In the morning Motonari was stronger. Mitsunari bustled about tending to him, while the strategist stayed down for now, not wanting to upset his injuries. Shiranui and Chibi touched their noses to his cheek by way of greeting.

"I'm sorry," he said, grasping Shiranui's paw. "It's my fault that you're hurt."

Making a comforting noise, she shook her head.

Chibi ran over to the armour stand and barked. When Motonari saw the remains of his armour, he grimaced. "There's no way I can salvage that. I'm going to need a new set."

"We can deal with that later," Mitsunari said.

The strategist stretched his arms out, and Mitsunari lowered himself down to let Motonari wrap his arms around him.

"I was so afraid I would never see you again, Mitsunari."

"You'll be all right now. I'm here, and I won't let any more harm come to you." He drew away. "What happened over there?"

A brief flicker of uncertainty crossed Motonari's face, before it vanished and he turned his head away.

"Motonari? Why won't you answer? Who did this to you? Tell me!" He grasped the strategist's shoulder. "Speak his name and I will make him suffer tenfold! I'll bring his head back for you!"

"Chousokabe," Motonari said at last.

Mitsunari stared at him, his anger draining away. Motochika? But why? He knew that the two were long-time rivals but right now they were on the same side. They had no time for infighting and they both knew that. And mere days ago they had all cooperated. How could this be happening?

"I don't understand," Mitsunari said, letting go. "Why did he suddenly decide to attack you?"

Motonari, again, didn't answer.

"Is there something you're not telling me?" Keeping his eyes on that face, he tried to read him.

"Stop it. Just stop it."

"I can't confront Motochika if I don't know what happened."

"You don't need to know!" Motonari snapped, and he drew back. "Stop asking such pointless questions!"

There was something the strategist didn't want to tell him. Didn't want him to know.

"Motonari," Mitsunari said in a low voice, "if you value my trust, you will tell me exactly what happened. And don't you dare lie to me."

Claws clicking across the floor, Shiranui padded up to them and nudged Motonari's shoulder with a paw. He looked at her, then back to Mitsunari. Pain filled his eyes.

"It was because of what happened so long ago at Shikoku. I ordered an attack in his absence and had Ieyasu's standard planted there. After Chousokabe returned I wrote him a letter. He went to see me and I advised him to ally himself with you, so he could have his revenge against Ieyasu. Yoshitsugu helped me keep him in line." Motonari swallowed. "I kept this a secret. Except Chousokabe found out, somehow, and now he wants to kill me for what I did."

As the words sunk through his skull, Mitsunari could only sit there, his face blank. A part of him couldn't believe what he was hearing. To think that so many innocuous events were actually the result of the schemes between two people…

"I never wanted to tell you this." Motonari's voice trembled. "But I have no choice now."

"You and Yoshitsugu really played me for a fool, didn't you?"

Motonari grasped his arm. "Please. That was in the past. I wouldn't betray you, ever."

"I only have your word for it." Mitsunari pulled his arm away. "How do I know that there isn't anything else going on in that head of yours?"

"Don't do this to me, Mitsunari!"

He stood. "I can't accept this. I need to be alone."

Turning, he left without a backwards glance.

#

Mitsunari shut himself in his room and paced around, trying to ease the tightness in his chest. He'd suspected before that Motonari and Yoshitsugu had been up to something, but he didn't know what. And now that he did, it was almost too much for him. But it was Motochika who received the full brunt of the schemes. He had been manipulated so much.

It seemed that all Mitsunari did was surround himself with people he couldn't trust. But he wasn't like Motonari. He couldn't walk a path alone.

Crossing over to the shelf, his gaze wandered over the trinkets there, mementos from happier times when all had been well and his only duty was to serve.

"What should I do?" he murmured.

They, of course, offered no answer. The charm that Motonari had given him, just days ago at Itsukushima, glinted in the light. He picked it up, letting it lie on his palm.

He tried to think of recent occasions where Motonari had taken advantage of him, but there were none. And that time at the collapsing island, Motonari refused to abandon him to his fate, choosing to stay and die with him instead. It was a tremendous sacrifice, and Motonari had felt strongly enough towards him to do it.

And he remembered the nights they had spent together. Could those have been fake too?

No, they couldn't be. They couldn't possibly be. He crushed those thoughts.

It was like there were two of Motonari, each vastly different from the other. He just couldn't believe that they were one person.

Leaving the room, he went to find Yoshitsugu.

"Well, Mitsunari?" Yoshitsugu asked. "Have you found out what happened?"

Mitsunari looked directly into his eyes and picked his words carefully. "Chousokabe was the one who attacked him. I'm going to go see him. Get a ship prepared for tomorrow."

"This is preposterous. Has that pirate gone mad?"

"Will you come with me?" Mitsunari asked innocently.

"Of course. But I do worry about something happening in our absence."

"We won't be gone for long. Besides, Shiranui is here."

Yoshitsugu glanced at him. "I'm not certain that a wolf knows best if an attack occurs. But very well, if that's what you want."

Mitsunari gave a curt nod and left. He would deal with Yoshitsugu in due time, when he had given it some thought. For now, he returned to Motonari's room, trying not to creak the floorboards. Just as he was about to slide open the door, a strange noise seeped out from within. He leaned closer. The sound was sobbing.

Teasing the door open, he peered through the gap. Motonari sat there, his arms wrapped around himself, weeping. Shiranui and Chibi nudged him with their noses in an attempt to comfort him.

"He'll decide that I'm not worthy of his trust," he cried. "And then he'll…I'll lose him…"

Shiranui whimpered and rested her head on his shoulder. Clinging to her, his crying grew bitter. Chibi whined loudly, patting his hand with a paw, ears drooping.

"I never wanted this! After so long I thought I'd never be alone again, and things would be all right, but…" He shuddered violently. "Damn you, Chousokabe! You've taken everything from me! Damn you…!" The rest descended into sobbing.

Mitsunari wanted to throw open the door and rush inside, to press Motonari against himself. It hurt him to see the strategist like this.

Don't cry anymore, he wanted to say. I don't want to see you so unhappy.

But he couldn't bring himself to move. At last, he turned away and left, pained. He would come back later.

#

That night, Mitsunari returned to the guest room, slipping inside. The wolves greeted him and he nodded back. Motonari glanced at him, surprised, his eyes red from crying. Walking over to him, the swordsman sat down, silent.

Motonari spoke. "Do you hate me? Do you still…" The words lodged in his throat and tears filled his eyes.

Leaning forward, Mitsunari drew him close. The wolves made relieved noises.

Motonari clung to him, pressing his head against his chest. "I thought you weren't going to speak to me again."

"I don't hate you. I just can't accept that part of you." Mitsunari reached out and rubbed at a runaway tear. "Stop crying. It hurts me."

Motonari exhaled and shut his eyes.

"Have you stepped on anyone else's toes?" Mitsunari asked. "I might as well know."

A hand slapped his chest. "It's not funny!"

"I'm going to Shikoku tomorrow." His voice grew louder. "Motochika hurt you and Shiranui. No one will get away with that. No one!"

"You would jump to my defense so quickly?"

Drawing in a deep breath, Mitsunari gazed into the strategist's eyes. "You were not the same person then. I...I think it is wrong to hold your past against you."

Motonari stared at him, then looked away, choked. Shiranui padded up to him and placed a paw on his hand, wagging her tail. He's right.

"How are your injuries?" Mitsunari asked.

"Not much better." Motonari lay down again. "I need to sleep. I'm still so tired…"

Mitsunari kissed his cheek, then settled down beside him.

Huddling against his warmth, the strategist relaxed. "Thank you."

#

Something blunt jammed into Mitsunari's ribs, jostling him awake. The offending object was Motonari's elbow. Shifting over, he was about to put his head down again when Motonari groaned, sounding rather ill. His eyelids twitched and his limbs shifted around in restless sleep.

Mitsunari grabbed his shoulder and shook him. "Motonari? Wake up."

At the other end of the room, Shiranui's ear flicked in their direction and she lifted her head, yawning. Chibi stirred beside her and buried its face back into her body.

Motonari's eyes opened and he blinked a few times before shutting them again. "Hot…it's so hot…"

Pressing a hand against the strategist's forehead, the skin burned under Mitsunari's fingers. "You have a fever." It must have been from lying out there in the rain.

Jumping to her feet, Shiranui loped out the door. Chibi hurried over to Motonari and pressed its nose against his forehead. It drew back, whimpering.

Shiranui returned with a bucket of water and some strips of cloth. Large chunks of ice floated in the bucket. Mitsunari knew better than to ask where she had obtained the ice and soaked one of the cloth strips, laying it across Motonari's forehead. The latter sighed as the cold soothed him.

The swordsman continued to stay up, replacing the cloth as necessary, while Motonari slept fitfully. When Mitsunari was too tired to stay awake anymore, Shiranui took over. In the morning, he got up early and went to fetch some medicine. Fortunately, the fever wasn't as bad as last night.

Returning with a bowl of medicine, he helped his partner sit up, offering it to him. Motonari drank the bitter liquid gladly and lay down again.

Mitsunari clutched his hand. "I want to stay, but I have to leave now."

Opening his eyes and offering a weak smile, Motonari squeezed back. "Take care of yourself."

He stood up. "Shiranui, Chibi, I'm leaving him in your care."

Shiranui bobbed her head, but Chibi ran up to him and pawed at his leg, whining in protest.

"You want to come with me? No. It's dangerous. Look after Motonari for me instead."

It hung its head and whimpered. Unable to resist, he knelt down to rub its head. "There won't be any evil spirits where I'm going."

He glanced over his shoulder at Motonari one more time before he left. Returning to his own room to don his armour, he hurried down to the courtyard, katana in hand. He was late.

Along with an entourage of soldiers, Mitsunari and Yoshitsugu traveled to the port and boarded a warship. In case aggression sparked up between theirs and Motochika's forces, they could still defend themselves. Though Mitsunari didn't intend to attack them, precautions were necessary.

As the shore receded behind them, Mitsunari looked out over the water and thought of Motonari, still sick and weak back in the castle. Would he really be all right? What if his condition worsened while he was away?

Yoshitsugu floated behind him. "Mitsunari."

"What is it?"

"Remember that we still have several battles to fight. I would advise against doing anything rash. No matter what Chousokabe has done, we still need his strength."

"Do I look like I'll murder all his men?" Mitsunari snapped.

"I would believe so, from the way you're scowling."

"I'm not in the mood for your smart remarks."

"Of course. My apologies."

Mitsunari glanced at him. It was a good time to investigate. "Why do you think Chousokabe would do this all of a sudden?"

"Why indeed?" Yoshitsugu paused and Mitsunari tried not to look too expectant. "It may be that Motonari did something behind his back and he found out about it. We won't know until we ask him. But infighting is silly at a time like this."

That wasn't too far from the truth. Yoshitsugu, of course, would not readily admit to being involved. Mitsunari would wait to ask that question.

"Why do you ask, Mitsunari?"

"I…" He fumbled for an excuse. "I'm confused. That's all. If what you say turns out to be true, I'm not certain what to do. We need them both, don't we?"

"Remedying that will be simple. Have them agree to put their squabble aside until our business is done. This is their affair, of course. It's not our place to meddle."

Mitsunari just nodded.

"Are you concerned about Motonari?"

He wished Yoshitsugu would stop catching him off guard. "Well, he was attacked. And I want to hear what Chousokabe has to say for himself."

"Fair enough. But don't forget that Motonari is a sly creature."

"Yes, I'm well aware."

Yoshitsugu seemed satisfied and Mitsunari turned back towards the sea, his shoulders stiff. He didn't know how long he could keep this up without giving himself away. Motonari had called him a terrible liar and he was right. Deception was such a headache.