I meant to write Masamune/Yukimura. Or something about Mitsuhide. Instead, Ieyasu made me write this.

Disclaimer: I do not own Sengoku Basara or any characters therein. I make no money from this.

Warning: character death

It is done. Ishida Mitsunari is dead and the Eastern Army is rapidly routing the remaining soldiers of the Western Army. Without their general, they are falling to pieces. Mitsunari's last few allies are deserting and leaving the battlefield and Ieyasu's allies are chasing them away. A handful of Ieyasu's soldiers wait behind him, silently kneeling as he looks down to Mitsunari's still form.

"Lord Ieyasu," one of them begins. Ieyasu glances back, having almost forgotten they were there.

"My brave warriors, grant me but one moment," he tells them. They obediently leave, Tadakatsu following them shortly afterwards. Ieyasu stands still and lets the memories come. Memories of Mitsunari, back before they fought on opposite sides. Memories of the beginning, when Mitsunari became blind to anything but Hideyoshi.

"I have devoted my life to his lordship Hideyoshi. As a member of the Toyotomi, you should too."

"How can you say such a thing? A man's life is his own. Why life it as his lordship's pawn?"

"I had thought you would appreciate the virtue of loyalty. I was wrong. There's nothing left to say."

Ieyasu steps forward and sits beside Mitsunari. He puts his hood up, in a vain attempt to shut out the world around him. All he wants to think about is Mitsunari. Someone should mourn him. Ieyasu is the only one who would.

"Mitsunari, you're making too much of this my friend."

"Then bow your head in apology. Your pride is unseemly."

"Mitsunari, my debasing myself does you no honour."

"You prefer your hollowed out words and empty ideas. Is that all you're worth Ieyasu?"

"Mitsunari watch out!"

"Why did you save me? Do you think I can't defend myself?"

And then... the end.

"Be gone! May you die alone like a dog."

"Hateful words... how can you speak them so easily?"

At last, Ieyasu cannot prevent it. He starts to sob, head bowed and mind blank of everything except Mitsunari. Mitsunari who will never stand again and who will never curse him again and who will never be anything except a hated general. Ieyasu will be the only one to mourn him and to miss him, and Ieyasu will bury him and never forget him.

But for now, Ieyasu will cry for the friend he has lost.

What the hell self? Why are you crying at a game?

Rethira