bursts out laughing and he cuts her off with an actual kiss.
MC wakes up next to the human Shigezane, who nuzzles her as she tells him her dream.
Shigezane: That sounds fun. Was I a bad guy? :D
MC: No, you were (wonderful, kind, shy...) your usual self.
Shigezanme: Aw, no spooky powers? Well, I'm glad I got to be with you.
MC: Who and whatever you are I hope to always be by your side.
He blushes and gives a bittersweet sigh and tells her he's never been so happy. He gives her a chaste kiss, which MC makes sexier then is all "Oh but it's morning". He obediently plays the seducer and she happily plays the seduced.
Epilogue:
Aw, I got the impression from the preview that he's annoyingly needy when MC is busy at the restaurant, but he comes in human form to help out and it's really cute.
Mother: Are you MC's friend?
Shigezane: No, I'm her lover :)
Mother: Well! That's me told!
He says he really liked hanging out with her brother Yahiko and asks if the restaurant could do with a cute foxy waiter, saying today reminded him how much he wants to spend the rest of his life with MC. ADORABLE.
Spider spirit Kenshin:
They really went for it with the bondage motif and I respect that:

He comes into her restaurant to order some delivery, and she convinces herself that this beautiful man smelling of sandalwood can't really be the scary guy she "dreamed" meeting in the forest. But when she makes the delivery, she finds herself in the forest, unable to turn back.
A cute little bunny with a cord around it's neck hops up to her, smelling of sandalwood. It leads her to a little house.
Kenshin: I'm glad you made it, this house can be hard to find. Thank you for being a capable guide, little one.
MC: (I doubt a rabbit would let it's guard down around someone truly dangerous)
But she still feels uneasy, and as she turns to go, finds herself feeling heavy.
Kenshin: Where are you going? :) It hurts that you would leave so soon...our business isn't quite concluded, you see.
He has a cloyingly sweet seductive tone that feels like it's winding around her.
MC: I delivered the food, so....?
Kenshin, stroking her cheek: I've never encountered such an enticing aroma, this will surely fill my empty stomach nicely ^_^
MC, holding out the food: If you're hungry may I suggest this instead?! I'm not a menu item you know!
It gets KIND OF INTENSE in a "is he going to eat her or rape her" way and as she struggles he admires the way fear makes her sing and tells her she will enjoy the end of her life. But in her flailing she manages to graze the tattoo on his chest and he pulls back in pain. GO MC.
The whole house shakes, and she pulls him out of the way of a large falling vase.
MC: Are you ok?
Kenshin: I just tried to eat you, it would be natural to run.
MC: I can't abandon a person in pain, especially when they might get hurt.
Kenshin: o.O
MC: But you seem all right now so I'll be on my way...
Kenshin: Wait! If I swear not to attack you, will you continue to make deliveries to me? Please. I have been alone for a very long time now.
Dude you seem able to come into town and talk to people fine, maybe if you stopped seducing and eating food delivery girls...
He says he was a human samurai a long time ago, but his village was attacked by a jorogumo- a spider ayakashi (which wikipedia says are usually women, nice) He managed to kill her, but she cursed him with the spider's web tattoo. He had to run from his village before they killed him, and he's lived alone in these mountains for centuries.
MC: How sad :(
Me: And how many people have you killed in that time...
He puts his hand on his heart and swears not to hurt her, causing the tattoo to disappear: it's connected to his heart, and appears when his spidery desires take hold. He apologies for his earlier behaviour and asks shyly to be her friend. She's still a bit afraid, but says yes.
(Ok but will he be eating OTHER people?)
MC finds she enjoys Kenshin's company, especially since he enjoys all her cooking and asks questions about how it's made. He's mostly been surviving on people's life force.
Kenshin: I always put it off as long as I can...but whatever pretty picture I paint, I'm a monster.
MC realises that while Kenshin enjoys her food it doesn't actually fix his hunger. Meanwhile we see Kenshin decide to just let himself die: perhaps all he'd been waiting for was to die happy. But MC visits unannounced and sees him collapsed on the ground, clutching his chest.
She runs to try to help him and he politely asks her to leave, saying he doesn't want to beak his promise and lose his dearest and only friend.
MC: Let's end this friendship.
Kenshin: :(
MC: Then the promise won't count.
Kenshin: Don't say that, I beg of you, you're the only one I have...
MC, taking his hand: Then don't make me watch you die. Take of me what you need.
Oh goddd....he's begging her even while his hands pull at her kimono to reach her skin. She meanwhile is happy, thinking about how much she loves him...until he gives her a sad smile, pulls out his sword, and stabs himself in the chest.
MC: Why would you do this to me?
Kenshin: It's like you said- don't make me watch you die. I could never live with myself knowing I'd sacrificed the woman I love. You love me, but I love you too.
MC: (!!) Save your strength!
Kenshin: So kind...I am a fortunate man. May I make one final request? Will you kiss me?
Tears splashing on his face as he rests in her lap, she gently cups his face and kisses him gently. He smiles and tells her to live on and be happy, and then he dies.
MC wakes, crying, next to a concerned human Kenshin. The details of her dream fade but she holds onto him sadly asking if he'll abandon her. He pulls her close and says they'll be together forever, and they both vow to stay by each other's side.
That was sweet, in a messed up mutual deadly dubcon kind of way.
Looks like in the epilogue he wakes up, free from his curse, but is too afraid to have sex in case it comes back and he kills her. But obviously MC isn't going to stand for that haha.
Aw and there's a letter spider!Kenshin wrote for MC to find after his death, telling her of his feelings and thanking her for everything she did for him.
I decided to replay the start of Kenshin's route for the free energy but goddd the lack of a fast forward made it annoying.
You know what, I love interspecies supernatural romance, I'm going to do these epilogues.
Epilogue:
Ahaha, he's SO into MC he thinks it might be a supernatural hunger and refuses to touch her. MC refuses to accept this when they nearly lost each other. Even though she also thinks it might kill her she throws herself onto him so he falls to the floor, and kisses his chest.
MC: Forgive my boldness. Are you still afraid?
He lies there silently conflicted while she touches him, which is very much not the dynamic I expected going into this path but carry on.
Naturally once he's convinced she's not being hurt he takes over and ends up on top, because otome, but they're both very affectionate and happy.
Kojuro Epilogue: (will also add this to the previous post)
So I wanted to see how they'd fix the amnesia thing but we start with MC at home waiting for him to show up with no signs of memory loss?? Ok they 'agreed to find a way to live together without wiping her memory' but they were about to be overtaken by an angry mob??
They have a cute date and there's some slight playing with Kojuro being able to read the thoughts she's too shy to say, but HOW ARE THEY IN HIS HUT WITHOUT BEING MURDERED. I was more convinced when Kenshin and Masamune's routes brought people back from the dead. Hmmph.
ANYWAY. I'm not doing Ieyasu's epilogue because screw that guy. Overall this event was pretty cute.
no subject
Date: 2020-03-24 03:20 am (UTC)Shigezane and MC sound so cute! (And I agree, something about his expression feels off to me, too. His smile doesn't match his eyes?)
A cute little bunny with a cord around it's neck hops up to her, smelling of sandalwood. It leads her to a little house.
Omg, the BUNNY EMISSARY OF DOOM.
no subject
Date: 2020-03-25 12:48 pm (UTC)I agree, it's something about the combo of eyes and mouth.
no subject
Date: 2020-03-24 02:14 pm (UTC)Shigezane, for all his tricksterness, seems like the only LI in this event who doesn't try to physically harm or kill MC. He seems one of the nicer LIs in general.
no subject
Date: 2020-03-25 12:44 pm (UTC)Yeah, I guess it's "what would Kenshin be like if he was forced to eat people" versus using eating people as a metaphor for stuff he does normally.
And yeah Shigezane seems pretty nice!