Summary: October the 21st, the 15th day of the 9th month. Ishida Mitsunari was defeated at the hands of Ieyasu Tokugawa and further captured. His remaining loyal retainers have already been routed, survivors have had their lands confiscated and re-assigned while their people suffer or are sent into exile. The fate of Mitsunari Ishida was decided by Ieyasu, when he was sentenced to death, by public execution.

Notes: I'd like to firstly say this fic is not historically accurate at all. I did twist the dates round a little to make things fit. I prosponed Mitsunari's execution until a day before Ieyasu attacks Osaka. Just to be annoying~ I'm also aware that they did not use public executions like these in Sengoku Japan. But again, I tend to mess things up a lot xDDD You'll notice a few other big changes to the traditional history as we go on... Just to clarify; This is one heck of an unstable fic.

Each short chapter will be told from the POV of another. Starting from the point of Mitsunari's execution and telling the tale of the events that followed...

There are pairings too; YukimuraxMitsunari and KanetsuguxMasamune are the main one's. Others may pop up, but I doubt it.

"We are gathered here today, to bear witness to the execution of the once great officer, Ishida Mitsunari"

From my position knelt over the stone slab, I watch the horned demon nod to his audience bowing and move behind me, to stand with the others who wish to watch me die.

If I strain my fragile neck I can see those gathered around me, the Dragon & the Demon. My own harbinger of death and that traitorous priest. Somebody notices me looking, painfully twists my neck back round to face the stone.

That bastard, why is he here, does he wish to ridicule me more with his presence?

I can hear the heavy footsteps of my rival trudging slowly across the wooden platform to stand only 5 feet in front of me. How I hate him so, I used to wish him dead. I now know it's impossible. I can barely lift my head another two inches to glare daggers with my tired eyes, taking my battered and bruised body to it's feet, to commit murder would require more strength than what I possess now.

And yet, I don't care about that. Not anymore. I just want…To say goodbye.

"Friends…warriors", he greets them solemnly "Understand now that I do this for the greater good of the land…I hold no grudge against the man who is to lose his life" In the past his statement would have me riled, but as I said, I'm beyond caring. I'll save my hatred from someone who deserves it.

"My greatest wish is that he will live on in the heads and hearts of every one of us and watch me rule over this land" I hear the sound of unsheathing.

He turns around now, his figure is black as he blocks the sun from my view. I get to watch death. Slowly. Closing in. There's something I still want to know. Questions I still want to ask. Places I want to visit…People I wish to see. Just…one last time…

"If anybody holds any last words for this man, speak now…so that he may truly rest in peace…" The dark figure speaks to no-one in particular. For a second. I thought he might say something. Anything. The words 'sorry' had slipped from his mouth I would've smiled.

My head once again lowered, as I sneaked a passing glance at the priest behind me. But he's not looking, his head's in the clouds. Righteous priest. Find your place in heaven. Amongst the traitors. The betrayers.

The deepest part of hell is reserved for bastards like you.

He says nothing. He's got nothing to tell me. He regrets nothing.

I look up at death hanging over me with the short sword in hand.

I feel deaths hand gently take hold of my hair, tipping back my head, feeling that cool steel touch my neck. Sends shivers down my spine.

His eyes glint in the darkness as he speaks to me once more. "Goodbye Mitsunari Ishida…you were…a worthy opponent indeed"

Suddenly the sense of urgency sweeps over me, I feel like he's been my closest friend all along. I want to tell him everything. Let it all out. Right now, knowing there will be no consequences. I know I can't…I grip to my last shred of dignity.

That ugly lump rises in my throat as I beg myself not to cry. Watch the blade rise…I let out my last breath of air from my tortured body. This was it. I could see it all happening so slowly.

Everything moved in slow motion. The dagger glinting in the sunlight as he started to slash it through the air. Towards my throat, my death.

They say your life should flash before your eyes. For me it did. I saw everything, everything I'd ever strived for, everything I'd done, everyone I'd ever loved. Faces flashed through my minds eye. Sakon, smiling on the day we first met. Keiji Maeda, grinning like the mad man he always was. Hideyoshi, wearing his trademark monkey grin.

Even things I didn't remember…Nene gently tucking me in after I had long been asleep. I saw Kanetsugu selling his soul as he signed a paper before Tokugawa. Before I could reflect upon it…he appeared. Perhaps God had heard my cry, I can see him. One last time…

I could see him now, clad in red. The wind blowing gently against him, moving the soft hair on his head. Sadness clouded over those bright brown eyes. He stands completely still, looking blankly to the sky, as if waiting for something.

I try to approach him, shout out to him, anything. Tell him goodbye, tell him I loved him…to apologise… But I remember it's all a cruel illusion. All I can do is watch, try and remember his perfect face.

To my horror the image starts to blur and swirl, the red mix of the man I love melting away. I try yelling out again, although I know in my heart it's futile. I shut my eyes.

When I open them, it's gone. I'm back to reality, he still has the knife raised. I shakily inhale, tempting the tears not to fall.

I never really felt the blade go in, the only thing on my mind was him. Him and only him. Perhaps we weren't meant to be.

My last words still ring inside my broken head. I wonder if I was the only one who heard them, perhaps somebody else did too. Maybe they'll pass on the message. Maybe they'll write it down so people can read them in years to come. Maybe…just maybe…the wind carried my words safely to him. That's what I believe and now I'll wait for him, because one day, we'll meet again.

A.N. As usual, a wierd lil fic...if you didn't like it, try not to worry. It'll soon sink away amongst the others...