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alias_sqbrMasterlist and guide
Overall I quite enjoyed this! Saizo remains an asshole but I found him mostly endearing, with his dry cynicism, understated angst, and repressed affection.
The reason I chose Saizo's route despite my mixed feelings is that I got TOTALLY CONSUMED by the need to write a Yukimura/Saizo/MC story, so played this half as research. And the Yukimura/Saizo/MC shippiness did not disappoint :D *writes this post to procrastinate on actually finishing the story*
Content note for consent issues with a different character that the game handled in a very annoying way.
My summary of the shared Saizo/Yukimura prologue.
In short: MC is crossdressing as a man in the court of Lord Shingen. The truth has come out and she needs to ask someone for help. For some reason she chooses the coldly unfriendy ninja Saizo, instead of his sweet and friendly boss Lord Yukimura.
Also while looking up something else yesterday I came acrossscytale 's entertaining posts about Acts 1 and 2 which had some interesting thoughts, like the way weather is used.
The fact this is fic research means I was even less succinct than usual, I'm worried I'll hit dreamwidth's character limit...
Anyway.
MC hears Saizo talking to Kiyohiro (a relatively nice ninja from the same Evil Ninja Village, Iga, as Saizo)
Kiyohiro: It's a tough job. Noone else could do it.
Saizo: Well, at least it's job security.
MC bumps into someone's chest, sure enough it's Saizo...COVERED IN BLOOD.
MC: AHHHH
Saizo: Shh. Night time is quiet time :)
MC: Are you ok?!
Saizo: It's not mine.
MC: Is...the other person ok?
Saizo: They should be asleep by now :) So, can I help you with something?
MC tells her tale of woe but Saizo just smiles coldly and says that if she wanted sympathy she would have been better off charming Yukimura. Which...is a good point, but I already did his route so here we are.
Saizo: You say your father left you a restaurant, so you must have money. To get you back home to Kyoto...500 pearls.
MC: Who has that kind of money?!
Saizo: Someone who can make a deal with me :P
The next day MC bumps into a cheerful young man I recognise as EVIL CRAZY NINJA Fuma Kotaro. He's posing as the sweet pacifist gardener Midorikawa Seijiro as part of his Evil Ninja Plan, and gives MC some black lilies. Hey, and midori means green!
MC explains herself to Yukimura and Lord Shingen. Yukimura is still overcome by the guilt of HAVING TOUCHED A BOOB and they just end up shouting "NO I'M SORRY" at each other until Shingen laughs and says everyone but Yukimura and Sasuke already knew. Which contradicts the Yukimura path, interesting.
Shingen says he'll send her back when he has the manpower, after an upcoming wedding...but then Saizo volunteers.
Yukimura and Sasuke: Ok, who hired you?
Saizo: I can stand to be generous now and again.
But even the usually trusting MC thinks he must have some ulterior motive.
I got points in that section for being nice to Yukimura, and then got a nice letter from him :D
MC starts writing a letter to her mother about a "kind person" escorting her home but has trouble describing Saizo as "kind" haha.
Saizo sees the letter and says "You really think I'm taking you to Kyoto for free?" And then he looks her up and down like he's judging how much her body is worth??
...but what he actually wants is for her to 'do recon on the gardener', who he thinks is fishy.
MC: Seijiro is a good person.
Saizo: That's nice, dear. Are you in or are you out?
MC does a moderately good job of subtly digging for details, and Seijiro mentions being an orphan with a much younger sister who loved flowers but died of a sudden illness.
A few days later MC is eating breakfast with Seijiro when Shingen's neice, Kiku, runs into MC, shouting that she no longer wants to marry into the Uesgi clan. She blushes when she sees Seijiro then tries to cover by dragging away MC and trying to give her a fancy new kimono. Kiku tell MC the marriage is to create peace with the Uesugi. She knows it's her duty, but is still sad.
A note from Shingen saying he raised Kiku like a daughter, and is glad she will be safe married to Kenshin's older brother Kagekatsu. (If Kenshin is younger why is he in charge?) Also Shingen thinks Nobunaga's sister Oichi sounds hot, but then goes on about how beautiful Kenshin is, and how people mistake them for lovers, but their relationship is more ~profound than love. *ships it*
Sasuke: Sensei says he's going to teach you the art of seduction! :D
MC: D:
Saizo: I am?
Sasuke: If a woman uses her body the right way, a man will tell you everything...but it goes both ways, so you have to be careful.
MC: MY BODY IS NOT FOR THAT. And stop calling it 'the art of seduction' like it's some secret ninja skill and not...that >:(
Saizo: The most skilful ninja don't need to do 'that', they can seduce with a glance.
He demonstrates, saying her name in a thick, hoarse voice and looking at her with eyes that flicker with something passionate but dangerous. He brushes his fingertips against her lips and down her throat.
MC: I...UH....
Saizo: See how easy that is, Sasuke? :D
(As a reminder, Sasuke is like ten. This was all a bit uncomfortable)
Kiku: What are you two doing to her? >:(
Sasuke: We're just teaching her the art of sedummph!
Saizo, his hand casually covering Sasuke's mouth: I was just teaching him to flirt with girls :)
Kiku: So how do you? I'd like to know :)
...and then we fast forward to seeing her demonstrate flirting with Saizo??
Saizo: You're a regular Ishikawa, 100 points :)
MC is too embarrassed to do anything but stare awkwardly and gets five points.
(I have no idea who Ishikawa is and wikipedia was unhelpful)
Then Kiku takes MC out for lunch and pushes her towards a random dude to flirt some more.
Man: So...you like dango huh? If you come with me somewhere private I have the best dango in town ;)
MC : I do like...WAIT.
Just as she's trying to discourage him from being handsy Saizo shows up and cheerfully presses the skewer from his dango the the man's throat saying "She's a guest of Takeda Shingen".
MC: Thank you so much!!
Saizo: That'll cost you five skewers of dango. The big ones.
Then he picks some flowers for MC, saying they're symbolic and she should give them to Seijiro then not see him again, or she'll get too attached and be hurt when he leaves.
Sasuke explains to MC that Saizo goes on missions for "the village" sometimes, and says he wants to be a great ninja who helps the village too?? Aw, Sasuke's from Iga? Isn't he the other Sasuke's kid though?? Is this all explained somewhere...
Sasuke: I hope one day Sensei will respect me enough as a ninja to give me one of his katanas!
Yukimura: That will never happen. He only uses one, the other...belongs to his best friend :(
Aw. You're his best friend now, Yukimura!
MC: I was told these skyflowers are an appropriate reply to the lilies you gave me.
Seijiro: Saizo really is in touch with his feminine side isn't he?
Oh he totally knows what's up.
And then he tells MC that he and Kiku are in love. Since I already read a summary I know his plan is actually to seduce and then murder her :(
MC tries to cheer him up with some of the dango she made as a goodbye present for Kiku. MC then tells a story about meeting a crying little boy under a cherry tree when she was about 5 and cheering him up with some dango. Since then, dango has been her speciality.
Even if I didn't already know this was Saizo...he's the LI, of course it's Saizo.
Me: Wait, didn't Yukimura imply Saizo got into dango after they met, when he was 14? I'm going to ignore the canon ages, then.
Seijiro: That could have been me...my sister died about 25 years ago...
Me: MC is THIRTY?? Ok, canon ages, you can stay :D
So I guess Saizo is about that age too, and Yukimura is around 26. Though she did describe Saizo as a little boy, maybe he's younger!
...Aw, I googled, and she's 20 to his 29? Boo.
Anyway. MC is really happy, but then Seijiro cups her face in his hands and draws closer and she's like "His eyes are drawing me in...WAIT, THIS FEELS LIKE THAT TIME WITH SAIZO??"
She finds herself unable to do anything but tell the truth, thanks to his Ninja Mind Powers. When he find out Saizo sent her he gets the CREEPIEST ~crazy grin.
MC: D:
Seijiro: Yes, give me the look that reminds me why I'm a ninja! And allow me to tell you one more thing before you die- those lilies are a curse that will follow you to hell :D
He chokes her almost to death then goes off to murder Kiku. Why not make sure MC's dead? That's just sloppy.
She drags herself out into the corridor and gasps wordlessly at a distressed Sasuke before falling unconscious. Yukimura runs up and takes her limp body in his arms, screaming at her to wake up.
Saizo: Looks like you're more into this than you're willing to admit.
Yukimura: SAIZO NOW IS NOT THE TIME
And then Saizo pushes Yukimura out of the way, crushes a pill with his teeth, and feeds it to MC with a kiss.
MC wakes to the sound of Yukimura shouting at Saizo that he needs to "take responsibility", does he thinks Saizo needs to marry MC to restore her honour lol.
MC: What happened and why does my mouth taste so bad?
Sasuke, blushing: UM...
Yukimura drags him off to find a doctor.
MC: We have to save Lady Kiku!!
Saizo: If it's not part of my orders, it's none of my business. That's my personal code, you see :)
Saizo, I am pretty sure Yukimura would order you to save her if he knew! So poor MC stumbles towards Kiku's chambers alone.
Sasuke: Where's MC, didn't Lord Yukimura tell you to stay with her??
Saizo: I don't remember that being an order, do you?
Sasuke: Yes?!
Saizo: Damn.
Saizo you liar you totally want to save her.
MC arrives just in time to see Seijiro strangling Kiku.
Seijiro: You're still alive? I must be getting weak in my old age.
Why didn't you stab her to be sure? What is this village teaching these kids, honestly.
And then of course Saizo arrives, and Seijiro gets all creepy fanboy about the honour of meeting such a great man.
MC: Your sister, the cherry tree...it was all lies, wasn't it?
Seijiro: What of it? I'm the lowest of the low, barely human. I'll deceive anyone for my missions, and once I'm done I kill them. But I have little choice if I want to be the perfect ninja. Isn't that right, Saizo?
Saizo: ...
Siejiro: I've always looked up to your work! What's your favourite way to kill people? Is it true the village sends you on their assassinations?
Saizo: Maybe they do, maybe they don't.
Siejiro: :D :D I knew you were a real ninja when I heard you assassinated your own best friend!!
MC: Saizo would NEVER.
Saizo: ...
Seijiro introduces himself as actually being Fuma Kotaro, who is from the Fuma Ninja Clan and was hired by the Hojo Clan to kill Kiku and so prevent the alliance.
Kiku: That can't be true ;_;
Kotaro: It's all right...you know I'll come for you soon <3 Saizo, do bring me out for a duel next time.
Saizo: Don't make me laugh. What reason do I have to fight you?
Kotaru: We'll see :)
It's time for Kiku to go to her wedding but she's too distraught. Yukimura naturally thinks she should be excused. Apparently so does Saizo, because MC saying so is what gets you points. Even though Saizo is allergic to explicitly giving anyone sympathy, the choices that win him over are always the compassionate ones, it's a cute narrative trick.
But what he says is that she should go. MC screams at him.
Siazo: If you want to keep martyring yourself for kindness, I suggest you leave this place. You want to live? Get your things and go back to your little restaurant and pretend it was kindness that brought you home.
MC gloomily prepares to go home, feeling useless. She sees Kiyohiro and asks him what skyflowers mean. It's "I am watching you" or "You are being conspicuous".
(I tried looking this up and the only skyflowers I can find are from Africa or the Americas? Well, it's true in this universe, anyway)
MC: Watching him as a fellow ninja?
Kiyohiro: Watching you. Saizo wanted him to know that if he laid a hand on you...he would regret it. After all, Saizo has barely left your side.
MC: ???
Thinking about it all, she decides that whatever Saizo is doing, she could be helping Kiku more. And then she runs back to Shingen to volunteer to be Kiku's body double.
(scytale had a little rant about what a ridiculous plan this is and she's right. But I think the goal was to tell Kenshin and his brother afterwards, because forgiveness is easier than permission I guess, but NOT tell anyone else, then quietly swap the Kikus later)
Yukimura and his men are assigned to protect MC...but Saizo declines.
Saizo: If you want protection for someone who would throw their life away for their 'feelings', I'm not your man.
Yukimura: Saizo!!
Saizo: You never said I didn't have the right to choose my missions, Yukimura :)
MC finds Saizo that night on the roof, and asks about the flowers but he doesn't reply.
MC: I made those dango you're eating, by the way.
Saizo: ...my mission was to get you to Kyoto, I assumed they meant alive. ...Why did you offer to do that, anyway?
MC: I'd regret it for the rest of my life if I didn't. I have principles, just like you.
Saizo: I used to know someone who'd say things like that. And now he's dead.
But then he says that he'll be leaving with Yukimura at dawn.
They're led by Shingen's younger brother Nobukado who I've never heard of before and who doesn't even get a sprite. He insults MC and Saizo gets pissy, which Yukimura blames on the coming rain.
Sasuke: Sensei doesn't really sleep most of the time. Only on rainy days, when he goes to somewhere noone knows to sleep.
...sure. Ninjas are magic and don't need sleep unless they're sad.
While stretching her legs, MC sees Saizo up in a tree whispering to crows. And then he jumps down and says the road ahead isn't safe.
Nobukado objects, saying Saizo is untrustworthy and carrying MC's palanquin up the alternate route will be too hard. Saizo smiles and implies that the only reason someone would go into danger is if they were in the pay of the enemy, which shuts him up. MC says she'll walk, but Saizo insists she stay out of the rain.
MC: Kiyohiro, you're here too?
Kiyohiro: Of course, I'm Saizo's hands and feet. He loses it a bit when it rains, but it's my favourite time to be out.
And then A SECOND KIYOHIRO SHOWS UP and shouts for MC to get away from 'that man'!!
'Kiyohiro': Heh, I knew I shouldn't have left him alive >:)
And then suddenly...he's Fuma Kotaro! Who is broader, wearing totally different clothes, and has different coloured eyes, but shh.
He grabs MC and runs into the forest, only to get cornered by a sodden Saizo at the edge of a cliff. He briefly throws Saizo off by mentioning it was also raining when Saizo killed his best friend, but Saizo quickly prevails and drives him over the cliff, then walks away without looking at MC.
But when he realises she's falling behind her picks her up in a princess carry and she realises he feels strangely warm.
MC: Saizo, do you have a fev-
Saizo *putting her down*: Yukimura's coming. Stay there. Good girl.
But she follows him to a shack where he mutters that she's an idiot and he hates owing favours before falling unconscious. She tries to dry him off and keep him warm by holding him against her, and decides that even if he did kill his best friend, to be this traumatised he must regret it more than anyone.
Saizo first person POV!! He smiles softly at the sweetly sleeping MC, enjoying her warmth, and glad his nightmare about her dying was just a dream.
Yukimura is really happy to find them both well, but then he blushes.
MC: (Oh no, he thinks we had sex, I have to-)
Saizo: Last night was amazing :D
Yukimura: :O
MC: HE'S TALKING ABOUT THE RAIN
Siazo: Obviously ^_^
As they approach the lands of the Uesugi, Saizo says she clearly has no idea how to walk like a lady in formal wear. When she can't follow directions he slides in behind her to pose her correctly, causing her and Yukimura to get very embarrassed. MC is struck by how beautiful and ladylike Saizo looks while demonstrating the right walk.
Sasuke: Wouldn't it be faster to dress Sensei as a woman?
I'd pay pearls for that AU.
The next day she's kinda gotten the hang of it but doesn't trust her ability to sound noble, so fakes a sore throat.
Saizo: All you have to do is smile. I'll be acting as your handservant, so just leave the rest to me.
Kenshin notices she's nervous and strokes her hair calmingly until Saizo politely stands in the way. Meanwhile Kiku's fiance, Kagekatsu, is quiet and standoffish. MC wonders how he'll get along with the chatty Kiku.
Kenshin asks a bunch of questions about where she was born etc over dinner which Saizo answers while MC tries not to panic.
MC, whispering: Refill Lord Kagekatsu's tea.
Saizo: Lady Kiku says she would like some dango ^_^
MC: >:(
She noticed Kagekatsu wasn't eating much at dinner so seeks him out with some onigiri and he gets all blushy aww. But Saizo is pissed, and tells her "don't get so close to that quiet new friend of yours, or it'll be harder to deceive him".
Then he gives her one of his restorative pills to store behind her back teeth.
...now I want to try hiding pills back there, but all of mine are designed to dissolve, and would taste bad. Gonna buy some lollies and pretend I'm a badass ninja. EDIT: Tried and failed. Oh well *eats lollies*
MC, accidentally biting one: Ack this is horrible! Oh, but weirdly familiar?
Sasuke: Don't you remember? Sensei crushed one for you and gave it to you with his tong-
Yukimura: Sasuke! It wasn't really...that...it was...first aid...Your lips might have touched but no more than was needed! ...Saizo, say something!
Saizo: I gave you mouth-to-mouth, that's all.
MC: You basically kissed me??
Saizo: It's not worth getting that worked up over is it?
MC: YES IT IS
Kenshin: Hmm, it seems the Lady Kiku has not lost her voice after all? ^_^
They explain everything to a pissed off Kenshin, and give him a letter from Shingen, at which point he mutters to himself that he's always been pushy.
A retainer called Kagatora who I have never heard of before angrily says the Uesugi should break all ties with the Takeda and align with the Hojo. The ones who tried to kill Lady Kiku??
But Kenshin says some ties cannot be broken. The wedding will go ahead, ending with a parade through the town and a kiss.
MC, Kagekatsu and Yukumira: A kiss?? D:
Kenhin: I have read that they are traditional at weddings in Europe.
Lol I love when Japanese writers are like "I know we only imported these Western romance tropes in the 20th century but SCREW IT THEY'RE FUN". See also: "this 19th century Frenchman is wearing a sexy kimono he just happened to have imported from Japan", etc.
Kenshin is willing to let it go but MC doesn't want to look like a wimp in front of Saizo so she clenches her fists and says she'll do it.
At the wedding Kenshin says she's so radiant he wishes he was marrying her himself. STOP FLIRTING KENSHIN YOU SKEEVE. Saizo is smilingly irritated, but seems fine with Kagekatsu seeming to be quietly enthused at the ideas of marrying MC. Yukimura is still double checking that MC is really ok with the kissing.
All the dudes are in fancy kimonos with their house sigils on... except Saizo, whose has little shuriken haha.
MC is nervous about kissing Kagekatsu but seems fine with the WEDDING CEREMONY. I guess weddings weren't seen as a huge deal in and of themselves, with no Unbreakable Vows to God like in Europe at the time and with less of the big romantic fanciness we all have now. MARRIAGE was a big deal but she knows she's not marrying him for real.
Uh oh Kagekatsu is being a little too enthused about the prospect of kissing, I bet it's Kotaro. MC finds herself automatically looking for Saizo...and then he's there, smiling at her, as Yukimura shouts that they're under attack by Hojo ninja!
Saizo, catching a shuriken in his hand without looking away: I guess the reception's off :)
MC realises she's relieved. Huh, and then Kotaro appears, I guess that really was Kagekatsu. But Saizo picks MC up and says "Leave the rest to me, dear Lady."
He takes her to a distant rooftop and she watches the chaos erupting below.
Saizo: I know you didn't want to kiss him.
MC: I...I don't care about something as stupid as a kiss, it's fine.
Saizo, affectionately: I always find the stubborn ones don't I?
And then his "lithe form" vanishes. MC realises her heart is beating fast, and thinks about how no matter how much Saizo might grumble, he's always there when she needs him. She feels a sweet, painful longing she recognises as love.
Back at the castle, the Hojo have been defeated, the alliance is secure, and everyone is celebrating. A drunken Yukimura cheerfully bugs Saizo to drink more. Meanwhile Sasuke is annoyed to be stuck drinking...orange juice??
*googles* Huh, ok, they would have oranges. Hooray for learning!
Turns out Kagekatsu is a teetotaller and is drinking orange juice too. He is a bit embarrassed but MC says people are allowed their own tastes. She herself only drinks occasionally.
Sasuke: So why is sake so great?
MC: Uh...Saizo?
Saizo: A good cook like you would know better than me.
Yukimura: IT'S SWEET LIKE VICTORY :D
Kenshin: Heh. Sake is definitely more fun with a group. How about we all go cherry blossom viewing tomorrow?
MC: I'll bring delicious lunch and dango! Once I brought dango to a crying boy under a cherry tree and he was good as new!
Saizo just sits there not saying anything. Not even a surprised looking sprite! Then he leaves, telling MC he hates stuff like that.
MC: You know I'll be making dango. Lots and lots of dango.
Saizo: Mmhmm. I don't want any.
MC: Ha! You know you get a little wrinkle in your forehead when you lie.
Saizo: o.O
MC: Come on, I'll make extra just for you.
Saizo: It doesn't matter. It's going to rain tomorrow.
Sasuke sleepily mutters that Saizo is always right about the weather. Later she realises Saizo is keeping guard outside her room since everyone else is drunk. She invites him in and he sees that she's been making rain ghost charms to keep away the rain. He helps her hang them and MC pines and wishes she felt able to ask why he's still helping her now his mission is done.
He says praying to them is silly so she does it for him.
It still rains, and MC finds Saizo lying with his eyes closed, in the rain, in a cherry tree. SUCH A WOOBIE.
Saizo: I used to know someone who would make a big deal about going to see the cherry blossoms every single year. He was like Yukimura, a little bit. A little too loud. A little too passionate. A little too involved in other people's business...but that's what made him special. I like the cherry blossoms because they never change. They bloom every year and make sure I can never, ever forget :)
She approaches and he snaps at her that it's fine, putting on his fox mask and saying "If I stay with you, I feel as if I will (forget?). So I'm leaving on my next mission."
MC: Please, don't go.
Saizo: It's from the village. I don't have a choice.
...has the whole Iga thing been explained to MC/the player? I know about it from the Shadow paths.
She feels like his heart is hidden from her, and always will be.
And then she realises she can no longer feel the rain: Kiyohiro is standing by her with an umbrella.
Kiyohiro: Everyone is worried about you. They can barely stand it.
He says he's struggled with telling her more about Saizo, but has decided Saizo wouldn't want her to suffer on his behalf. Not sure if this is sweet or Kotaro again...
Ten years ago, Iga was under siege by the Oda clan. Someone let them in, causing many deaths, and it was rumoured to be Saizo's childhood friend. The village elders ordered Saizo to kill him, and only learned afterwards that the friend's lover had been taken hostage to blackmail him.
MC: It's one thing to kill him...but to ask Saizo to do it...
Kiyohiro: If you betray the village, you die. We all know that and so should you.
MC: What am I supposed to do...for him...*faints*
She wakes and is told she has a fever, and that Saizo is gone. She bursts into tears.
Yukimura: H-hey, don't cry! Lady Kiku is going to be coming soon, as soon as she heard you'd replaced her she insisted. So you have to get better so she doesn't worry about you! And after that you can go home to Kyoto :)
MC: :(
Kagekatsu brings her hot sweet sake because he's heard it's good for colds, and says he tried it to make sure it was ok. He asks why she was crying and is endearingly concerned but then gets KINDA RAPEY D: He's tipsy BUT STILL.
Saizo comes in and puts him to sleep by just leaning close and saying "sleep"? They can do that??? I mean I know Hotaru can, but...fine, fine, they can do that.
MC: Why did you come back?
Saizo: Felt like it.
He gently fixes her kimono and puts her to bed. He mutters to himself that she keeps getting herself into trouble (HOW WAS THIS HER FAULT) and that he doesn't know why he's here.
Saizo: I have another mission.
MC, hiding her head under the blankets so her can't see her her crying: Ok ;_;
Saizo: ...you think you can stop crying?
MC: Mmhmm...
Saizo: You really want me to stay that much?
MC: Yes.
Saizo, affectionately: You really are a fool, aren't you?
MC: ...yeah...
He sits next to her bed and holds her hand, and says he won't leave until she's asleep. She talks to him so he won't have to hear the rain.
MC: I used to think you were cold, but all you've done is protect me. I...always want you... right here with me. I want you to come with us to see the flowers...every year from now on.
He looks at her sadly and says her name softly. He leans down against her and says "goodnight", and she falls asleep.
(I am shipping them pretty hard at this point)
Aw when she wakes up Sasuke is asleep next to her, presumably cos Saizo told him to look after her.
DON'T FEEL SORRY FOR KAGEKATSU UGH
Yukimura watches Sasuke cheerfully playing in the snow and says he's gotten less maudlin since MC showed up and started spoiling him.
Yukimura: Saizo has seemed a little less likely to be outwardly cruel. You'll see it yourself before too long. You'll understand just what you do to other people, trust me.
(I SHIP THIS EVEN HARDER. HE'S SO NICE ON THIS ROUTE. Also poor Sasuke needs all the spoiling)
Lord Shingen is ill and Yukimura is consumed with regret that he cannot be at his Lord's side.
Retainer: See, Shingen's dying, we should align with the Hojo!
Me and MC: Wow, the nerve of this gu...AHHHH KOTARO IS STANDING BEHIND HIM D:
Kotaro: Gosh, they dare have the fake Lady Kiku here? Takeda really can't be trusted.
Me: BECAUSE YOU SEDUCED AND ATTEMPTED TO MURDER THE REAL ONE???
Kiyohiro: If Shingen dies the Takeda will fall, and we will need the protection of the Hojo. The elder has decided that killing the fake Lady Kiku will make a nice gift.
Saizo: Wouldn't it be enough to expose the fake? But of course he would wish to kill her :)
Kiyohiro: The elder is only doing what is best for the village. We need the strength of the Hojo.
Saizo: Or their money, anyway. And if I refuse? :)
Koyihiro: They're already starting to distrust you after you refused a summons :(
Saizo: ...they'll have me killed, and send someone else to kill her. If she is to leave this world regardless, I'll take her myself.
Meanwhile Kenshin, Yukimura and Sasuke all promise to send MC home right away to keep her safe.
But the Hojo attack! With guns!! Kenshin says this is a Uesugi battle and sends the Takeda folk away to safety. Kotaro attacks but Kagekatsu holds him off and tells the others to keep running.
But when they get to the exit, it's been blocked, and standing there in his fox mask...is Saizo, his eyes filled with darkness.
MC is immediately paralysed with fear, but Yukimura doesn't notice anything's wrong until Saizo draws his blade.
Yukimura: What are you thinking?!
Saizo: Same as always, about my mission. MC...for the sake of my village...I will kill you.
Yukimura: Don't be stupid, Saizo! Sasuke, take MC and run!
Sasuke: But..I...Sensei... D:
Saizo: Despite everything you still have trust, do you...*jams the hilt of his sword in Yukimura's stomach*
Yukimura, collapsed: MC...run...
But MC is still frozen. So Sasuke stands in front of her, with his tiny sword ;_;
And then he too falls.
I AM HAVING FEELINGS
A letter from Kiyohiro: "The village where I was raised is everything to us. Please do not think ill of me." Sorry, dude, I feel for you, but I am thinking ill.
*finally gets enough points after several days*
Divine Ending:
Kotaro turns up and gets VERY EXCITED to see "The Lord of the ninja" with his sword to MC's throat. (Why do people call Saizo a Lord sometimes, wouldn't all the ninjas be commoners?)
When he sees Saizo hesitating, he 'helps' by going for MC himself...only for Saizo to stop and eventually kill him. Kotaro dies laughing, killed by his murder!crush, aw.
...and then Kiyohiro and a bunch of Iga ninja show up.
Kiyohiro: So you're betraying us :(
Saizo: Sorry they forced this on you, Kiyohiro.
Aw, he has this gentle, understanding smile. He says he feels pretty good about betraying the village, his eyes shining in an impassive face as he shakes Kotaro's blood from his katana.
For a while they stare at each other, Kiyohiro going pale. Then he says "Deal with the traitor".
Yukimura: You want him? You'll have to go through me! Saizo, take MC and run!
Saizo: o.O Yukimura...don't get yourself killed.
Yukimura: I've got to be alive to cash in the favour you'll owe me later, right?
MC is happy Saizo saved her but worried about Yukimura, and the consequences for Saizo.
MC: Are you sure about this?
Saizo: Don't.
MC: *realises she's slowing him down and stops running*
Saizo: Are you tired? I'll carry you on my back.
MC: Saizo, please...kill me. I...I love you, Saizo. I don't want you to die.
He pulls her into his arms.
Saizo: I feel the same way. Killing you would be the same as dying. I...already regret too much in this life. There's no point running if it's not with you. Until now the village was everything to me. But I am choosing a new life with you, even if it means I must throw away my old one. If it means I get to spend a single moment of my life with you...I am happy to die. ...you hear that, Kiyohiro?
Kiyohiro: ...What a shame :/
Kiyohiro calmly tells the other ninja (who all look terrified of Saizo) to stay back.
Kiyohiro: Lower your defences for an instant and you will die.
Saizo: So I've heard :)
They fight with coldly ruthless violence. But when a ninja reaches for MC, Saizo stops to stab him, saying "Lay a hand on her and I'll kill you first."
Just as it looks like Kiyohiro may take advantage of this distraction to win, a crow circles above them then lands, and a ninja passes on the message: Lady Kiku has arrived with an army.
Kiyohiro: It appears being a child of war has made her into a fearless woman. When she heard you were still here, MC, she insisted upon coming to save you :)
He says the Takeda have the advantage now and the elder will change his orders. He kneels before Saizo, saying "the fight is yours".
Saizo: And you have a good heart, Kiyohiro...despite what you are.
Kiyohiro: Lady MC...I apologise for everything I have done to wrong you.
MC: Please don't apologise. You could have easily defeated Saizo if you hadn't fought him on your own. Yet you did the honourable thing. Thank you for everything you have done for me, and for us.
Kiyohiro: You don't have to thank me. I only do what I want to do.
It's revealed his true name is Lord Hattori Hanzo, which I would have expected them to retcon when they introduced the LI Hattori Hanzo but I guess they just...have the same name...
Anyway. I like to think Kiyohiro finds a better way of living one day. Maybe he gets assigned to work for Kenshin and is won over by all the hugs.
Speaking which, back at Kenshin's castle Saizo and MC are hugged by a cheerful, blood-covered Yukimura.
Yukimura: I was so worried!!
Saizo: Would you calm down?
"His reply is curt yet his voice is gentle. But I am sure that Lord Yukimura understands that even better than I do. He just squeezes us close, his smile bright and genuine."
HOW CAN I NOT SHIP IT
Sasuke: Stupid, stupid Sensei ;_;
Saizo, tousling his hair: Sorry about that, Sasuke.
The injured Kagekatsu is all blushy about being supported by Lady Kiku so I guess we...are expected to ship that now... :/ :/
"Lord Kenshin approaches us as I try to wrestle out of Lord Yukimura's embrace"
Kenshin, to Saizo: I hear you two have worked things out ;)
MC: Oh no, we're not...
Saizo: :/
Sasuke: Sensei are you and MC...in love? Way to go!
Yukimura: What?! W-well... a woman like MC is well-suited to someone as stubbornly secretive as Saizo.
"Saizo looks away from all of us, as if having friends is the worst decision he ever made"
A letter from Saizo: "It's actually nice knowing I only have one person to serve now...even if some people still can't shut up about it."
Epilogue:
MC is cheerfully pointing out all the sights as she and Saizo approach Kyoto. Apparently Saizo got them to leave in the middle of the night so noone would make a fuss /o\ She says she wants to see the cherry blossoms with him.
I like that MC lightly teases Saizo for being such an inexpressive ass, it almost makes up for him being one.
Mother: MC is that you? I've been so worried!!
MC: I'm sorry. And, um, this is...
Mother: Saizo!
Saizo: Nice to see you again :)
MC: how do you...know Saizo...
Mother: He owns that restaurant that you deliver to all the time!
MC: ...
Saizo: ^_^
Mother: So what were you doing with my daughter in Kai?
Saizo: The Lord of Kai is a very special patron of our restaurant, you see. He invited me to stay with him, seeing as I must travel often to Kai for medical treatment :)
MC boggles silently as he mother goes off to get the poor invalid some ginger mochi.
Yahiko: I'm sorry about my sister not recognising you, she's always been a little slow.
Saizo: Well, I am a very private person. And she's plenty cute :)
Screw you guys, she saved BOTH your lives >:( Meanwhile MC is busy being weirded out by how NICE Saizo is being, like a whole different person.
After they leave Saizo explains that the restaurant is used by Iga for cover identities, in his case a shut-in invalid restaurant owner.
Cook: MC, long time no see!
Maid: Saizo, I hope you're feeling better after your business trip, since you brought back such a cute girl ;)
MC: (these are all...ninjas playing a role...)
Saizo: So what's changed while I've been away? Take MC to a room before you get too far into it :)
He comes soon after with dango and tea, but when he sees her sigh stares flatly at her and asks why. She tries to change the subject but he says "You think you can keep secrets from me?"
MC: I feel like I don't know you at all.
Saizo: Come on. You don't need to know everything about me. It's better for you that you don't.
Oh so YOU get to keep secrets.
MC: Does it really have to be that way?
Saizo stands and opens the door as if to leave...revealing a cherry blossom tree in bloom.
Saizo: It's not that you don't know me. It's that you've forgotten how much you do know.
He sits next to her, nudging her shoulder, and gives her some dango.
Saizo: To eat is to live, right? If you eat this, even when times are hard...you'll find a way.
MC: (How does he know...what my father used to...! Could he really be that boy?!)
After the ninja throw them a victory feast, Saizo naps in his room. MC edges closer to admire his vulnerable, handsome sleeping face but he suddenly pulls her into a fierce kiss...and her mouth fills with a bitter taste as he dislodges the restorative pill she had behind her teeth haha. But he kisses her as if he likes the bitterness.
...Saizo, when she said she wanted to know you, she didn't mean biblically, and you know it.
Saizo: I want to know everything about you. But what you tell me...you tell me alone.
The next morning MC notices a rain ghost hanging from the eaves and Saizo gets embarrassed and buries his face in her shoulder. He asks if she's alright after him "asking a lot of her last night" and she gets embarrassed and says yes.
So he says he'll take her to a cherry tree where he ate "the best dango ever" 15 years ago. She looks at him in surprise and he smiles.
THE END
That was cute! I think I benefited from having read a summary beforehand, so I wasn't too annoyed by the dumbass plot, and also reading it through a Yukimura/MC/Saizo lens meant I could comfort myself about Saizo's failings with the thought that Yukimura will be there as The Nice Boyfriend.
Next up: Genya and (the other) Hanzo, as the only remaining unplayed pair where I am interested in both. I hear Genya's route is cute, and whiule I don't know if I'd ever play Hanzo's route I'm curious to see how it starts.
Overall I quite enjoyed this! Saizo remains an asshole but I found him mostly endearing, with his dry cynicism, understated angst, and repressed affection.
The reason I chose Saizo's route despite my mixed feelings is that I got TOTALLY CONSUMED by the need to write a Yukimura/Saizo/MC story, so played this half as research. And the Yukimura/Saizo/MC shippiness did not disappoint :D *writes this post to procrastinate on actually finishing the story*
Content note for consent issues with a different character that the game handled in a very annoying way.
My summary of the shared Saizo/Yukimura prologue.
In short: MC is crossdressing as a man in the court of Lord Shingen. The truth has come out and she needs to ask someone for help. For some reason she chooses the coldly unfriendy ninja Saizo, instead of his sweet and friendly boss Lord Yukimura.
Also while looking up something else yesterday I came across
scytale 's entertaining posts about Acts 1 and 2 which had some interesting thoughts, like the way weather is used.The fact this is fic research means I was even less succinct than usual, I'm worried I'll hit dreamwidth's character limit...
Anyway.
MC hears Saizo talking to Kiyohiro (a relatively nice ninja from the same Evil Ninja Village, Iga, as Saizo)
Kiyohiro: It's a tough job. Noone else could do it.
Saizo: Well, at least it's job security.
MC bumps into someone's chest, sure enough it's Saizo...COVERED IN BLOOD.
MC: AHHHH
Saizo: Shh. Night time is quiet time :)
MC: Are you ok?!
Saizo: It's not mine.
MC: Is...the other person ok?
Saizo: They should be asleep by now :) So, can I help you with something?
MC tells her tale of woe but Saizo just smiles coldly and says that if she wanted sympathy she would have been better off charming Yukimura. Which...is a good point, but I already did his route so here we are.
Saizo: You say your father left you a restaurant, so you must have money. To get you back home to Kyoto...500 pearls.
MC: Who has that kind of money?!
Saizo: Someone who can make a deal with me :P
The next day MC bumps into a cheerful young man I recognise as EVIL CRAZY NINJA Fuma Kotaro. He's posing as the sweet pacifist gardener Midorikawa Seijiro as part of his Evil Ninja Plan, and gives MC some black lilies. Hey, and midori means green!
MC explains herself to Yukimura and Lord Shingen. Yukimura is still overcome by the guilt of HAVING TOUCHED A BOOB and they just end up shouting "NO I'M SORRY" at each other until Shingen laughs and says everyone but Yukimura and Sasuke already knew. Which contradicts the Yukimura path, interesting.
Shingen says he'll send her back when he has the manpower, after an upcoming wedding...but then Saizo volunteers.
Yukimura and Sasuke: Ok, who hired you?
Saizo: I can stand to be generous now and again.
But even the usually trusting MC thinks he must have some ulterior motive.
I got points in that section for being nice to Yukimura, and then got a nice letter from him :D
MC starts writing a letter to her mother about a "kind person" escorting her home but has trouble describing Saizo as "kind" haha.
Saizo sees the letter and says "You really think I'm taking you to Kyoto for free?" And then he looks her up and down like he's judging how much her body is worth??
...but what he actually wants is for her to 'do recon on the gardener', who he thinks is fishy.
MC: Seijiro is a good person.
Saizo: That's nice, dear. Are you in or are you out?
MC does a moderately good job of subtly digging for details, and Seijiro mentions being an orphan with a much younger sister who loved flowers but died of a sudden illness.
A few days later MC is eating breakfast with Seijiro when Shingen's neice, Kiku, runs into MC, shouting that she no longer wants to marry into the Uesgi clan. She blushes when she sees Seijiro then tries to cover by dragging away MC and trying to give her a fancy new kimono. Kiku tell MC the marriage is to create peace with the Uesugi. She knows it's her duty, but is still sad.
A note from Shingen saying he raised Kiku like a daughter, and is glad she will be safe married to Kenshin's older brother Kagekatsu. (If Kenshin is younger why is he in charge?) Also Shingen thinks Nobunaga's sister Oichi sounds hot, but then goes on about how beautiful Kenshin is, and how people mistake them for lovers, but their relationship is more ~profound than love. *ships it*
Sasuke: Sensei says he's going to teach you the art of seduction! :D
MC: D:
Saizo: I am?
Sasuke: If a woman uses her body the right way, a man will tell you everything...but it goes both ways, so you have to be careful.
MC: MY BODY IS NOT FOR THAT. And stop calling it 'the art of seduction' like it's some secret ninja skill and not...that >:(
Saizo: The most skilful ninja don't need to do 'that', they can seduce with a glance.
He demonstrates, saying her name in a thick, hoarse voice and looking at her with eyes that flicker with something passionate but dangerous. He brushes his fingertips against her lips and down her throat.
MC: I...UH....
Saizo: See how easy that is, Sasuke? :D
(As a reminder, Sasuke is like ten. This was all a bit uncomfortable)
Kiku: What are you two doing to her? >:(
Sasuke: We're just teaching her the art of sedummph!
Saizo, his hand casually covering Sasuke's mouth: I was just teaching him to flirt with girls :)
Kiku: So how do you? I'd like to know :)
...and then we fast forward to seeing her demonstrate flirting with Saizo??
Saizo: You're a regular Ishikawa, 100 points :)
MC is too embarrassed to do anything but stare awkwardly and gets five points.
(I have no idea who Ishikawa is and wikipedia was unhelpful)
Then Kiku takes MC out for lunch and pushes her towards a random dude to flirt some more.
Man: So...you like dango huh? If you come with me somewhere private I have the best dango in town ;)
MC : I do like...WAIT.
Just as she's trying to discourage him from being handsy Saizo shows up and cheerfully presses the skewer from his dango the the man's throat saying "She's a guest of Takeda Shingen".
MC: Thank you so much!!
Saizo: That'll cost you five skewers of dango. The big ones.
Then he picks some flowers for MC, saying they're symbolic and she should give them to Seijiro then not see him again, or she'll get too attached and be hurt when he leaves.
Sasuke explains to MC that Saizo goes on missions for "the village" sometimes, and says he wants to be a great ninja who helps the village too?? Aw, Sasuke's from Iga? Isn't he the other Sasuke's kid though?? Is this all explained somewhere...
Sasuke: I hope one day Sensei will respect me enough as a ninja to give me one of his katanas!
Yukimura: That will never happen. He only uses one, the other...belongs to his best friend :(
Aw. You're his best friend now, Yukimura!
MC: I was told these skyflowers are an appropriate reply to the lilies you gave me.
Seijiro: Saizo really is in touch with his feminine side isn't he?
Oh he totally knows what's up.
And then he tells MC that he and Kiku are in love. Since I already read a summary I know his plan is actually to seduce and then murder her :(
MC tries to cheer him up with some of the dango she made as a goodbye present for Kiku. MC then tells a story about meeting a crying little boy under a cherry tree when she was about 5 and cheering him up with some dango. Since then, dango has been her speciality.
Even if I didn't already know this was Saizo...he's the LI, of course it's Saizo.
Me: Wait, didn't Yukimura imply Saizo got into dango after they met, when he was 14? I'm going to ignore the canon ages, then.
Seijiro: That could have been me...my sister died about 25 years ago...
Me: MC is THIRTY?? Ok, canon ages, you can stay :D
So I guess Saizo is about that age too, and Yukimura is around 26. Though she did describe Saizo as a little boy, maybe he's younger!
...Aw, I googled, and she's 20 to his 29? Boo.
Anyway. MC is really happy, but then Seijiro cups her face in his hands and draws closer and she's like "His eyes are drawing me in...WAIT, THIS FEELS LIKE THAT TIME WITH SAIZO??"
She finds herself unable to do anything but tell the truth, thanks to his Ninja Mind Powers. When he find out Saizo sent her he gets the CREEPIEST ~crazy grin.
MC: D:
Seijiro: Yes, give me the look that reminds me why I'm a ninja! And allow me to tell you one more thing before you die- those lilies are a curse that will follow you to hell :D
He chokes her almost to death then goes off to murder Kiku. Why not make sure MC's dead? That's just sloppy.
She drags herself out into the corridor and gasps wordlessly at a distressed Sasuke before falling unconscious. Yukimura runs up and takes her limp body in his arms, screaming at her to wake up.
Saizo: Looks like you're more into this than you're willing to admit.
Yukimura: SAIZO NOW IS NOT THE TIME
And then Saizo pushes Yukimura out of the way, crushes a pill with his teeth, and feeds it to MC with a kiss.
MC wakes to the sound of Yukimura shouting at Saizo that he needs to "take responsibility", does he thinks Saizo needs to marry MC to restore her honour lol.
MC: What happened and why does my mouth taste so bad?
Sasuke, blushing: UM...
Yukimura drags him off to find a doctor.
MC: We have to save Lady Kiku!!
Saizo: If it's not part of my orders, it's none of my business. That's my personal code, you see :)
Saizo, I am pretty sure Yukimura would order you to save her if he knew! So poor MC stumbles towards Kiku's chambers alone.
Sasuke: Where's MC, didn't Lord Yukimura tell you to stay with her??
Saizo: I don't remember that being an order, do you?
Sasuke: Yes?!
Saizo: Damn.
Saizo you liar you totally want to save her.
MC arrives just in time to see Seijiro strangling Kiku.
Seijiro: You're still alive? I must be getting weak in my old age.
Why didn't you stab her to be sure? What is this village teaching these kids, honestly.
And then of course Saizo arrives, and Seijiro gets all creepy fanboy about the honour of meeting such a great man.
MC: Your sister, the cherry tree...it was all lies, wasn't it?
Seijiro: What of it? I'm the lowest of the low, barely human. I'll deceive anyone for my missions, and once I'm done I kill them. But I have little choice if I want to be the perfect ninja. Isn't that right, Saizo?
Saizo: ...
Siejiro: I've always looked up to your work! What's your favourite way to kill people? Is it true the village sends you on their assassinations?
Saizo: Maybe they do, maybe they don't.
Siejiro: :D :D I knew you were a real ninja when I heard you assassinated your own best friend!!
MC: Saizo would NEVER.
Saizo: ...
Seijiro introduces himself as actually being Fuma Kotaro, who is from the Fuma Ninja Clan and was hired by the Hojo Clan to kill Kiku and so prevent the alliance.
Kiku: That can't be true ;_;
Kotaro: It's all right...you know I'll come for you soon <3 Saizo, do bring me out for a duel next time.
Saizo: Don't make me laugh. What reason do I have to fight you?
Kotaru: We'll see :)
It's time for Kiku to go to her wedding but she's too distraught. Yukimura naturally thinks she should be excused. Apparently so does Saizo, because MC saying so is what gets you points. Even though Saizo is allergic to explicitly giving anyone sympathy, the choices that win him over are always the compassionate ones, it's a cute narrative trick.
But what he says is that she should go. MC screams at him.
Siazo: If you want to keep martyring yourself for kindness, I suggest you leave this place. You want to live? Get your things and go back to your little restaurant and pretend it was kindness that brought you home.
MC gloomily prepares to go home, feeling useless. She sees Kiyohiro and asks him what skyflowers mean. It's "I am watching you" or "You are being conspicuous".
(I tried looking this up and the only skyflowers I can find are from Africa or the Americas? Well, it's true in this universe, anyway)
MC: Watching him as a fellow ninja?
Kiyohiro: Watching you. Saizo wanted him to know that if he laid a hand on you...he would regret it. After all, Saizo has barely left your side.
MC: ???
Thinking about it all, she decides that whatever Saizo is doing, she could be helping Kiku more. And then she runs back to Shingen to volunteer to be Kiku's body double.
(
scytale had a little rant about what a ridiculous plan this is and she's right. But I think the goal was to tell Kenshin and his brother afterwards, because forgiveness is easier than permission I guess, but NOT tell anyone else, then quietly swap the Kikus later)Yukimura and his men are assigned to protect MC...but Saizo declines.
Saizo: If you want protection for someone who would throw their life away for their 'feelings', I'm not your man.
Yukimura: Saizo!!
Saizo: You never said I didn't have the right to choose my missions, Yukimura :)
MC finds Saizo that night on the roof, and asks about the flowers but he doesn't reply.
MC: I made those dango you're eating, by the way.
Saizo: ...my mission was to get you to Kyoto, I assumed they meant alive. ...Why did you offer to do that, anyway?
MC: I'd regret it for the rest of my life if I didn't. I have principles, just like you.
Saizo: I used to know someone who'd say things like that. And now he's dead.
But then he says that he'll be leaving with Yukimura at dawn.
They're led by Shingen's younger brother Nobukado who I've never heard of before and who doesn't even get a sprite. He insults MC and Saizo gets pissy, which Yukimura blames on the coming rain.
Sasuke: Sensei doesn't really sleep most of the time. Only on rainy days, when he goes to somewhere noone knows to sleep.
...sure. Ninjas are magic and don't need sleep unless they're sad.
While stretching her legs, MC sees Saizo up in a tree whispering to crows. And then he jumps down and says the road ahead isn't safe.
Nobukado objects, saying Saizo is untrustworthy and carrying MC's palanquin up the alternate route will be too hard. Saizo smiles and implies that the only reason someone would go into danger is if they were in the pay of the enemy, which shuts him up. MC says she'll walk, but Saizo insists she stay out of the rain.
MC: Kiyohiro, you're here too?
Kiyohiro: Of course, I'm Saizo's hands and feet. He loses it a bit when it rains, but it's my favourite time to be out.
And then A SECOND KIYOHIRO SHOWS UP and shouts for MC to get away from 'that man'!!
'Kiyohiro': Heh, I knew I shouldn't have left him alive >:)
And then suddenly...he's Fuma Kotaro! Who is broader, wearing totally different clothes, and has different coloured eyes, but shh.
He grabs MC and runs into the forest, only to get cornered by a sodden Saizo at the edge of a cliff. He briefly throws Saizo off by mentioning it was also raining when Saizo killed his best friend, but Saizo quickly prevails and drives him over the cliff, then walks away without looking at MC.
But when he realises she's falling behind her picks her up in a princess carry and she realises he feels strangely warm.
MC: Saizo, do you have a fev-
Saizo *putting her down*: Yukimura's coming. Stay there. Good girl.
But she follows him to a shack where he mutters that she's an idiot and he hates owing favours before falling unconscious. She tries to dry him off and keep him warm by holding him against her, and decides that even if he did kill his best friend, to be this traumatised he must regret it more than anyone.
Saizo first person POV!! He smiles softly at the sweetly sleeping MC, enjoying her warmth, and glad his nightmare about her dying was just a dream.
Yukimura is really happy to find them both well, but then he blushes.
MC: (Oh no, he thinks we had sex, I have to-)
Saizo: Last night was amazing :D
Yukimura: :O
MC: HE'S TALKING ABOUT THE RAIN
Siazo: Obviously ^_^
As they approach the lands of the Uesugi, Saizo says she clearly has no idea how to walk like a lady in formal wear. When she can't follow directions he slides in behind her to pose her correctly, causing her and Yukimura to get very embarrassed. MC is struck by how beautiful and ladylike Saizo looks while demonstrating the right walk.
Sasuke: Wouldn't it be faster to dress Sensei as a woman?
I'd pay pearls for that AU.
The next day she's kinda gotten the hang of it but doesn't trust her ability to sound noble, so fakes a sore throat.
Saizo: All you have to do is smile. I'll be acting as your handservant, so just leave the rest to me.
Kenshin notices she's nervous and strokes her hair calmingly until Saizo politely stands in the way. Meanwhile Kiku's fiance, Kagekatsu, is quiet and standoffish. MC wonders how he'll get along with the chatty Kiku.
Kenshin asks a bunch of questions about where she was born etc over dinner which Saizo answers while MC tries not to panic.
MC, whispering: Refill Lord Kagekatsu's tea.
Saizo: Lady Kiku says she would like some dango ^_^
MC: >:(
She noticed Kagekatsu wasn't eating much at dinner so seeks him out with some onigiri and he gets all blushy aww. But Saizo is pissed, and tells her "don't get so close to that quiet new friend of yours, or it'll be harder to deceive him".
Then he gives her one of his restorative pills to store behind her back teeth.
...now I want to try hiding pills back there, but all of mine are designed to dissolve, and would taste bad. Gonna buy some lollies and pretend I'm a badass ninja. EDIT: Tried and failed. Oh well *eats lollies*
MC, accidentally biting one: Ack this is horrible! Oh, but weirdly familiar?
Sasuke: Don't you remember? Sensei crushed one for you and gave it to you with his tong-
Yukimura: Sasuke! It wasn't really...that...it was...first aid...Your lips might have touched but no more than was needed! ...Saizo, say something!
Saizo: I gave you mouth-to-mouth, that's all.
MC: You basically kissed me??
Saizo: It's not worth getting that worked up over is it?
MC: YES IT IS
Kenshin: Hmm, it seems the Lady Kiku has not lost her voice after all? ^_^
They explain everything to a pissed off Kenshin, and give him a letter from Shingen, at which point he mutters to himself that he's always been pushy.
A retainer called Kagatora who I have never heard of before angrily says the Uesugi should break all ties with the Takeda and align with the Hojo. The ones who tried to kill Lady Kiku??
But Kenshin says some ties cannot be broken. The wedding will go ahead, ending with a parade through the town and a kiss.
MC, Kagekatsu and Yukumira: A kiss?? D:
Kenhin: I have read that they are traditional at weddings in Europe.
Lol I love when Japanese writers are like "I know we only imported these Western romance tropes in the 20th century but SCREW IT THEY'RE FUN". See also: "this 19th century Frenchman is wearing a sexy kimono he just happened to have imported from Japan", etc.
Kenshin is willing to let it go but MC doesn't want to look like a wimp in front of Saizo so she clenches her fists and says she'll do it.
At the wedding Kenshin says she's so radiant he wishes he was marrying her himself. STOP FLIRTING KENSHIN YOU SKEEVE. Saizo is smilingly irritated, but seems fine with Kagekatsu seeming to be quietly enthused at the ideas of marrying MC. Yukimura is still double checking that MC is really ok with the kissing.
All the dudes are in fancy kimonos with their house sigils on... except Saizo, whose has little shuriken haha.
MC is nervous about kissing Kagekatsu but seems fine with the WEDDING CEREMONY. I guess weddings weren't seen as a huge deal in and of themselves, with no Unbreakable Vows to God like in Europe at the time and with less of the big romantic fanciness we all have now. MARRIAGE was a big deal but she knows she's not marrying him for real.
Uh oh Kagekatsu is being a little too enthused about the prospect of kissing, I bet it's Kotaro. MC finds herself automatically looking for Saizo...and then he's there, smiling at her, as Yukimura shouts that they're under attack by Hojo ninja!
Saizo, catching a shuriken in his hand without looking away: I guess the reception's off :)
MC realises she's relieved. Huh, and then Kotaro appears, I guess that really was Kagekatsu. But Saizo picks MC up and says "Leave the rest to me, dear Lady."
He takes her to a distant rooftop and she watches the chaos erupting below.
Saizo: I know you didn't want to kiss him.
MC: I...I don't care about something as stupid as a kiss, it's fine.
Saizo, affectionately: I always find the stubborn ones don't I?
And then his "lithe form" vanishes. MC realises her heart is beating fast, and thinks about how no matter how much Saizo might grumble, he's always there when she needs him. She feels a sweet, painful longing she recognises as love.
Back at the castle, the Hojo have been defeated, the alliance is secure, and everyone is celebrating. A drunken Yukimura cheerfully bugs Saizo to drink more. Meanwhile Sasuke is annoyed to be stuck drinking...orange juice??
*googles* Huh, ok, they would have oranges. Hooray for learning!
Turns out Kagekatsu is a teetotaller and is drinking orange juice too. He is a bit embarrassed but MC says people are allowed their own tastes. She herself only drinks occasionally.
Sasuke: So why is sake so great?
MC: Uh...Saizo?
Saizo: A good cook like you would know better than me.
Yukimura: IT'S SWEET LIKE VICTORY :D
Kenshin: Heh. Sake is definitely more fun with a group. How about we all go cherry blossom viewing tomorrow?
MC: I'll bring delicious lunch and dango! Once I brought dango to a crying boy under a cherry tree and he was good as new!
Saizo just sits there not saying anything. Not even a surprised looking sprite! Then he leaves, telling MC he hates stuff like that.
MC: You know I'll be making dango. Lots and lots of dango.
Saizo: Mmhmm. I don't want any.
MC: Ha! You know you get a little wrinkle in your forehead when you lie.
Saizo: o.O
MC: Come on, I'll make extra just for you.
Saizo: It doesn't matter. It's going to rain tomorrow.
Sasuke sleepily mutters that Saizo is always right about the weather. Later she realises Saizo is keeping guard outside her room since everyone else is drunk. She invites him in and he sees that she's been making rain ghost charms to keep away the rain. He helps her hang them and MC pines and wishes she felt able to ask why he's still helping her now his mission is done.
He says praying to them is silly so she does it for him.
It still rains, and MC finds Saizo lying with his eyes closed, in the rain, in a cherry tree. SUCH A WOOBIE.
Saizo: I used to know someone who would make a big deal about going to see the cherry blossoms every single year. He was like Yukimura, a little bit. A little too loud. A little too passionate. A little too involved in other people's business...but that's what made him special. I like the cherry blossoms because they never change. They bloom every year and make sure I can never, ever forget :)
She approaches and he snaps at her that it's fine, putting on his fox mask and saying "If I stay with you, I feel as if I will (forget?). So I'm leaving on my next mission."
MC: Please, don't go.
Saizo: It's from the village. I don't have a choice.
...has the whole Iga thing been explained to MC/the player? I know about it from the Shadow paths.
She feels like his heart is hidden from her, and always will be.
And then she realises she can no longer feel the rain: Kiyohiro is standing by her with an umbrella.
Kiyohiro: Everyone is worried about you. They can barely stand it.
He says he's struggled with telling her more about Saizo, but has decided Saizo wouldn't want her to suffer on his behalf. Not sure if this is sweet or Kotaro again...
Ten years ago, Iga was under siege by the Oda clan. Someone let them in, causing many deaths, and it was rumoured to be Saizo's childhood friend. The village elders ordered Saizo to kill him, and only learned afterwards that the friend's lover had been taken hostage to blackmail him.
MC: It's one thing to kill him...but to ask Saizo to do it...
Kiyohiro: If you betray the village, you die. We all know that and so should you.
MC: What am I supposed to do...for him...*faints*
She wakes and is told she has a fever, and that Saizo is gone. She bursts into tears.
Yukimura: H-hey, don't cry! Lady Kiku is going to be coming soon, as soon as she heard you'd replaced her she insisted. So you have to get better so she doesn't worry about you! And after that you can go home to Kyoto :)
MC: :(
Kagekatsu brings her hot sweet sake because he's heard it's good for colds, and says he tried it to make sure it was ok. He asks why she was crying and is endearingly concerned but then gets KINDA RAPEY D: He's tipsy BUT STILL.
Saizo comes in and puts him to sleep by just leaning close and saying "sleep"? They can do that??? I mean I know Hotaru can, but...fine, fine, they can do that.
MC: Why did you come back?
Saizo: Felt like it.
He gently fixes her kimono and puts her to bed. He mutters to himself that she keeps getting herself into trouble (HOW WAS THIS HER FAULT) and that he doesn't know why he's here.
Saizo: I have another mission.
MC, hiding her head under the blankets so her can't see her her crying: Ok ;_;
Saizo: ...you think you can stop crying?
MC: Mmhmm...
Saizo: You really want me to stay that much?
MC: Yes.
Saizo, affectionately: You really are a fool, aren't you?
MC: ...yeah...
He sits next to her bed and holds her hand, and says he won't leave until she's asleep. She talks to him so he won't have to hear the rain.
MC: I used to think you were cold, but all you've done is protect me. I...always want you... right here with me. I want you to come with us to see the flowers...every year from now on.
He looks at her sadly and says her name softly. He leans down against her and says "goodnight", and she falls asleep.
(I am shipping them pretty hard at this point)
Aw when she wakes up Sasuke is asleep next to her, presumably cos Saizo told him to look after her.
DON'T FEEL SORRY FOR KAGEKATSU UGH
Yukimura watches Sasuke cheerfully playing in the snow and says he's gotten less maudlin since MC showed up and started spoiling him.
Yukimura: Saizo has seemed a little less likely to be outwardly cruel. You'll see it yourself before too long. You'll understand just what you do to other people, trust me.
(I SHIP THIS EVEN HARDER. HE'S SO NICE ON THIS ROUTE. Also poor Sasuke needs all the spoiling)
Lord Shingen is ill and Yukimura is consumed with regret that he cannot be at his Lord's side.
Retainer: See, Shingen's dying, we should align with the Hojo!
Me and MC: Wow, the nerve of this gu...AHHHH KOTARO IS STANDING BEHIND HIM D:
Kotaro: Gosh, they dare have the fake Lady Kiku here? Takeda really can't be trusted.
Me: BECAUSE YOU SEDUCED AND ATTEMPTED TO MURDER THE REAL ONE???
Kiyohiro: If Shingen dies the Takeda will fall, and we will need the protection of the Hojo. The elder has decided that killing the fake Lady Kiku will make a nice gift.
Saizo: Wouldn't it be enough to expose the fake? But of course he would wish to kill her :)
Kiyohiro: The elder is only doing what is best for the village. We need the strength of the Hojo.
Saizo: Or their money, anyway. And if I refuse? :)
Koyihiro: They're already starting to distrust you after you refused a summons :(
Saizo: ...they'll have me killed, and send someone else to kill her. If she is to leave this world regardless, I'll take her myself.
Meanwhile Kenshin, Yukimura and Sasuke all promise to send MC home right away to keep her safe.
But the Hojo attack! With guns!! Kenshin says this is a Uesugi battle and sends the Takeda folk away to safety. Kotaro attacks but Kagekatsu holds him off and tells the others to keep running.
But when they get to the exit, it's been blocked, and standing there in his fox mask...is Saizo, his eyes filled with darkness.
MC is immediately paralysed with fear, but Yukimura doesn't notice anything's wrong until Saizo draws his blade.
Yukimura: What are you thinking?!
Saizo: Same as always, about my mission. MC...for the sake of my village...I will kill you.
Yukimura: Don't be stupid, Saizo! Sasuke, take MC and run!
Sasuke: But..I...Sensei... D:
Saizo: Despite everything you still have trust, do you...*jams the hilt of his sword in Yukimura's stomach*
Yukimura, collapsed: MC...run...
But MC is still frozen. So Sasuke stands in front of her, with his tiny sword ;_;
And then he too falls.
I AM HAVING FEELINGS
A letter from Kiyohiro: "The village where I was raised is everything to us. Please do not think ill of me." Sorry, dude, I feel for you, but I am thinking ill.
*finally gets enough points after several days*
Divine Ending:
Kotaro turns up and gets VERY EXCITED to see "The Lord of the ninja" with his sword to MC's throat. (Why do people call Saizo a Lord sometimes, wouldn't all the ninjas be commoners?)
When he sees Saizo hesitating, he 'helps' by going for MC himself...only for Saizo to stop and eventually kill him. Kotaro dies laughing, killed by his murder!crush, aw.
...and then Kiyohiro and a bunch of Iga ninja show up.
Kiyohiro: So you're betraying us :(
Saizo: Sorry they forced this on you, Kiyohiro.
Aw, he has this gentle, understanding smile. He says he feels pretty good about betraying the village, his eyes shining in an impassive face as he shakes Kotaro's blood from his katana.
For a while they stare at each other, Kiyohiro going pale. Then he says "Deal with the traitor".
Yukimura: You want him? You'll have to go through me! Saizo, take MC and run!
Saizo: o.O Yukimura...don't get yourself killed.
Yukimura: I've got to be alive to cash in the favour you'll owe me later, right?
MC is happy Saizo saved her but worried about Yukimura, and the consequences for Saizo.
MC: Are you sure about this?
Saizo: Don't.
MC: *realises she's slowing him down and stops running*
Saizo: Are you tired? I'll carry you on my back.
MC: Saizo, please...kill me. I...I love you, Saizo. I don't want you to die.
He pulls her into his arms.
Saizo: I feel the same way. Killing you would be the same as dying. I...already regret too much in this life. There's no point running if it's not with you. Until now the village was everything to me. But I am choosing a new life with you, even if it means I must throw away my old one. If it means I get to spend a single moment of my life with you...I am happy to die. ...you hear that, Kiyohiro?
Kiyohiro: ...What a shame :/
Kiyohiro calmly tells the other ninja (who all look terrified of Saizo) to stay back.
Kiyohiro: Lower your defences for an instant and you will die.
Saizo: So I've heard :)
They fight with coldly ruthless violence. But when a ninja reaches for MC, Saizo stops to stab him, saying "Lay a hand on her and I'll kill you first."
Just as it looks like Kiyohiro may take advantage of this distraction to win, a crow circles above them then lands, and a ninja passes on the message: Lady Kiku has arrived with an army.
Kiyohiro: It appears being a child of war has made her into a fearless woman. When she heard you were still here, MC, she insisted upon coming to save you :)
He says the Takeda have the advantage now and the elder will change his orders. He kneels before Saizo, saying "the fight is yours".
Saizo: And you have a good heart, Kiyohiro...despite what you are.
Kiyohiro: Lady MC...I apologise for everything I have done to wrong you.
MC: Please don't apologise. You could have easily defeated Saizo if you hadn't fought him on your own. Yet you did the honourable thing. Thank you for everything you have done for me, and for us.
Kiyohiro: You don't have to thank me. I only do what I want to do.
It's revealed his true name is Lord Hattori Hanzo, which I would have expected them to retcon when they introduced the LI Hattori Hanzo but I guess they just...have the same name...
Anyway. I like to think Kiyohiro finds a better way of living one day. Maybe he gets assigned to work for Kenshin and is won over by all the hugs.
Speaking which, back at Kenshin's castle Saizo and MC are hugged by a cheerful, blood-covered Yukimura.
Yukimura: I was so worried!!
Saizo: Would you calm down?
"His reply is curt yet his voice is gentle. But I am sure that Lord Yukimura understands that even better than I do. He just squeezes us close, his smile bright and genuine."
HOW CAN I NOT SHIP IT
Sasuke: Stupid, stupid Sensei ;_;
Saizo, tousling his hair: Sorry about that, Sasuke.
The injured Kagekatsu is all blushy about being supported by Lady Kiku so I guess we...are expected to ship that now... :/ :/
"Lord Kenshin approaches us as I try to wrestle out of Lord Yukimura's embrace"
Kenshin, to Saizo: I hear you two have worked things out ;)
MC: Oh no, we're not...
Saizo: :/
Sasuke: Sensei are you and MC...in love? Way to go!
Yukimura: What?! W-well... a woman like MC is well-suited to someone as stubbornly secretive as Saizo.
"Saizo looks away from all of us, as if having friends is the worst decision he ever made"
A letter from Saizo: "It's actually nice knowing I only have one person to serve now...even if some people still can't shut up about it."
Epilogue:
MC is cheerfully pointing out all the sights as she and Saizo approach Kyoto. Apparently Saizo got them to leave in the middle of the night so noone would make a fuss /o\ She says she wants to see the cherry blossoms with him.
I like that MC lightly teases Saizo for being such an inexpressive ass, it almost makes up for him being one.
Mother: MC is that you? I've been so worried!!
MC: I'm sorry. And, um, this is...
Mother: Saizo!
Saizo: Nice to see you again :)
MC: how do you...know Saizo...
Mother: He owns that restaurant that you deliver to all the time!
MC: ...
Saizo: ^_^
Mother: So what were you doing with my daughter in Kai?
Saizo: The Lord of Kai is a very special patron of our restaurant, you see. He invited me to stay with him, seeing as I must travel often to Kai for medical treatment :)
MC boggles silently as he mother goes off to get the poor invalid some ginger mochi.
Yahiko: I'm sorry about my sister not recognising you, she's always been a little slow.
Saizo: Well, I am a very private person. And she's plenty cute :)
Screw you guys, she saved BOTH your lives >:( Meanwhile MC is busy being weirded out by how NICE Saizo is being, like a whole different person.
After they leave Saizo explains that the restaurant is used by Iga for cover identities, in his case a shut-in invalid restaurant owner.
Cook: MC, long time no see!
Maid: Saizo, I hope you're feeling better after your business trip, since you brought back such a cute girl ;)
MC: (these are all...ninjas playing a role...)
Saizo: So what's changed while I've been away? Take MC to a room before you get too far into it :)
He comes soon after with dango and tea, but when he sees her sigh stares flatly at her and asks why. She tries to change the subject but he says "You think you can keep secrets from me?"
MC: I feel like I don't know you at all.
Saizo: Come on. You don't need to know everything about me. It's better for you that you don't.
Oh so YOU get to keep secrets.
MC: Does it really have to be that way?
Saizo stands and opens the door as if to leave...revealing a cherry blossom tree in bloom.
Saizo: It's not that you don't know me. It's that you've forgotten how much you do know.
He sits next to her, nudging her shoulder, and gives her some dango.
Saizo: To eat is to live, right? If you eat this, even when times are hard...you'll find a way.
MC: (How does he know...what my father used to...! Could he really be that boy?!)
After the ninja throw them a victory feast, Saizo naps in his room. MC edges closer to admire his vulnerable, handsome sleeping face but he suddenly pulls her into a fierce kiss...and her mouth fills with a bitter taste as he dislodges the restorative pill she had behind her teeth haha. But he kisses her as if he likes the bitterness.
...Saizo, when she said she wanted to know you, she didn't mean biblically, and you know it.
Saizo: I want to know everything about you. But what you tell me...you tell me alone.
The next morning MC notices a rain ghost hanging from the eaves and Saizo gets embarrassed and buries his face in her shoulder. He asks if she's alright after him "asking a lot of her last night" and she gets embarrassed and says yes.
So he says he'll take her to a cherry tree where he ate "the best dango ever" 15 years ago. She looks at him in surprise and he smiles.
THE END
That was cute! I think I benefited from having read a summary beforehand, so I wasn't too annoyed by the dumbass plot, and also reading it through a Yukimura/MC/Saizo lens meant I could comfort myself about Saizo's failings with the thought that Yukimura will be there as The Nice Boyfriend.
Next up: Genya and (the other) Hanzo, as the only remaining unplayed pair where I am interested in both. I hear Genya's route is cute, and whiule I don't know if I'd ever play Hanzo's route I'm curious to see how it starts.
no subject
Date: 2020-06-25 04:48 am (UTC)I got TOTALLY CONSUMED by the need to write a Yukimura/Saizo/MC story, so played this half as research. And the Yukimura/Saizo/MC shippiness did not disappoint :D
It is so good! :D
(As a reminder, Sasuke is like ten. This was all a bit uncomfortable)
Oh my goodness. You're right. I think he might even be younger than that. >_>
(I have no idea who Ishikawa is and wikipedia was unhelpful)
I figured it was Goemon Ishikawa? Which, uh, makes me ship Saizo/Kyoichiro now.
Why didn't you stab her to be sure? What is this village teaching these kids, honestly.
:D
Even though Saizo is allergic to explicitly giving anyone sympathy, the choices that win him over are always the compassionate ones, it's a cute narrative trick.
Interesting! I think he basically likes her when she's like Yukimura: compassionate and bold and determined to befriend him.
But I think the goal was to tell Kenshin and his brother afterwards, because forgiveness is easier than permission I guess, but NOT tell anyone else, then quietly swap the Kikus later
Ha, Saizo's route was very, "what just happened??" sometimes. I think that makes more sense, though I think she went to the banquet so they got to see her face? Maybe Shingen is banking on the fact that Kenshin doesn't want war and Kenshin's retainers could probably overlook the insult once the real Lady Kiku shows up and they have the alliance. Which does happen at the end of the route.
It's interesting because I think Kenshin in Saizo's route feels different than Kenshin in Hotaru's route. I was way less impressed by him: he mostly just felt flirty?
Kiyohiro: It appears being a child of war has made her into a fearless woman. When she heard you were still here, MC, she insisted upon coming to save you :)
:DDD
This sounds amazing!
Mother: He owns that restaurant that you deliver to all the time!
:O That was sort of in Hotaru's route, I didn't know it was a thing here too!
MC edges closer to admire his vulnerable, handsome sleeping face but he suddenly pulls her into a fierce kiss...and her mouth fills with a bitter taste as he dislodges the restorative pill she had behind her teeth haha. But he kisses her as if he likes the bitterness.
Huh! I did the Noble Ending, and she used the pill -- he hypnotizes her into running while he fights, and then she comes back for him after using the pill to un-hypnotize herself. I always thought Noble vs. Divine was a matter of point of view, but it sounds like there were actual changes.
also reading it through a Yukimura/MC/Saizo lens meant I could comfort myself about Saizo's failings with the thought that Yukimura will be there as The Nice Boyfriend.
He is! Will you be playing act 2? It's very OT3 and full of MC and Yukimura talking about how important the other one is to Saizo, and Yukimura and Saizo being absolutely unstoppable when they fight together because they have an unbreakable bond.
no subject
Date: 2020-06-25 11:11 am (UTC)I figured it was Goemon Ishikawa? Which, uh, makes me ship Saizo/Kyoichiro now.
OH OF COURSE. Ok, yes, definitely. There was potential in Kyoichiro's route.
Interesting! I think he basically likes her when she's like Yukimura: compassionate and bold and determined to befriend him.
Yes. Which doesn't hurt the ot3 feels.
And yes, reading your posts I was surprised by how different the plot was. Glad I got to hear about the other version, since I can't see myself ever playing through the whole thing again.
I am pondering doing Saizo Act 2 eventually, I like giving myself space to enjoy a happy ending before going into sequels where new conflicts show up.
no subject
Date: 2020-06-25 04:24 pm (UTC)Oooh. Does Saizo know that Kyoichiro is Goemon? (I'm assuming so, because the general rule about Saizo seems to be Saizo Knows Everything About the Plot).
Because there might be an extra level of veiled meaning there, in addition to "You're so good at stealing hearts" but also "you're just like Kyoichiro, putting up facades left and right".
I played SLBP after playing Nightshade, which had a very flirty and lovely Goemon as a love interest, so that line made me :D. And now I kind of want to play that route again.
Which doesn't hurt the ot3 feels.
Yes. :D And I'm very partial to that dynamic, and Yukimura and MC are lovely together too. And I can imagine them tag-teaming Saizo together.
Are you still working on the fic you mentioned? Because I am very intrigued. o.o
no subject
Date: 2020-08-03 02:56 pm (UTC)Does Saizo know that Kyoichiro is Goemon? (I'm assuming so, because the general rule about Saizo seems to be Saizo Knows Everything About the Plot).
I'm not sure but assume so for similar reasons. And that would make sense!
I really need to play Nightshade one day.
Are you still working on the fic you mentioned? Because I am very intrigued. o.o
I am! Though right now I am procrastinating on working on it by finally answering my email >.> https://archiveofourown.org/works/24928564/chapters/60329830