Requested by Shyanne700
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Clank
I dropped my needle onto the floor as it landed with a soft 'clank'.
I looked down at my trembling fingers as they bled. Slowly, I closed my eyes and started breathing deeply in order to calm myself as my body started trembling involuntarily.
I didn't ask to be like this...
I didn't want to be like this...
Why me..?
For years, I was shunned away from other because I would involuntarily start shaking. As a child, I just assumed other people would just mind their own buisiness and get on with their life.
But noo, they just had to mock me like it was amusing.. Somtimes, they would run away and shout, like I was infected with some contagious disease.
--
Tourette's Syndrome: a neurological disorder characterized by involuntary tics and vocalizations and often the compulsive utterance of obscenities.
--
My tics weren't necessarily harmful to other people.
I wasn't a threat to them.
Actually, I was more of a minor threat to myself.
Whenever I would have tics, be it before bed or early morning, I would somehow injure myself.
Sometimes, its a small cut from a knife when I chop veggies.
Other times, its when I prick my fingers multiple times while sewing.
Either way, I always end up shedding a drop of blood.
Sometimes, I wonder to myself...
Did I deserve you? Did I deserve anyone?
But the answer you always provide is 'Yes.'
Why..? Why do you love me, Ieyasu Tokugawa, 3rd of Japan's Great Unifiers..??
"Y/N, snap out of it. Hello?" I jumped out of my reverie as I looked around only to be met by Ieyasu's gorgeous green eyes.
"O-oh... What is it?"
"...I came in and you were having one of your 'tics'.. You were contemplating to yourself about your self-worth again, weren't you?"
How-?
I averted my gaze and nodded slowly.
With his hand, he tilted my face up.
"..Don't worry about that. I hate seeing you like that. You know how it affects my mood too, right..? Oh, I bandaged your hands, by the way." He finished with a soft smile.
I looked down at my hands. They weren't bleeeding anymore. They were also neatly wrapped in bandages.
Patting me on the shoulder, he stood up.
"Well, it's late. Its not good to stay up all the time. Come on."
Putting away my materials, I laid down and slowly closed my eyes as I felt his hands massage my face.
I hadn't known that I had such a concerned expression the whole time.
Relaxing, and feeling secure, I slowly allowed sleep to take me away to a land where I wouldn't be harmed.
------
I awoke the next day with a start.
I looked down at my hands.
The bandages were off and my fingers were fine.
I looked around.
Ieyasu wasn't anywhere to be seen.
The room was unfamiliar, yet I felt like I'd been here a thousand times before.
And I have been here a thousand times.
I slowly got up and went to my bedroom window.
When I pulled apart the curtains and allowed light to flood and fill the room, I jumped back.
I..
I was in the present the whole time..?
W-what about Sasuke..?
Is Ieyasu alright?
Wait....
Where exactly am I..?
I went outside the room and found nurses and doctors wheeling away injured patients.
W-wait, was I-?
"Miss, please go back to your room."
Gingerly holding my shoulder, a nurse tenderly walked me back to my bedside.
"There you go. The doctor will be here shortly."
As she closed the door, I rolled my eyes.
It seems people still think I am a fragile porcelain doll..
I closed my eyes and clenched my hands, thinking about how Ieyasu treated me like a normal human, whilst also showing a side he wouldnt normally show to others.. To me..
Reminicing those little moments with him made tears form. I blinked them away, sniffing.
I need to stay strong...
When the door opened, I saw Sasuke walk in.
"Hey, Y/N. Nice to see you're awake."
"H-hey, Sasuke."
"Yeah. Nice to see you awake, as well.."
"So how'd we get here?"
"Precisely at 12:20 at night, the storm happened to pass by both Kasaugayama and Azuchi."
"And then we were sent back?"
Sasuke nodded.
"Yes. We're stuck here another 3 months at the least, so we could be stuck here at least a year, maybe."
I looked down as I reflected on that.
At least, I get to go to my new job to distract myself, right?
At least...
I used my job to distract me from my thoughts..
To stay strong..
..But..
Was I really being strong..?
Or was I running from my problems?
I guess only Time will tell.
--2 years later--
I stopped at the Honno-jī Temple, thinking about how Sasuke and I travelled back in time..
How I met everyone in Azuchi...
How I came to know Hideyoshi and his motherly side (Mamayoshi)...
And how I...
How I met and came to know the third of Japan's Three Great Unifiers...
Ieyasu Tokugawa.
Azuchi's prickly porcupine child..
The blonde healer, warlord, and...
The one whom I choose to recieve my feelings.
Drop
I blinked.
Drop drop drop
Rainwater? But the news said it wouldnt rain today... Unless-
"Y/N!! Its starting!" Sasuke called out, running towards me, panting.
"Sasuke, slow down.. I thought you said it wasn't bound to start until tomorrow?"
"Well... As it seems.. Time doesn't hinder this storm..." He informed me, taking breaths in between each pause.
I nodded.
"We're going home, aren't we..?"
"..Indeed."
"Wait, you're coming with?!"
"You didnt really think I wanted to stay here with all this pollution, did you?"
"You have a point.."
"Three!!"
"Two!!"
"One!!!"
I yelped as a flash of lightning came down, striking a nearby tree.
It MISSED?!
"Come on!! We can make it!! We have to!!" Sasuke yelled through the rain as he pulled me along while running.
I sarted running too, at a much faster pace, eager to get through.
As reality twirled and shifted around us, I closed my eyes shut, as it slowly stilled until I could no longer hear the sound of the rolling thunder or rainwater pouring onto the streets.
But the weird thing is, I could still feel myself running.
Where am I running to..?
Author POV:
As Y/N ran past the tree and time-traveled 500 years into the past, a lonely, yet hopeful and loyal Tokugawa Ieyasu was walking out of the Temple before something slammed into him.
Ieyasu POV:
Inside the temple, I was thinking about the fun times we had.
I remembered her smile, her contagious laughter...
Oh, look, its 12.
"Wasabi, come on." I said as I stood up, poking Wasabi, urging my own emergency food supply to get up.
As soon as we got outside, I was rammed by something and was flung to the side, my assailant landing on top of me.
"Ouch..."
I recognize this voice...
"Shouldn't I be saying that, though..?"
She slowly turned to look at me and a huge smile was soon plastered on her face as she wrapped her arms around me.
"Welcome home, Y/N."
"Ieyasu! Oh, am I glad to be back!"
"Is it gone..?" I quietly whispered to her.
"Is what gone?"
"..Your shaking..?"
She smiled softly as she held my hands, shaking her head.
"No... But that won't stop me from enjoying the rest of my life with you."
Well, at least she didnt die. Wait, why would she die? Pff, you're overreacting again, Ieyasu...
"So... Is there anywhere you'd like to go?" I asked her.
This time, she smiled even brighter at me.
Wait.. That would be overkill..
"Can we go visit yours? As you can see, I dont really have much of a place to go.."
"Oh, nonsense. Youre always welcome here, in both Azuchi and my castle. But mostly my place and territory.."
She laughed.
"Well, what are we waiting for?"
"You're right... Why are we standing around like fools?"
Just then a loud voice rang clear.
"Well, I must say, I'm impressed Ieyasu."
I stiffened.
"Yes, Lord Nobunaga?"
"Oh, dont mind me. Go on. Kiss her if you want. We have Sasuke taking pictures anyway."
"Sasuke?!" Y/N yelled right beside me.
I hissed quietly.
"Can you keep it down?! Mind you, this is a quiet place...!"
"Ohhh.. Right... Sorry.."
"No need to apologize, lass. Ieyasu, I see you've won her heart over?"
Masamune....
"No. Quite the contrary, actually. She was the one who stole my heart first. And for the record, please stop talking.."
"Well, my good friemd, translating that, you do want me to continue talking."
Damn all of you for being able to see through me...
I felt a small frame push against mine as I saw Y/N hug me from behind.
"Aww, it's okay, I face that too. I mean, I used to. But lets forget about that."
"Youre right... What do you want to do today, lucky charm? Its all on me."
"Lord Nobunaga. I hate to be disrespectful, and Mitsuhide, please hold back Hideyoshi if needed.. But I also do not wish to assume you were advancing slowly on Y/N..?"
They all burst out laughing. Probably at my confused expression.
"It was a joke, Ieyasu. Dont take it seriously."
I huffed.
"I hate you all..."
"And we all love you in turn, Ieyasu-sama."
I flinched.
"Mitsunari..!?"
He laughed.
"So I see I too, am Ieyasu-sama-repellent... Mitsuhide, It works!!"
I was getting irritated at this point.
"Wait, where did you all even come from..?!"
"...From... inside?"
I sighed. Today was gonna be a loongg day...
Y/N POV:
As Ieyasu started venting out his irritation om the ground in front of Hideyoshi, I looked around my surroundings and breathed in deeply.
The tics were still there, though not as bad as before.
During my time away and in the present, my tics would go from me tripping onto the pavement in public to shaking in stores. So much that Sasuke had to take me back to my place.
In the mornings, on weekends, I would go for a short walk around to visit the shrine. To both clear my mind and remember Ieyasu.
But now that Im back for good...
I dont think Im ever going back.
Nor do I want to at this point.
But who cares?
At least there's a good about 500 years into the future before anything bad happens.
And in that time, I'll be enjoying the rest of my life I can while Im at it.
Might as well seize the chance I have to start a life, or even a family..
Just keep looking forward, Y/N. Thats the spirit.
"Y/N.." Sasuke snapped me out of my reverie.
"I think I just left our bag of souvenirs, candy, and medical supplies back in the future.."
I inwardly sighed.
Everyone went quiet.
In unison, both Ieyasu and I muttered, "How could you forget something thats literally in front of you...?"
We all laughed.
Man, is it good to be back.
To be back...
Home..
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Also, shoutout to Shyanne700 for helping me out with writing about Tourette's Syndrome!! You were such a huge help!! As always, Stay safe, Stay healthy, and Stay Fanatical, everyone!!