Mitsunari woke at noon, and Masazumi hadn't left even though he had awakened some time ago.

"How are you feeling?" Masazumi asked.

"Better." Stifling a yawn, Mitsunari stretched. "I'm sorry about last night."

"Listen, don't try to hold everything inside. Chichi-ue always said that won't help you. Instead it will only hurt you more, and make you feel alone. If something bothers you, you need to talk."

The younger Ishida smiled. "All right."

"See? It makes you happier already!" Masazumi thumped him on the shoulder and got up. "Come on. We should prepare."

"Was it the same for you when you went on your first battle?" Mitsunari asked, standing still as his brother helped him put on his armour.

Masazumi was silent for a few moments before answering. "Yes. It's impossible not to think about what you have done. I'm glad Chichi-ue came along, but I spent more time being worried sick about you, all alone in Osaka. You've never dealt with loneliness well."

"I wish I could have been there to help you."

"Chichi-ue didn't want you to be put in danger. But that doesn't matter anymore, does it? We're all together now."

Mitsunari nodded. Once the two finished with their armour, they took their weapons and left the tent.

According to scouts, the daimyou had fallen for the trap and was currently leading some forces to take back the fort. He didn't know who was really behind the attack, as the Toyotomi soldiers had avoided using anything that would have identified themselves. Mitsunari and his family had some time to eat before they returned to the fort, along with the entire army. The Ishida were to defend the fort, and once all the enemy forces were within the gates, the Toyotomi soldiers hiding in the forest nearby would charge in an inescapable pincer attack.

Mitsunari waited with his family inside the main hall of the fort, fidgeting. A sizeable group of soldiers stood ready behind them. The other soldiers garrisoned in the building were positioned past the long corridor leading deeper, in case the enemy got that far.

Once more, he would have to take his katana and end the lives of so many. But this time it wasn't a dream, and he could not be weak now. His life depended on it. Masazumi shifted closer to him, and he looked up gratefully.

They waited almost an hour before shouting reached them from the other side of the front doors. A ram thudded against the unyielding wood. The three hunched down, weapons drawn, ready to attack. After a few more strikes, the doors snapped off their hinges and thudded to the floor. A flood of soldiers poured in, weapons raised and bellowing war cries.

Masatsugu moved first, vanishing from sight and landing on the other side of the hall. The entire initial wave of soldiers collapsed to the floor like crops before a scythe. Blood sprayed everywhere, across the floor, across the walls, on the faces of the soldiers behind their fallen comrades. Mitsunari could only stare. The survivors retreated, shrieking in terror. They soon returned, however, with more numbers and archers at their backs. Upon seeing so few of the enemy, their confidence returned and they charged. The Ishida met them with the help of their smaller retinue.

Mitsunari and Masazumi worked together, cutting great swaths through the helpless soldiers. Just as Mitsunari skidded to a halt from his half-circle attack, which was quickly becoming one of his favourite techniques against large groups, the archers let fly with their arrows. Some of the Toyotomi soldiers screamed as the projectiles found their marks. Mitsunari twisted aside as two arrows whistled past him, and jerked to a halt as they pinned his jinbaori against the wall. Several enemies seized the opportunity and dashed at the young warrior with their weapons raised, but even though he couldn't evade them, he still struck faster. Everywhere before him, chaos reigned—arrows flew through the air, soldiers clashed, and a confusing din filled the hall. Unable to see any immediate danger, Mitsunari turned and tugged frantically at the arrows.

Masazumi hurtled in front of him, and something ripped. The older Ishida whirled and with one strike of his sword, split open an attacker from the shoulder down to the hip.

"Onii-sama?" Mitsunari asked, alarmed.

"Don't let your guard down like that!" Masazumi grabbed the remaining arrow and yanked it out.

As he turned back around, Mitsunari saw the gash running across his brother's backside, the jinbaori quickly blooming dark red with blood.

"You're hurt!" Mitsunari cried.

"It's nothing. I'll be fine. Come on, let's kill these bastards!"

Without waiting for a response, Masazumi charged back into the fray. A strong feeling of foreboding struck Mitsunari, but he shook it off and followed his brother.

The last soldier in their group fell, and the three Ishida were left alone to defend the area. They retreated towards the corridor, since more of the soldiers were ready to assist them behind the doors at the end. Within a cramped space, Mitsunari could only focus on the area in front of him, and he struck with storm after storm of slashes. An enemy lunged forward and he could not prevent the blade from slicing his arm. The pain only infuriated him, and his attacks grew more vicious, as if something dark inside him awakened. Anger lent force to his blade, but instead of relieving the tension it only seemed to make him more and more enraged.

At last, the Toyotomi soldiers waiting outside charged into the fort behind the enemy. Caught completely by surprise, the soldiers turned their attention away from the Ishida, which proved to be their undoing. The fort erupted in chaos once again, but with the sheer numbers of Toyotomi at the back and the ruthless Ishida at the front, the battle soon subsided.

As his brother cut down the foes in front of them, Mitsunari paused to wipe the blood from his face, his eyes still scanning the area constantly for any incoming threats. Spotting someone wearing an elaborate helmet, he immediately dropped down into a predatory stance. With the numbers thinning out, the daimyou stood exposed.

The young Ishida didn't wait. Drawing his katana, he clamped his teeth around the grip—it would be easier if all he had to do was get himself in the right position. He rushed forward, and the daimyou's bodyguards tried to throw themselves in his way, but they were too late. With one push of his legs, Mitsunari shot through the air like a supersonic arrow, straight at the spot next to the unaware leader's neck. The blade snagged slightly and he knew he hit his mark. He hit the floor, digging his hands into the ground to slow himself. Behind him, the daimyou's headless body spun and collapsed. Upon seeing the defeat of their leader, the panicking enemy surrendered.

Glancing around and ensuring all the enemy soldiers had laid down their arms, Mitsunari pushed through allies, scouring the ground for the elaborate helmet. He soon found the head and snatched the grisly trophy from the floor with childish greed. This kill was his, and his alone—he would not let anyone else have it.

The new prisoners were led away. Seeing that his two sons were all right, Masatsugu left to report to their superiors.

"Onii-sama," Mitsunari said, presenting the head. A foolish grin stretched across his face.

"It was you?" Masazumi asked, holding up the head and observing the clean cut. "Very good! Hideyoshi-dono and Hanbei-dono are bound to be proud of you. Your first campaign, and you killed the leader!"

Mitsunari beamed, even as his brother returned the head. Taking it, he refrained from looking at the face, and for some reason he didn't feel as nauseous as he thought he would.

"I think I handled it better this time," Mitsunari said, glancing up at his brother.

Masazumi didn't answer, his gaze focused at some faraway point.

Mitsunari stepped closer, worried. "You seem pale. Are you all right?"

The older Ishida's knees buckled and he collapsed to the floor.

"Onii-sama!" Mitsunari shrieked, dropping the head and rushing over. His brother's back was covered in blood!

"Need...help," Masazumi croaked.

"I'll get help! Don't die on me!"

The wound was more serious than it looked. Mitsunari spun and dashed through the hall, shouting for a medic. One of them tended to an injured soldier on the floor.

"You!" he cried, grabbing the medic's shoulder with a clawed grip. "You're coming with me! My brother needs help!"

The medic glanced at the soldier. "But sir, I can't just leave this one."

Mitsunari's wide eyes filled with a crazed light, and a tremendous surge of rage flooded through his body. How dare this impudent wretch talk back to him and disobey, as if Masazumi's life meant nothing?

His hand flew to his katana, drawing it with a whisper of metal. With one slice he beheaded the injured man, spitefully kicking the head aside with a foot. The medic gaped at him in shock.

"He doesn't need your help anymore, does he?" Mitsunari screamed, his entire body shaking with the force of his voice. "Get your things and come with me! You will tend to my brother! Obey me, or I'll kill you too!"

The hall was silent. Soldiers everywhere stared at the spectacle before them, but with the fury having overtaken him, Mitsunari didn't care. The medic scrambled to gather his tools into his bag. Not even waiting to see if the man would follow him, Mitsunari whirled and stormed through the hall. The soldiers gave him as wide a berth as possible. No one spoke.

They reached Masazumi, who hadn't moved and was trembling. Mitsunari stood and watched, some of his rage abating as the medic did his work. Only when Masazumi's jinbaori was removed did the young Ishida see the severity of the injury. The gash was long and deep, and Masazumi had fought for so long while carrying such a wound, losing a considerable amount of blood in the process. Cleaning and stitching the injury, the medic dressed it with bandages.

"There's nothing more I can do," the medic said as he gathered his possessions once again. "Only rest and his strength can take care of the rest."

Mitsunari said nothing, and the medic fled as fast as his feet could carry him. Kneeling down beside his brother, the young warrior grasped his shoulder.

"Onii-sama," he whimpered.

"I'll be fine..." Masazumi mumbled. "Tired...cold...won't you stay here?"

"I'm not going anywhere. I promise."

Mitsunari could only watch as his brother lost consciousness. A cold numbness spread through his body. He feared the worst. No...no matter what, he could not lose his brother.

The rest was all a blur to him. Masatsugu returned and rushed over upon seeing his sons in such a state. Still in shock over what had happened, Mitsunari didn't respond to his questions. Masatsugu picked up his injured son carefully and left the fort, with Mitsunari following close behind. Back at the camp, the younger Ishida delayed to get his injured arm bandaged before he bolted back towards his tent, ignoring the way the other soldiers glanced at him.

He only relaxed when he was back inside the tent. Masazumi lay on the bedroll, unmoving, while their father sat beside him.

"Is he hurt badly?" Masatsugu asked quietly, stroking Masazumi's hair.

Mitsunari hugged his knees to himself. "I don't know, Otou-sama. He lost a lot of blood. I only know it's my fault he got hurt."

"He was protecting you. You know that."

"It's my fault!" Tears welled up in Mitsunari's eyes and he wiped at them furiously. "If I...if only I..."

Masatsugu drew him into an embrace. "You're not the one to blame for this. Don't torment yourself like that."

"Excuse me, Masatsugu-sama?" a soldier called from outside the tent. "Hanbei-sama wants to see you."

Heaving a sigh, Masatsugu drew away and stepped towards the tent flap. "I must go. Will you be all right for a short while?"

Mitsunari sucked in a deep breath and nodded. His father left without another word.

A complete, utter loneliness filled him now—the same loneliness that plagued him day and night when Masazumi was four years younger and left for battle with their father, the same loneliness that haunted him all through the castle halls and made him eat and sleep poorly. Shoving back the memories, he sat down at his brother's side, taking one of his hands and squeezing it tightly. Just this morning, things had been normal, and now this had happened. His lips trembled and he squeezed his eyes shut, forcing the tears to go away. He had been crying too much, like a child. For Masazumi, he must remain strong.

Masatsugu returned, poking his head in through the tent flap. "Mitsunari, you need to come with me. Takenaka wants to see you."

"But we can't just leave Onii-sama all alone here!"

"He'll be all right. Don't worry, Mitsunari. As long as you're still alive, he won't die so easily. Let him rest here."

Swallowing back the lump in his throat, the young warrior got to his feet. With a last reluctant glance, he turned and left the tent with his father, walking to the commander's compound. They entered, and Mitsunari's eyes widened. Both Hanbei and Hideyoshi were there.

The two Ishida knelt before them. Hideyoshi's expression remained neutral.

Hanbei tapped the flat of his blade against the palm of his other hand, a slight frown creasing his brow. "Mitsunari-kun, I heard from the soldiers that something happened inside the fort."

Mitsunari lowered his head, his hands curling into fists.

"Tell me what happened."

Wonderful. His first actual meeting with Hideyoshi was now likely to result in punishment. Killing the daimyou meant nothing now. This was not what he wanted. He hesitated, his trembling lips trying to form the words.

"Mitsunari-kun?"

"I have no excuses for my behaviour," he choked out, fighting to keep his voice steady. "My brother was badly hurt and I was desperate. That's all."

Heaving a sigh, Hanbei delivered a glare so full of disappointment that a terrible pang shot through Mitsunari's heart. "That doesn't permit you to kill an injured man to get what you want. You do realize that this was cold-blooded murder?"

Masatsugu's head snapped in his son's direction, shocked.

"As I said, Hanbei-sama, I have no excuses." The young warrior's head lowered further. "I know what I did was wrong. I'll accept any punishment if it means sparing my family shame."

Silence. He didn't dare look up. No, he couldn't. He didn't deserve to look at them.

"Well, Hideyoshi? What do you think?"

Mitsunari's heart thudded in his chest.

The pause that followed felt like a torturous eternity. Then, Hideyoshi spoke. "Though he may have committed an outrageous act, he was the one who removed the daimyou for us. He still has much to learn. Let him go. But should this happen again, there will be appropriate consequences."

"I...I thank you deeply for your mercy, Hideyoshi-sama," Mitsunari stammered. "Th-This won't happen again, I promise."

"We'll hold you to your word," Hanbei said, somewhat reluctantly. "We have enough to worry about as it is." He swept the sword through the air. "You're dismissed. Do not forget what you said here today."

The young Ishida kept his head lowered as he got to his feet, bowing deeply before he turned and slunk out of the compound. He and his father walked through the camp in silence. Mitsunari darted a glance at Masatsugu, whose expression remained indifferent and icy. Around them, soldiers parted to let them pass. Swallowing, Mitsunari tried to shut the whispering out of his mind. He would be the talk of the soldiers for days to come.

Once safely back in his tent, Mitsunari rushed over to his brother's side to check on him. Masazumi was still unconscious, and showed no signs of waking. Masatsugu sat down nearby, and his young son was afraid to look at him.

They remained in tense silence for some time, until at last Masatsugu broke it. "I'm disappointed in you, Mitsunari."

Trembling, Mitsunari lowered his head, fighting back tears. The words stung him viciously, even worse than that look Hanbei gave him. I already know I'm a failure, he wanted to say. Please don't remind me.

"Disposing of enemy soldiers is one thing. But killing an innocent man who was lucky enough to survive a battle? Takenaka is right. That was nothing but murder!"

"You care more about some soldier than me or Onii-sama?" The pain, and the words simply tore out of him. He couldn't bear it anymore. "Should I have waited and let Onii-sama die, then? Is that what you want?"

Masatsugu leaped to his feet with such ferocity that Mitsunari flinched and shielded his head with his arms, cowering against the ground.

"Those are cruel, heartless words to say to your father." Masatsugu's voice was dangerously quiet. "You know that I love you and your brother more than anything else in the world. If I had to, I would trade my soul before seeing either of you come to harm. But I cannot let you make the wrong decisions without consequence. Walking down the wrong road in life will ruin you. It's my duty to prevent that. Think about that the next time you decide to accuse me of not loving you."

With that, Masatsugu whirled and left the tent. The strength flooded out of Mitsunari's body and he wilted down onto the bedroll next to his brother, begging silently for Masazumi to wake. So much had happened today—he was reaching his breaking point and couldn't take much more. His heart was about to explode from the pressure building up inside him.

Sucking in a deep breath and forcing back the sobs threatening to wrack his body, he grabbed his brother's hand, squeezing it tightly.

"Please wake up, Onii-sama," he pleaded. "I need you. I'm so alone without you. Please...just wake up..."

Silence. Masazumi remained comatose. Desperate, Mitsunari pulled the tanuki's silver bell from his pocket and rang it. The clear tone echoed and settled over him like a warm blanket, and some of his pain subsided, calming the roiling fear—but not all of it. And it had no effect on his brother.

Mitsunari curled up next to Masazumi, never letting go of his hand, and squeezed his eyes shut. He wanted to forget everything, even if it was just for a short while.