Ikesen Kennyo - Blog Posts

Fluff Alphabet for Kennyo: T-U-V

From this list!

Thrill - Do they need to try out new things to spice out your relationship? Or do they prefer a certain routine?

Kennyo isn't a thrill-seeker, though he does enjoy sharing new experiences with his partner. He's happy with the everyday comforts and pleasures of home life with his beloved, but he'll also take them traveling to scenic or culturally important places in nature or cities or anywhere in between, so long as his lover is up for it, although he'll try to avoid large crowds or rowdy events.

If they desire more novelty and spice, he's happy to try things for their sake. Depending on what it is, he might be a little awkward or hesitant, but he's willing to do even potentially embarrassing things (like wearing a bat costume for Halloween) to see his beloved's smile.

Understanding - How good do they know their partner? Are they empathetic?

Kennyo is empathetic to a painful degree for a man living in such a war-torn era. Beyond even his natural empathy, though, Kennyo is someone who pays attention. He notices his beloved's body language, their habits, their ways of speaking, so he is very attuned to their moods.

He's very comfortable and relaxed in sitting with someone else's discomfort. This is a man who has been a rock for countless survivors grieving loved ones in their communities, and he has always opened his heart to listen to others' troubles. As a religious leader, he often gives counsel in these situations, but Kennyo knows when someone just needs time to feel their feelings, too.

He's someone who wants to know his partner: their interests, their dreams, their fears. He's not afraid to ask questions about their present. However, Kennyo may be more hesitant to ask his lover about potentially sensitive parts of their past, worrying that his prying would be too painful or unwanted. It's not that he doesn't want to know, but he wrestles with whether he should let his partner tell him on their own time, if they want him to know at all.

Value - How important is the relationship to them? What is its worth in comparison to other things in their life?

Kennyo's romantic partnership is one of the most important things in his life, tied only with his father-son relationship with Ranmaru. Though he cherishes these bonds above all, he does take his position of leadership within the Jodo Shinshu faith very seriously. Still, if such leadership required so much time that his relationships were in danger of being neglected, he would try to find ways to delegate more or to make the time he does spend with his lover and family even more meaningful. Kennyo feels a great weight of responsibility towards his people, but his heart belongs to his lover and family, so he will do his best to balance leadership with being able to remain close to them.

[ Kennyo Fluffabet Masterlist ]

[art-only version - original inspiration here! Thanks @ieyasuwu and @rimalupin !]

Could you draw 5C, Kennyo?

Here you are, lovely~!!! \O/ A hamdsome grumpy man for you X3

Can I request E2 for kennyo and E4 for shingen? Thanks !!! 💖💖💖💖

I wasn’t quite sure if you wanted them as a matched set aljsdjflkasdf so they’re in separate images here, but I imagine Kennyo is looking right at Shingen

WHEEZE l;kja;lkjsdflkjlKJLSDF I hope you like them!

Can we get Kennyo's face when receiving a surprise hug from his son Ranbabu or Reika (or both lol since this is just his expression, this is just unnecessary backstory tbh) cuz I really need to see him in A1 cuz cuddles and human feels still take a while to process :')

It’s not exactly the same expression, but I hope you like it! :’D

Young Kennyo with A5 :3

Yeaaahhh a cutie pie!!! :’D I’m glad you asked for this one!

Expression A2 requested by @mythiica

When bae gets drunk and tells u embarrassing stories about his best friend

ask;jdfklj;sad

alternately: “I can still make that jump. Hold my sake”

OC WEEK DAY 3: How does your character flirt? :3c

Reika’s flirting is, perhaps, rather typical. She expresses interest by being straightforwardly positive:

“It’s nice to see you~”

“That was impressive.”

“Thank you for spending time with me. It means a lot.”

And by paying careful attention to her object-of-affection’s mood, interests, etc. etc. and checking in with them about those things.

Granted, she acts this way towards most everyone she’s on good terms with, so it’s the very direct, warm eye-contact and gentle tone of voice that is intended to be ~meaningful.~ If she’s more confident about the other party being interested, there will be lingering glances, secret smiles, and the occasional touch on an arm or shoulder. :3c And then she’ll probably just tell them that she admires them a lot and would like to be closer – probably taking their hand and stepping very close when she does so >u>

“You know what’s better than sex? Crying”

-Kennyo

Someone mentioned they’d like to see Kennyo with a man bun >u> I was trying to find the post where it was mentioned, but I can’t! So uh if you’re seeing this, let me know what you think. Thanks for the inspiration!  ☆

Edit: Aha! It was @renwritesrandomthings

[Please click through and enbiggen for best viewing experience :3c ]

Seeing Mitsuhide’s sleebwear… made me want to design some for Kennyo :3c so here is a sleepy boy in his jammies with his weasel fren

maybe having some kind of weird dreamtravel adventure, I don’t know, I just started playing with brushes and couldn’t stop asjdklkjalk

[Please click through for better quality!]

I hope you enjoy Kennyo and a fuzzy friend!

He just wants to be part of the club

Sometimes, Kennyo is a smooth-talking gentleman. And sometimes… he is just a gentleman. Hahahaha~ A little bit about the art & some fic recs below the cut!

Keep reading

Inktober 02 - Tranquility

aka Nyk is a really messy artist who can’t make decisions! Awkward filter? Natural paper color with the yellow lighting in my apartment? Greyscaled??? :THONK:

Anyway it was fun, I hope you enjoy~! [blease click through for better quality!]

Inktober 01 – Poisonous

“Festering’s always bad, man! There’s no good kind of festering!!” -Jake the Dog

Kennyo Shonin, God of the Forest

:“3 I love this idea so much, so here he be

Please check out @daeva-agas ’s heart-stopping rendition of a forest god Kennyo, I was breathless

Thank you for 200 followers!

Ahh~! I’m so glad to have all of you here! I hope you continue to enjoy my blog~!

Please accept this Kennyo x MC art as a symbol of my thanks.

And a special shout out to @tevlyn-tauly for the 200th follow. X3

Bonus: just the colors without the lines…

It looks kinda cool, huh? Maybe I should start experimenting with not outlining everything in black… but that is a thought for another day.

Thank you all again! - Nyk

When you’re trying to write a fic and the characters just

Happy Valentine’s Day, Reika~ [for the last 10 minutes of it, hahahaha]

Just want to say a big Thank You to all my followers~!!!

Holy moly! I hit 100 followers about a week or so back, so I wanted to do a commemorative art to say thanks. So please enjoy this happy Kennyo & friends!

Shout out to @sicone for being my 100th! (for some reason the @ isn’t working so here is a link to their blog) Thank you!

I’m so glad you all have found something to enjoy here. I hope that continues, and thank you again~!

- Nyk

[And just for fun, here’s a WIP with just the linework below the cut: ]

Keep reading

Fluff Alphabet for Kennyo: W-X-Y-Z

From this list!

Wild Card - A random Fluff Headcanon.

Kennyo doesn't get drunk easily, but if he does get inebriated, he'll wax even more poetic about his partner than Shingen does. Normally, he holds back out of concern that such flowery praise would come off as ingenuine, but with his inhibitions lowered, all of his skill with language as a scholar and orator come through in devotion to his love, whether he's with his partner or someone else. If Shingen is the one he is getting drunk with, then of course this delights his friend to no end, though Shingen will probably rib him about showing off.

XOXO - Are they very affectionate? Do they love to kiss and cuddle?

Kennyo actually is rather affectionate. In addition to his comfort with light PDA, in private, he's even more inclined to have casual but affectionate physical contact with his partner. If sitting together reading, his knee will be touching theirs; if standing next to each other to prepare food or some such, their shoulders will occasionally brush; he'll often spontaneously take their hand and raise it gently to his lips, or caress their hair and tuck a lock behind their ear, or wrap his arms around them from behind.

Whenever he returns from being out somewhere, he'll greet his lover with an embrace and a soft kiss to the forehead, and sometimes an extra kiss to the lips. He loves to draw his partner closer and hold them, to cradle them in his lap, and to curl up together in bed. Cuddling in bed is often combined with stroking his lover's hair or caressing their back, with just enough light pressure from his nails to be pleasant. He'll learn how his partner likes to be touched and use it to brighten their day at every opportunity. 

Yearning - How will they cope when they’re missing their partner?

If his partner is away for a while, Kennyo will take some time every night to write them a letter about observations that he wants to tell them about or questions that he wants to ask, so they can read it when they return. He'll probably be composing the letter in his head through various parts of the day. Thinking about what their responses would be makes him smile.

Spending time away from his beloved probably doesn't change much about his routines. Unless his partner is very socially anxious, then spending time with other people is likely something they did together -- playing games with Ranmaru, going out with friends, visiting the homes of followers -- as is going on regular walks, having study time, and caring for his weasel friend, Hozuki, or other animals. So, he'll still do all of those things the same, along with his responsibilities as the spiritual leader of Shin Buddhism.

Since bedtime will probably be the loneliest without his partner present, after composing his daily letter, he'll likely spend a little extra time reading, meditating, or talking to and petting Hozuki.

Zeal - Are they willing to go to great lengths for the relationship? If so, what kind of?

Given the Sengoku is a period of heightened physical danger, Kennyo is willing to put his life, body, and psyche on the line to protect his lover. He would endure any kind of physical or mental torture to keep them safe, just as he does for Ranmaru in Sasuke's route.

If others felt the relationship was inappropriate due to mixing of classes or ethnicities, or breaking the norms of gender and sexuality, he would be unwavering in defending the rightness of his love, and probably write long essays about it, incorporating Buddhist beliefs into his arguments even if he is defending the relationship from earlier Buddhist dogma. No amount of public pressure could make him renounce his partner.

The only person whose negative opinion of his partner would really matter is Ranmaru, because he so dearly loves his son. (He would at least listen to concerns from Shingen, but may or may not feel the need to act on them.) If for some reason there was tension between Ranmaru and his lover, he would try to find out why, and do his best to help things resolve so they could all live harmoniously as a family.

[ Kennyo Fluffabet Masterlist ]

Aaaand we're done! Thank you everyone for reading and sharing, I hope you enjoyed!

Fluff Alphabet for Kennyo: Q-R-S

From this list!

Quirk - Some random ability they have that’s beneficial in a relationship.

Kennyo's monk training has given him a number of skills that are useful in a relationship: being a good listener, staying calm, expressing gratitude (and the strength and flexibility don't hurt, either ;3). But perhaps the most quirky is his ability to raise his body temperature through sheer force of will. If his partner gets cold, especially on long winter nights, he can warm them right up through cuddling.

Romance - How romantic are they? What would they do to make their s/o happy? Cliché or rather creative?

Kennyo takes any opportunity to write love poems and notes for his partner. Holidays, the changing of seasons, a patch of rain-watered flowers catching his eye -- any and all such things give him the excuse and inspiration to express his love in writing. For special occasions, he'll work painstakingly on the poem for weeks, maybe even months, to get it just right. But for the smaller everyday occurrences, the love notes are shorter and more whimsical, although no less sweet.

Kennyo also pays a lot of attention to atmosphere. Once he knows his lover's favorite colors, scents, flowers, or motifs, he'll make sure to incorporate such elements into their shared home, especially their bedroom, and/or he'll take his lover to places where those elements can be enjoyed. Similarly, Kennyo pays a lot of attention to his lover's mood, and he'll bring gifts or take his lover to a special place to accentuate what they're feeling. As much as possible, he wants his partner to be able to experience a beautiful world where they can freely feel joy, wonder, excitement, peace, comfort, or even cathartic sadness, and the right setting can go a long way towards facilitating those emotions.

Support - Are they helping their s/o achieve their goals? Do they believe in them?

Kennyo has the utmost faith in his partner and takes an active role to support them. He's a scholar at heart, so he'll learn everything he can about what they want to achieve, out of genuine interest as well love. He'll ask questions, help plan required steps, and regularly check in with his lover's progress. He'll also make sure they have access to any materials or connections necessary. Being a keen diplomat and the leader of the most widespread Buddhist sect in Japan comes with some benefits. If the goals are dangerous to pursue, his partner will unfortunately have to contend with Kennyo wanting to create as many safety measures as possible.

Ultimately, since his lover's happiness is what's most important to him, he is willing to respect the boundaries of someone who wants more independence in pursuing their interests -- though truly dangerous pursuits will probably need a bit of compromise around safety checks.

[Kennyo Fluffabet Masterlist]

[New Masterlist Link]

Fluff Alphabet for Kennyo: L-M-N-O-P

From this list!

Love Confession - How would they confess to their s/o?

A confession of love will be something Kennyo approaches with the utmost reverence, even solemnity. It may take him a long time, because as much as he loves his partner, he's reluctant to bind them to him with his feelings. When he's ready, though, he'll want to choose a beautiful and peaceful setting to give the moment the magic it deserves. Of course, if his lover confesses first, he has no choice but to speak his sincere feelings in return. Either way, he'll give his confession in a soft, serious voice, while he looks into his beloved's eyes.

"I love you. Thank you for everything you have done for me."

Marriage - Do they want to get married? How do they propose? What would the marriage be like?

Kennyo does want to get married, and he'll probably start thinking about the possibility of marriage as soon as he realizes that he's in love. However, he'll want to wait until he's secured peace for himself and his followers, so that his beloved and eventual family will be safe. He'll also want to wait until he is certain that his partner will have no regrets. At some point, he'll remember that nothing in life can be absolutely certain, and that he must trust his partner to act on their sincere feelings as well.

Like his love confession, he'll want beautiful, natural surroundings to create the backdrop for such an important moment. Then Kennyo will gently take his lovers hands in his own, holding their gaze with reverence in his dark eyes.

"I love you. No matter how many times I say it, it will never be enough to convey the depths of my feelings. But I want to keep saying it for all my days to come, so -- will you live on with me, and stay by my side?"

When he envisions marriage, he probably thinks of whatever a traditional Jodo Shinshu wedding ceremony would be in the Sengoku era. However, his beloved's happiness is more important to him than tradition, so whatever they want, he is happy to work towards making that dream come true.

Nicknames - What do they call their s/o?

At some point, Kennyo will probably find a flower or animal that symbolizes his partner's best qualities, and he'll use that as a nickname when he's being cute. In tender moments of a more serious nature, he'll opt for a simple, sincere "my love."

On Cloud Nine - What are they like when they are in love? Is it obvious for others? How do they express their feelings?

When Kennyo is smitten, it's obvious for anyone who knows him to see. Shingen, Ranmaru, and even Motonari knows what it means if they catch him spacing off, his dark eyes twinkling and a slight smile on his lips as he thinks about his beloved. If either Shingen or Motonari bring it up, he'll scowl at them and change the subject. If it's anyone else, including Ranmaru, he'll still change the subject, but it will be much more gentle.

Of course, he'll go out of his way to spend time with the person who has won his affection, coming up with excuses to help them with this or that, or asking for their assistance for whatever task that would keep them in close proximity. He might not be talkative during these moments, and he'll try to keep his expressions neutral, but he's secretly elated just to be around his love, and if he thinks they're not looking, he'll be smiling as he watches them. If they catch him, he's likely to blush and immediately turn around to busy himself with something.

PDA - Are they upfront about their relationship? Do they brag with their s/o in front of others? Or are they rather shy to kiss etc. when others are watching?

Kennyo is actually comfortable with light PDA. He'll hold hands, briefly stroke his lover's hair, or even give them a quick, chaste kiss on their hand or forehead in front of other people. Anything more passionate than that, though, will be safely in private.

[ Kennyo Fluffabet Masterlist ]

[New Masterlist Link]

Fluff Alphabet for Kennyo: H-I-J-K

From this list! Instead of asks, I'm just doing the whole thing. :3

Honesty - Do they have secrets they hide from their s/o? Or do they share everything?

Kennyo struggles with emotional honesty when he's in pain. He's used to keeping sadness and worry to himself for a number of reasons -- leadership, culture, masculine expectation. Old habits die hard, and he also feels that he shouldn't burden his partner by exposing them to more of the darkness in the world. He doesn't like lying to his lover, however, so if they're persistent in asking, he'll eventually open up.

Kennyo doesn't really have anything in his past that he wants to keep secret, though in general, he often doesn't think to share things about himself unless he's asked.

Inspiration - Did their s/o change them somehow, or the other way around? Like trying out new things or helped them overcome personal problems?

Being with his partner reminded Kennyo of who he truly is, and in admiring their kindness and inner strength, he found he could no longer deny his own values. He feels he owes his redemption to them.

If his beloved has trouble recognizing their own virtues or worth, Kennyo will stop at nothing to help them see it, showering them with affection and praise, though he knows from experience that the journey to self-acceptance takes time.

Although Kennyo doesn't seek out novelty by nature, he's more than willing to try new things with his lover to see them smile. If there's something they want to try but are nervous, Kennyo will encourage them and be at their side, because he wants his beloved to be able to pursue any skill or experience that calls to them.

Jealousy - Do they get jealous easily? How do they deal with it?

Kennyo doesn't feel jealous over simple things. If someone else shows obvious romantic or sexual interest in his beloved, or if he notices his partner displaying such interest in someone else, he'll feel jealousy, but it will quickly turn into anxiety. He'll wait until he and his lover are in private, then quietly ask if he still makes them happy. How long it takes for the insecurity to pass depends on the circumstances. Since Kennyo has a hard time talking about his feelings and doesn't like conflict with his partner, he'll probably be avoidant when he's feeling his worst, especially if he's experiencing any flashes of jealous anger at the third party. As a Buddhist, he expects himself to let go of such feelings, perhaps more quickly than is strictly reasonable (though that's due to his especially high standards for himself).

Kiss - Are they a good kisser? What was the first kiss like?

Of course he's a good kisser. He's an ikémen. ;) Still, with such a gentle-hearted and naturally cautious man, the first kiss will be soft, shy, and a little uncertain, even if his partner is fully relaxed and eager.

[ Kennyo Fluffabet Masterlist ]

Fluff Alphabet for Kennyo: Masterlist

From this list!

Activities, Beauty, Comfort, Dreams

Equal, Fight, Gratitude

Honesty, Inspiration, Jealousy, Kiss

Love Confession, Marriage, Nicknames, On Cloud 9, PDA

Quirk, Romance, Support

Thrill, Understanding, Value

Wild Card, XOXO, Yearning, Zeal

[New Masterlist Link]

Fluff Alphabet for Kennyo: E-F-G

From this list! Instead of asks, I'm just doing the whole thing. :3

Equal - Are they the dominant one in the relationship, or rather passive?

Kennyo's goal and inclination is to be in harmony with his partner. If his lover is more passive and gets nervous about making decisions, he will take the lead, but gently seek for input to ensure they're still going in a direction that will make them happy. He'll try to build up their confidence to state their desires, too. He wants to be someone who makes his beloved feel safe and valued.

If his partner is someone who is very comfortable with going after what they want, then he's happy to follow, both in terms of physical intimacy and decision-making in general. However, Kennyo probably would be hurt and even frustrated if truly momentous decisions were made without talking to him. While he doesn't need to be dominant, he does want his voice to be trusted and valued, too.

Fight - Would they be easy to forgive their s/o? How are they fighting?

Kennyo tends to forgive immediately. Everyone makes mistakes -- the Buddhas know he has made plenty -- and he cares much more about being at peace with his lover than about gratifying his ego. Fighting stresses Kennyo out, and he can hardly sleep or eat if his partner is mad at him. Even in arguments, he tries to stay calm and gentle, seeking a way to get back on the same page, and it's clear that being at odds weighs heavily on his heart. There are very, very few things over which he will raise his voice: if his beloved wants to throw themselves in danger, the pain and fear are too great for him to keep his calm in an extended argument; if they wanted to do something that would endanger other innocent people, the dissonance with his values would fray his composure. Again, though, Kennyo doesn't fight to dominate. His goal is always to bring himself and his partner back to a genuine, trusting place, and forgiveness from him is basically a given.

Gratitude - How grateful are they in general? Are they aware of what their s/o is doing for them?

The core of Shin Buddhism is gratitude, so, except for when he's at his most pessimistic and depressed, Kennyo generally tries to keep a grateful heart. However, even when he's feeling bitter about the universe at large, he still notices and feels grateful for the ways in which people and animals show each other kindness. He will especially notice if it's his beloved, because there's no one else he would rather pay attention to, and he will be sure to express his gratitude both in words and in acts of service to repay their thoughtfulness towards him.

[ Kennyo Fluffabet Masterlist ]

[New Masterlist Link]

Fluff Alphabet for Kennyo: A-B-C-D

From this list. (Thanks @masamune-archive; I got the inspiration from you!) Instead of asks, I'm just going to do the whole alphabet, so here we gooooo:

Activities - What do they like to do with their s/o? How do they spend their free time with them?

Kennyo loves spending time with his partner going on nature walks, feeding animals, and attending flower-viewing festivals. Seeing his beloved's eyes light up at the beauty of the world fills his heart with unparalleled peace and joy. In these moments, he can't help but think of the world as a beautiful place, too. He'll be wearing a soft smile the whole time, grateful from the bottom of his heart.

Similarly, Kennyo cherishes simple domestic bliss. Preparing food together, gardening, cleaning up around the temple, reading in the same room, or chatting before sleep -- these everyday moments feel like great blessings to him.

Beauty - What do they admire about their s/o? What do they think is beautiful about them?

This depends on who his s/o is~! Everyone has a unique mix of traits to admire.

Traits that Kennyo may find particularly admirable are kindness, bravery, and integrity. In a world where survival often requires selfishness or self-erasure, and where the cruel rise to the top, Kennyo sees acts of compassion as heart-achingly beautiful. Helping others, fighting back against the cruel, and staying true to one's sense of right and wrong will call to him, an irresistible and undeniable resonance with what he values, no matter how hard he tries to deny himself.

Comfort - How would they help their s/o when they feel down/have a panic attack etc.?

Kennyo would hold his beloved close, seating them in his lap and guiding them through breathing exercises to help their body relax. In his deep, soothing voice, he'll remind them that these moments are just that: moments. They will pass, and he's here with them to help them stay afloat until then.

Dreams - How do they picture their future with their s/o?

Kennyo is a fairly traditional man, so when he thinks of a happy future with his lover, he thinks of marriage, children (adoption is fine!), and ministering to Shin Buddhist followers in a new Hongan-ji temple town with verdant gardens that attract a lot of animals.

Trauma and pessimism cause him to fear that any happiness with his partner may one day be violently ripped away, leaving either him or them alone to grieve. As much as this possibility frightens him, he will not give up on his love, so he pushes his fears away to pursue his dream for a bright and peaceful future.

[ Kennyo Fluffabet Masterlist ]

OC Week Day 2: ReiKenn

From the prompt: “Who is your OC paired with romantically? Tell us what made your OC fall for them! Or maybe what annoying habits their partner has that they could definitely live without!”

Reika and Kennyo have a slowburn romance – Kennyo is still in the midst of grieving heavily for his friends, families, and followers, and Reika has learned over the years that deep heartbreak is not the healthiest soil to plant a romantic relationship. Besides, she needs to get home so her own friends and family don’t mourn her disappearance for any longer than she can help. 1582 is just not the right time.

But Kennyo is the first truly safe person she meets in the Sengoku and her liberator from Azuchi. So while sticking with him seems like the best bet for survival, her curious and humanitarian nature also can’t help but want to untangle the crossed threads of Kennyo’s current beliefs and sense of self. 

It’s hard not to fall in love with a man so gentle, brave, and generous. At the same time, it’s painful to fall in love with a man hellbent on destroying himself.

And she’s not the pure woman that he first believes her to be, either. Reika would kill to save a life and believe it’s the right thing to do.

The two must learn to navigate their clashing convictions and question what they truly desire, while the machinations of war escalate and the clock ticks down to the wormhole’s return.

-

Unfortunately, I only have a one-off fic of them so far |D;;; But you can read the story [ “A Half-Finished Bridge” ] here on tumblr or on AO3.

I also have had the honor of working with a lot of wonderful artists for commissions and requests, so you can see a lot more of these two being goobers on my #Kennyo x Reika tag X3

The top images are originally from a comic I did here~

HC: What Kennyo would think of the Warlords if he were allied with  them – Pt. II: Takeda-Uesugi Alliance

Had fate played out differently and Kennyo allied with the Oda Forces, or joined the Takeda-Uesugi alliance without his brothers killed and Hongan-Ji razed first, or was simply a neutral party hanging out in either Azuchi or Kasaguyama Castle, this might be what he thinks of everyone (I guess it’s Kennyo’s “Another Ikemen Sengoku,” haha~):

[Pt. I: The Oda Forces]

The Takeda-Uesugi Alliance:

Kennyo weeps with joy, relief and gratitude when he finds out Shingen is still alive. He hurries to Echigo, hardly stopping for rest; upon arriving, Shingen tells him he looks terrible. Kennyo holds it together long enough to shoot back that Shingen looks remarkably well for a wandering ghost (“I shouldn’t be surprised that your preening to impress women carried on to the afterlife–”), but when Shingen grins and opens his arms, Kennyo can’t help but give him the biggest bro hug.

They’ve mostly resumed where they left off, spending evenings drinking and contemplating the world when things are peaceful enough (though, as usual, there’s a mismatch in their preferred subjects of contemplation and they rib each other for it). Beneath their long, meandering talks, Shingen worries about Kennyo’s increasing distress as he desperately tries to keep Hongan-Ji safe, and Kennyo worries about the cold bitterness growing in Shingen’s heart that demands vengeance for his home and clan. Of course, both of them insist that they are fine.

Kennyo is also grateful for Yukimura’s diligent care of his good friend. Though he lightly admonishes Yuki now and again for his lack of forethought in speaking to others, Kennyo sees him as a valiant, upstanding young man and a fine leader. Of course, that doesn’t stop him from having a chuckle at Yukimura’s expense when he bickers with Sasuke, Shingen, and Kenshin, but he makes up for it by having Yuki’s back against Shingen’s “get me candy or I’ll die” nonsense, and by giving Shingen significant [read: smug] “you should listen to the boy” looks when Yuki tells him to stop being weird towards women. Sometimes, when Yukimura is feeling especially worried about Shingen, he’ll talk to Kennyo as a confidante and adviser.

Like everyone else, Kennyo finds Sasuke odd, but strangely charismatic, as Sasuke is mature, respectful, well-spoken, thoughtful, insightful, and obviously capable as a ninja. They are very formal and courteous with one another, and Kennyo is always willing to answer Sasuke’s many questions, though he finds the other man a bit elusive and puzzling. Kennyo is used to being able to read people and to people opening up to him, but that’s not the case with Sasuke–the ninja has a remarkably stoic demeanor and seems to hover just out of reach. Kennyo wonders about the well-being of a man with so many secrets (and one sworn to Kenshin, at that), but is content to let him be, knowing that Sasuke will open up on his own time if help is needed.

Kenshin and Kennyo have a…strained relationship. Kennyo intensely disapproves of Kenshin’s warmongering and his penchant for attempting to kill his own vassals (noticeably, Sasuke). He’s had to fend off some of the warlord’s spontaneous “tests” himself, and his snarling reprimands when he pushes back don’t seem to phase Kenshin. Ultimately, Kennyo just ends up disgruntled at his own failure to remain temperate. As much as Kenshin’s lust for violence rankles him, Kennyo senses the warlord’s fractured sense of self, and worries deeply for him. Now and again he tries to engage Kenshin in conversation, but Kenshin’s refusal to talk about anything that doesn’t revolve around fighting, sake, or pickled plums bludgeons his patience until he has to leave, unless Kenshin gets bored and leaves (or attacks him) first.

HC: What Kennyo would think of the Warlords if he were allied with them – Pt. I: Oda Forces

Had fate played out differently and Kennyo allied with the Oda Forces, or joined the Takeda-Uesugi alliance without his brothers killed and Hongan-Ji razed first, or was simply a neutral party hanging out in either Azuchi or Kasaguyama Castle, this might be what he thinks of everyone (I guess it’s Kennyo’s “Another Ikemen Sengoku,” haha~):

[Pt. II: The Takeda-Uesugi Alliance]

The Oda Forces

Nobunaga still grates his nerves. Kennyo can’t stand his casual arrogance, and it doesn’t help that Nobunaga claims not to believe in the Buddha. However, he respects Nobu as a ruler who truly looks after his people, and as a keen and accomplished scholar. Underneath it all, Kennyo worries about the toll so much war is taking on Nobunaga’s soul. Some quiet nights, he seeks Nobu out to check on him and give counsel.

Masamune reminds Kennyo of Shingen at that age–but somehow, impossibly, more cocky and certainly more reckless. Expect much solemn head-shaking at Masamune’s wild shenanigans, but he’s smiling behind that cup of tea. Besides, like Shingen, Masamune is an admirably responsible ruler, and Kennyo tells him this–in the same breath as he scolds him for risking the well-being of his fief every time he insists on riding like a madman. He also can’t help but grin at Masamune’s lack of alcohol tolerance, though he offsets it with very disapproving stares for Mitsuhide.

Kennyo regularly praises Hideyoshi for his virtuous conduct, both because he genuinely holds Hideyoshi in high regard for his loyalty and altruism, and because Kennyo senses that the younger man could use the validation. Kennyo recognizes when someone just needs to be told that they’re good. He provides backup for Hideyoshi’s scolding, too–really, running in the hallways is dangerous.

Mitsunari would have made a good monk with his kindness and humility, and Kennyo worries that his spirit and talents are wasted on warfare. However, he recognizes that Mitsunari’s brilliance is crucial to the Oda forces’ ability to ultimately protect more lives. Kennyo enjoys Mitsunari’s positive presence and often joins him in studying, the two reading in companionable silence. Of course, he would contribute to the “Caring for Your Mitsunari” guide. Masamune would have to take the scroll away from him and Hideyoshi because they just can’t stop adding things.

Kennyo treats Ieyasu with solemn respect, seeming not to register the young man’s acerbic remarks. It’s not that he doesn’t notice, but he wants to afford Ieyasu his dignity. Kennyo recognizes how deeply bound up in grief Ieyasu is, and keeps an eye on him. Like with Mitsunari, Kennyo joins Ieyasu in silent studying, but with the hope that acclimating to Kennyo’s presence will allow Ieyasu to open up. (Predictably, all of this drives Ieyasu crazy.)

Like Hideyoshi, Kennyo openly disapproves of Mitsuhide’s more sadistic jests, though not as harshly. It comes from a similar place of worry, as he recognizes Mitsuhide’s self-loathing behind each taunt. He is quick to tell Mitsuhide that such games are unworthy of his intellect and talent as a diplomat, and urges him to be more forthcoming (especially to Hideyoshi) for the sake of his reputation, the Oda Forces’ unity, and most importantly, his own self-regard. Kennyo sighs heavily when Mitsuhide invariably dismisses him, but that doesn’t stop him from trying again.