ALEXIS' POV

Later on that night, Kenshin held a large feast at Kasugayama castle.

"...Okay, And you and Alexis are WHAT now?" Yukimura asked in a shocked tone.

"That's the third time you've asked. We're in love. I won't say it again."

"But, you can understand their confusion, Kenshin," I spoke up while scratching Sora's head behind his ear. 

"The last time they saw me, I was in a cell."

But now, I was attending my first feast at Kasugayama. When Kenshin had made this announcement about us, his vassals reacted almost comically. Mouths gaped, empty hands groped for the cups they dropped.

"This the worst news I've received all year," Shingen spoke in a disappointed tone. "My goddess has fallen into the hands of an ungracious brute."

"Did you say 'my?' Draw your sword, Shingen, I'll make your death especially slow and painful," Kenshin spoke with a frown.

"Thanks but no thanks. Alexis, when you get tired of him, just know my door is always open."

"Don't tease him too much Shingen, you're also gonna anger someone else who by the way is very good at hunting prey," I said as I glanced at Sora who began to growl and glare at Shingen. 

Shingen sweatdropped when he saw Sora baring his teeth at him. Kenshin chuckled a little and he said to me.

"At least Sora has good instincts."

"Hehe, I know," I spoke with a smile.

"Sasuke, did you know?" Yukimura asked Sasuke.

"I heard it this afternoon."

Sasuke's eyes were fixed forward in a glassy stare. I'm sure he was thinking of earlier when I'd told him my decision to stay in the past with Kenshin.

'That was some meeting too...'

EARLIER ON THAT DAY...

Kenshin and I paid a visit to Sasuke.

"I understand, knowing my employer and my dear friend have become lovers gives me inexpressible joy. That said, could you please put away your sword, Lord Kenshin? it's poking me in the small of my back."

"No."

'Should I step in?'

I asked myself as Sora hid behind me while whimpering in fear.

"Um, Kenshin? we're having a peaceful discussion here."

Kenshin radiated murder as he stood, still as an angry statue, sword positioned at Sasuke's tight back.

"I despise peace."

"Well, peace likes you and thinks you two can still work this out!"

I saw no evidence that Kenshin was moved by my suggestion.

"No, no, this is all my fault. I shouldn't have kept the time-travel a secret, and I apologise. In my defence, you never showed any interest in my origin story and so, the chance to explain slipped by."

"That's not why I'm upset," Kenshin spoke up.

'Oh? that's either good or bad.'

Kenshin glared at Sasuke, who sat frozen in a repentant posture.

"Alexis' chosen to stay with me. You haven't given me your answer. Are you planning to quit and return to that peaceful world where they arrest you just for having a sword?"

'Oh, okay. Kenshin's not upset at Sasuke. He's threatening, I mean, "encouraging" Sasuke to stay.'

It clicked for Sasuke at the same time.

"Now I understand, you're threatening to kill me because you're worried I'll leave you."

"Who said I was worried, I'm not, but, if you intend to desert, I will kill you or lock you up, perhaps both," Kenshin threatened Sasuke.

"Both you say? I believe we've reached a new extreme."

'I wonder if Kenshin's love for all his subordinates goes to this level or if it's Sasuke-specific.'

"In that case, you may rest easy, Lord Kenshin. I intend to stay, it had been my intention to remain here for my research. However, I would have returned to the future with Alexis in order to see her and Sora got back safely."

I was surprised when Sasuke said this.

"You were returning just for me?" I asked Sasuke.

"Then you have no desire to return to your home?"

"Not yet, I find life here stimulating and there's so much more about this time period that I wish to explore. Of course, I wanted to go back at first, which is why I traced the wormhole's activity. But the longer I spent with everyone, the more I realised I'd miss you all too much if I left," A faint smile rose on Sasuke's lips. "At some point, Kasugayama Castle became home to me."

'Sasuke, I had no idea. That's sweet.'

I thought to myself with a smile on my face before Kenshin spoke up.

"Then I'll spare you, for now," Appeased, Kenshin put his sword away and joined us in sitting down.

"So, we're all good?" I asked Sasuke.

"Yes, speaking of good, I'd like to congratulate you two."

"Thank you."

"I anticipated you'll have no end of problems dating Lord Kenshin, so good luck as well. Wait, hold on, let me give you these."

Sasuke opened a drawer and began gathering things.

'Whatever it is, he's building up quite a stack of them.'

When he was finished, he placed a large bundle of goods before me.

"This is my 'starter kit.' Shuriken, smoke bombs, traditional bombs and a few dozen ground spikes. Ping me if you run out. Finally, this is a tear-gas bomb I've been working on. It's still in the experimental phase--watch the direction of the wind."

"Why are you giving me a riot control weapon, Sasuke?"

"I want to know too," Kenshin questioned Sasuke.

"It's my way of celebrating your beautiful new relationship. Alexis, don't hesitate to use any of these should Lord Kenshin come at you with a sword."

"I know you and Yukimura have had some rough times but, he's never once done that to me."

"He isn't used to you yet. Once you two get comfy, he'll start ambushing you in the hallways. It's how he says hello."

"...So that's how you see me," Kenshin laughed, except it wasn't really a laugh.

'Brr! I suddenly felt a chill go down my spine!'

"Speaking of, I don't think I said 'Hello' when I came in, Sasuke. I need to say 'thank you' for all the gifts you've given Alexis as well."

"It seems I've miscalculated."

Sora whimpered in fear before hiding behind my back. Sasuke scooped up a dozen ground spikes from the table as Kenshin drew his sword.

"My enthusiasm only drew his attention back to me!"

"Heheh...should I help one of them?"

Sora shook his head for a no and he barked at me as spikes and sword slashes flew mostly non-lethally over my head.

PRESENT DAY...

'In the end, Sasuke escaped into the ceiling and no one was hurt. It was pretty dramatic, actually.'

Forcing myself from my reminiscence I rejoined the party.

"What? you already knew, Sasuke? Guess I was the only one choking on my sake then. Great."

Feeling excluded, Yukimura downed a fresh cup.

"I wanted to tell you myself. You've been really supportive, Yukimura and I knew you were worried but, Kenshin wanted to announce it to everyone at the party," I explained to Yukimura.

"I don't like announcements but, this was an expedient way to tell everyone," Kenshin said before taking another sip of sake.

"Yeah, I bet it was. What you really wanted to tell them was this," Shingen cleared his throat and affected a mock-Kenshin voice. "'Alexis is mine now. If any of you touch her, I'll kill you.'"

"What?! oh come on, Kenshin wouldn't-"

"That's exactly right."

Sora and I looked at Kenshin with a surprised look on his face.

'...Okay, maybe he would?'

"Now that I've freed her, I have to defend her--from all of you."

His declaration, though threatening made me happy in a funny way.

'Maybe love does make you crazy? Because I'm finding this fun.'

However, I was ready for the subject of my relationship to be dropped.

"You've defended me a lot. I think we can safely start sharing that duty," I smiled at him, the heat in my cheeks growing as his eyes stayed on me.

"What I don't want to share is that smile. Save it, for when we're alone."

'This warmth in my tummy is not the wine but, it's a good thing.'

I thought to myself with a hint of blush on my cheeks.

"What a doting couple," Sasuke commented.

"I'm pleased to see, Lord Kenshin, that you now seem free of doubts."

"Don't you think this is all going too fast? he locked Alexis in a cell and now he's suddenly in love with her?" Yukimura questioned ys.

"If you think of the cage as his heart, you'll understand. Kenshin's been denying his feelings for a long time," Shingen told Yukimura.

'I can see the cell becoming an in-joke. It's true that it was a metaphor- while also being a very real cell.'

Kenshin glared at Shingen before speaking up.

"Shingen, stop acting like you knew all along."

"You're just jealous that I figured it out before you did."

He laughed softly, clearly unfazed by Kenshin's angry look.

"And you, Alexis!"

"Me? what the heck did I do?"

"You fell in love with the guy who locked you up!"

'Okay yes, but not exactly,' I thought to myself while Sora growled at Yukimura.

"Before you start questioning my sanity, I don't approve of cells as a vehicle to romance. To be honest, I liked Kenshin quite a bit even before this happened. Being locked up wasn't nice, but it gave me time to think and put my feelings together. The cell should have been a reason for me to hate him but, I couldn't. Still, I might have been able to deny it myself, if Kenshin didn't love me back the way he did."

"Alexis..."

I turned to Kenshin, the surprised look on his face bringing a flood of bashful heat to my cheeks.

"Are you two going to kiss? gross."

"Whatever..." I mumbled.

"Anyway, I guess it's my turn to say congrats, so congratulations to you both."

"Thank you, Yukimura."

"Look at that, they're so in love, even Yuki's stubborn heart is celebrating," Shingen commented with a smirk.

"I wish I had a tissue," Sasuke mumbled.

"Shingen, stop smiling. Sasuke, stop dabbing your eyes."

'Our announcement was met with some healthy scepticism, but in the end, we won everyone over.'

Just then, Sora whimpered and growled for some reason. Kenshin and I looked at him and Sora was pulling on the strap of my guitar case.

"Hey, Sora, what are you doing?" I asked him before he released the strap and sitting back down on the ground while wagging his tail.

"What the heck have you got in there? some kind of western weapon?" Yukimura asked me.

"Nope, I think I know what Sora is trying to tell me."

I said as I opened my guitar case and I got my guitar.

"Kenshin was the only one who heard me sing so far, so, it's about time you guys heard me."

Sora wagged his tail and then Kenshin said to me.

"Hang on, I never told you to-"

"Ah-ah! you said you won't allow me to share my smile with anyone else other than you when we're alone but you didn't say anything about my singing voice."

Shingen burst out laughing when I told Kenshin this.

"That's a first! Kenshin got told off by a girl! ahahaha!!"

"Shut up, Shingen!" Kenshin shouted.

"Boys..." I spoke up in a threatening tone before they stopped what they were doing once they saw the angry glare in my eyes.

"If it's not too much to ask, can I please get some quiet in the room? I can't concentrate with your bickering so please do me a favour and SHUT UP!!"

"Sorry, ma'am..." Shingen mumbled while Kenshin sweatdropped while Sasuke and Yukimura shivered inf ear after seeing angry look.

"She's kinda scary."

"I know..." Sasuke and Yukimura commented.

"*Sighs* anyway, on with the performance," I said before playing one of my favourite song

Play video~ skip to 0:05

https://youtu.be/QxEYR8a-EoE

Intro~

What would I do without your smart mouth?
Drawing me in, and you kicking me out
You've got my head spinning, no kidding, I can't pin you down
What's going on in that beautiful mind
I'm on your magical mystery ride
And I'm so dizzy, don't know what hit me, but I'll be alright

My head's under water
But I'm breathing fine
You're crazy and I'm out of my mind

'Cause all of me
Loves all of you
Love your curves and all your edges
All your perfect imperfections
Give your all to me
I'll give my all to you
You're my end and my beginning
Even when I lose I'm winning
'Cause I give you all of me
And you give me all of you, ohoh

3RD PERSON POV

As Alexis continued to sing, Kenshin's vassals stared at her with shocked and amazement in their eyes as she sang. Yukimura had his mouth open like a gaping frog when he heard singing. Sasuke was impressed and so was Shingen. Kenshin smiled a little as he listened to Alexis' angelic singing voice.

"Wow...she's amazing," Yukimura commented quietly to Sasuke.

"She sure is," Sasuke spoke with a smile on his face.

Sora came over to them with a tray in his mouth and Sasuke knew what he wanted. Sasuke placed some money into the tray. Sora wagged his tail and then he wandered over to the next person to donate their money for Alexis.

You're my downfall, you're my muse
My worst distraction, my rhythm and blues
I can't stop singing, it's ringing, in my head for you

My head's under water
But I'm breathing fine
You're crazy and I'm out of my mind

'Cause all of me
Loves all of you
Love your curves and all your edges
All your perfect imperfections
Give your all to me
I'll give my all to you
You're my end and my beginning
Even when I lose I'm winning
'Cause I give you all of me
And you give me all of you, ohoh

Give me all of you
Cards on the table, we're both showing hearts
Risking it all, though it's hard

'Cause all of me
Loves all of you
Love your curves and all your edges
All your perfect imperfections
Give your all to me
I'll give my all to you
You're my end and my beginning
Even when I lose I'm winning
'Cause I give you all of me
And you give me all of you
I give you all of me
And you give me all of you, ohoh

Once Alexis finished singing, the vassals clapped and cheered for her.

"Arigato," Alexis said with a smile on her face.

Sora came over to her with a tray filled with money and she smiled at him.

"Good job, buddy," Alexis said as she patted his head.

It was a good start to what Alexis had hoped would be a long, wonderful life with the God of War.