In the cool morning air, clashing wooden swords rang again and again in the training courtyard. The Ishida brothers were sparring, and a crowd of fascinated onlookers gathered around, marveling at the speed, ferocity, and lethality of the high-speed dance taking place before them. Sometimes one or both brothers disappeared from sight, and a rapid chorus of wood striking wood sounded before they reappeared. Every soldier in the army had, at some point, wondered what would happen if two Ishida warriors were to fight each other, and never tired of watching the brothers train.

For Mitsunari, battling another person with setsuna required all his concentration. He could perceive when his brother entered or exited between dimensions and track his movement, but like with any battle, it still required quick reflexes on his part. Knowing when to match the sudden bursts of increased strength due to the speed of setsuna-aided attacks was vital—most opponents underestimated that.

He did not find it very enjoyable to fight against his brother, but there were warriors of great strength out there in the country who possessed powers similar to setsuna, and being prepared for such situations was a necessity. Still, he thought, setsuna was their particular gift, and surely no one else was capable of moving between dimensions like they could.

Masazumi swung high. Mitsunari's response was to duck just low enough so that the blade stirred the hairs on the top of his head, and aimed to counter with a strike to his brother's waist. Instead, Masazumi's body turned with his initial attack and his foot whipped out, catching Mitsunari in the stomach and driving the breath from his lungs, knocking him onto his back. Before he could recover, his brother pounced on him, the chipped and dented edge of the wooden blade hovering against his throat.

"I'll get you tomorrow," Mitsunari growled.

"I'll be waiting." With a grin, Masazumi pulled him to his feet. "It was a good match. Nothing else makes me break out in sweat. Sometimes you are almost too fast."

The older Ishida won most of the time. Having four additional years of battle experience made a big difference, although Mitsunari was finally catching up. However, neither of them had ever bested their father, and their attempts lasted only a pitiful amount of time.

"Splendid match as always." Ieyasu approached them.

"You want to take a turn?" Masazumi joked, leaning on his sword.

Considering the proposal, the other man smiled back with bright eyes. "That would be interesting, actually. I've fought alongside Mitsunari-dono a lot, but never against him."

"When I've had a moment to catch my breath," Mitsunari said, glaring at his brother.

Ieyasu gestured to the wooden sheath that accompanied the Ishida warrior's practice blade. "Have you ever considered using the sheath to deflect attacks? I know you sheathe the blade frequently but sometimes you don't get that opportunity. You could put the sheath to good use during those times, especially if the enemy is using two weapons."

Blinking, Mitsunari looked over the sheath. Ieyasu was right.

Masazumi groaned loudly in protest. "Why did you have to give him ideas? Now you'll cause me more trouble whenever I fight him!"

"He's right, Onii-sama, and it makes me more eager to try it out on you!"

"Are you accustomed to using your other hand in combat?" Ieyasu asked.

The older Ishida snorted. "You have no idea. Stupid Mitsunari is ambidextrous and likes to show it off."

"You're just jealous!" Mitsunari retorted. "Maybe if you didn't insist on using such large swords, you could move as nimbly as I!"

"That's not the problem at all! Did you forget that you're built like a twig?"

"It's easy to forget when I'm looking at an ox all the time!"

Masazumi slapped a hand against Ieyasu's bicep. "You're calling him an ox too?"

Heat flushed to Mitsunari's cheeks. "N-No!"

Tossing his head, the older Ishida grinned smugly.

Ieyasu laughed, waving his hands. "No more, or I'm afraid the two of you will come to blows!"

"Oh, we're like this normally," Masazumi said. "Well, go on. I'm eager to see how you handle him. Even for me, it is difficult to keep up with him sometimes."

"Are you ready, Mitsunari-dono?"

Backing up, Mitsunari grunted, sliding his foot back into a ready position. Ieyasu flexed his wrists and hunkered down. Their eyes met and the clarity in that gaze was surprising. But did the man ever stop smiling? Even now there was a faint trace of a smile.

The two circled each other, neither wanting to make the first move. Masazumi and the other spectators did not make a sound. Mitsunari studied the other man closely—having been comrades for so long, he was familiar with Ieyasu's movement patterns, but having to defend against them was something different.

Then Ieyasu lunged forward, fist leading with a quick jab which Mitsunari evaded easily. For a moment he wondered if he should hold back on using setsuna or not, but decided that Ieyasu should have known what he was getting into anyway. And it would be belittling otherwise. So drawing upon those powers, the Ishida warrior vanished and reappeared behind his opponent, scoring a grazing hit on the shoulder as Ieyasu hurled himself aside.

Recovering quickly, the Tokugawa leader closed the distance head-on, his fists a barrage of nimble and unrelenting blows. Mitsunari could not keep up and lost ground. He was having trouble deflecting the strikes—his type of blade was meant for attacking, not defending.

Use the sheath. His other hand changed its grip on the wooden sheath and came up. Now that he matched Ieyasu hand for hand, the latter's assault ground to a halt and they jumped away from each other.

"See? You're learning!" The Tokugawa leader, as always, wasted no time smiling.

"This is bizarre. Fighting like this simply isn't how it's done."

"Can't complain when you need an extra advantage against your opponent!" Masazumi called from the sidelines.

"Be quiet, Onii-sama!"

Ieyasu dropped back into battle stance. "Here I come! I won't go easy on you anymore!"

Mitsunari growled. "I'm insulted!"

Clashing again, the two continued their dance. At first they were evenly matched, but as the rush of battle took over Mitsunari's mind, he inadvertently drew upon setsuna more and more, evading attacks completely when Ieyasu expected him to block, changing position with every strike he made and wearing down his opponent. Ieyasu took a swing at Mitsunari's head with more force than he intended, but his fist whooshed through empty air instead, causing him to stumble. That was enough for Mitsunari to strike one of his legs, knocking him to the ground, and in the next moment the wooden sword rested against the throat.

Ieyasu managed a breathless chuckle. "You win. It was impossible to keep up with you near the end! The way you were flitting about, I was sure to make a mistake sooner or later."

"That's what it means to fight an Ishida warrior." Grasping his hand, Mitsunari helped him up.

"Indeed! But mark my words, once I get used to your movements, I'll be sure to take revenge!"

"Hmph. Try it."

"Want to take me on next?" Masazumi asked.

Wiping his forehead, Ieyasu laughed. "Goodness, no! Mitsunari-dono has worn me out for today. A second round of that would be a nightmare!"

"Not fair!"

Mitsunari shoved his brother's shoulder. "You're just spoiled, and besides, you only want to show off."

"Let's just say that he owes me a match and leave it at that. Or perhaps you don't want to share your friend with me?"

Mitsunari stared at him.

The older Ishida's eyes glinted. "Your face is quite red."

Stepping in, Ieyasu gently clapped a hand on Mitsunari's shoulder. "If you insist, Masazumi-dono! I look forward to it tomorrow."

Masazumi just smiled at them and sauntered off. Their interest waning as well, the soldiers also dispersed.

"Mitsunari-dono, your face is red."

"I know!" The Ishida warrior brushed off his companion's hand. "J-Just get going to wherever you need to be!"

For once, Ieyasu's expression was unreadable. "You don't like it, then?"

"Like what?"

The other man didn't respond. Heaving a sigh, Mitsunari looked away. Of course he knew what Ieyasu was getting at. But no one else had treated him this way before. This kind of friendliness, and fooling about with someone who wasn't his brother...it just wasn't something he'd experienced much. And he didn't know if he could accept it.

"No," he said quietly. "I don't dislike it. I-It's just that I don't know how to deal with it."

"I see. I was worried I'd insulted you by being too friendly."

Lifting his eyes, he met Ieyasu's gaze. "No. You did not overstep any boundaries."

"So Masazumi-dono was right, then?"

"My brother is a fool."

Flashing him a grin, the other man turned to go. "I'll be off, Mitsunari-dono."

"Wait."

"Yes?"

It took a few tries before Mitsunari forced the words out. "Just Mitsunari is fine."

Silence. And then Ieyasu laughed. "As you like!"

#

Later that afternoon, Mitsunari went to visit Ieyasu in the barracks. Feeling that he handled their conversation earlier in the day rather poorly, he wanted to be honest and show some more goodwill. Here was a friend he'd been looking for all his life, and on no account did he want to lose that friend because of his awkward tactlessness.

Ieyasu, knowing that his companion didn't like the atmosphere in the barracks, offered to walk to another area but Mitsunari refused.

"That's rather uncharacteristic of you," Ieyasu remarked as they sat down at the small table in his room.

"This is your home. It would be improper if I always refused to stay."

"What brings you here?"

"Nothing important."

"Really?" The corner of the other man's mouth poked up.

His hands curled into fists. "I...get very embarrassed when I must discuss my feelings with anyone who isn't family. I didn't want you to misunderstand my behaviour towards you earlier today."

"Don't worry. You might not be the most graceful at it, but your intentions are honest and I can see that. Now I'm curious, Mitsunari. Did something happen to you before that caused you to be so awkward around friends?"

Scowling, he looked away. "It was a few years back, when I was younger and more foolish. I thought I could make friends with some of the younger recruits in the army. I learned then that people can smile and laugh with you as if they genuinely care, and then turn around and speak ill of you when you leave their company. My father and brother were right—the common soldier wants nothing to do with us even though they give us the respect and admiration we deserve."

"What happened to those recruits?"

"I don't know, and I don't care. If they are dead then good riddance." He snorted. "Onii-sama always told me I was being too harsh, saying something like that."

"He's right. Wishing ill fortune on others will bring you ill fortune as well. But if I were in your place, I might say the same thing."

"You understand, then? Why I have such a hard time accepting someone as a friend, and an even harder time getting used to actual friendship?" For some reason, the words were easier to speak.

"To you, friendship is something new, isn't it? You haven't experienced it very often, and that's why you're so hesitant. And you were betrayed before, so it's difficult for you to put your trust in others."

"Accurate," he mumbled.

"Listen, Mitsunari. I'm very happy that you chose me as a friend. And I'll make sure I show you what true friendship really means. I won't be like those recruits. That's a promise."

Lifting his eyes, he looked straight into Ieyasu's. "Can I trust you?"

"Of course you can."

Drawing in a deep breath, his pulse quickened slightly. "Then I believe you."

"I'll take very good care of that. Don't you worry."

"Are you going to tell me my face is red?"

"For your sake I was refraining from it, but...your face is red."

"You're impossible!" Mitsunari shot him a mock glare and got to his feet. "I won't keep you anymore."

"Next time you're in the mood to walk about the city, I'd like to come."

"I'll remember that."

He left the barracks with a strange warmth tingling in his breast. It was much like how he felt when getting to know Yoshitsugu, except stronger.

Another friend. He was glad, too, that Ieyasu accepted his desire for friendship. Though the darker parts of his mind questioned the man's truthfulness, he dismissed those thoughts. They were remnants from a time long past. There was something different about Ieyasu—he knew it, deep down.

And Mitsunari was not afraid to trust him.