Title: Strategic Difficulties
By: KuroSakura-chan/KuroSakura
Summary: Sakon Shima has gone to see his "old friend", Mitsunari Ishida. He'd heard rumors that Mitsunari was in Wei, with the prince of Wei, Cao Pi. Exactly how Mitsunari is supposed to deal with this, Sakon hadn't thought about.
Category: Samurai Warriors/Warriors Orochi
Genre: Angst, Romance, Drama,
Couples: Cao Pi/Mitsunari, Cao Pi/Zhen Ji, Sakon Shima/Mitsunari, Keiji Maeda/Yukimura Sanada,
Warnings: Yaoi,
Disclaimer: Koei owns the Warriors series, not me.
…
-Sakon-
I can't say I hadn't really expected this. Mitsunari is attractive, once one gets past his harsh exterior. It's only natural that someone managed to find the true Mitsunari through all of his hostilities. I'm not sure I'm all right with it being Cao Pi, however.
In fact, I'm almost positive that I am not approving of this at all. Why couldn't it have been someone who cared for honor and love like Yukimura or Kanetsugu? I would at least know that there would be no underhanded tactics being used in this tug-of-war for Mitsunari. Cao Pi, on the other hand, is someone who does not like to lose, and will use whatever means necessary to win.
Me, I'm just going to stick around. I'm sure that if Mitsunari is given enough time to actually think, he'll make the right decision. He's too intelligent to do otherwise. Besides, Mitsunari hates it when he's crowded. He likes company, not that he'll ever admit it, but crowd him, and that fan might find itself whipped out in a heartbeat. Damn thing's pretty sharp, too.
Speaking of Kanetsugu, the man showed up a couple days ago. Apparently, Mitsuhide has decided to learn the politics game to keep Kenshin, Shingen, and Nobunaga from killing each other. I seriously hope the man can, because otherwise, we're going to end up with yet another war on our hands, and I have a bad feeling that stopping one between those three will be harder than killing Orochi. Twice.
At any rate, Kanetsugu heard about the situation and proceeded to sequester himself in with Mitsunari. I like Kanetsugu, and I know he respects me, but...I have no idea what he thinks about Cao Pi. I'm not particularly worried that he's going to argue the case for Cao Pi, but his honor might cause problems. I guess it doesn't really matter. Mitsunari is just happy to have his closest friends with him now. He hasn't seen or heard from them in quite awhile, after all, or so he's told me. When Cao Pi wasn't glaring darkly at us and making Mitsunari uncomfortable. Of course, Mitsunari didn't say that he was happy to see them, but I know he is. I've been with him too long to believe in his "I don't care about anything" attitude. He just uses that to get people to leave him alone.
Still, I find I'm frustrated with just sitting around. I'm used to going out and talking with the peasants, or exercising caution around the three warlords, or even just sparring with Keiji or Yukimura. Now, I find myself spending my time inside this castle, drinking my sake. Mitsunari won't spend time with neither myself, nor Cao Pi. Frustrates us both, I believe. Cao Pi's far more vocal about it, though. I've heard him grumble about it under his breath. I'm waiting for him to decide that it is a good idea to force his way into Mitsunari's room. I don't think he's seen just how dangerous Mitsunari can be when he feels cornered. A lot of Toyotomi's men used to compare Mitsunari to a fox, and he'll certainly fight when cornered. That's why it's best to simply let him come to his own decisions in his own time.
Something tells me that Cao Pi does not understand the way Mitsunari works. Perhaps it is the way he approaches Mitsunari every time he leaves the sanctity of his room, or perhaps it is just the fact that Mitsunari has sequestered himself in his room. He wouldn't do so if there was not a reason. Mitsunari is a rational person, and so he reasons out everything he does before doing it. Though he clearly hadn't counted on Cao Pi's slightly-less-than-subtle jab at me, making it obvious there was another man in Mitsunari's life. I suppose it makes sense, though. He has told me, several times, that he thought I was dead. How could he expect something when my appearance was impossible?
Yukimura has told me that Mitsunari waited, refusing to believe the rumors of my death for several months before he finally began to accept Cao Pi's affections. That's a big deal, too. Mitsunari isn't necessarily loyal. If he decides something, or in this case someone, isn't worth his loyalty, he'll move on. Toyotomi has commanded Mitsunari's respect for quite awhile, though I cannot understand why. That Mitsunari waited for several months before moving on proves that he believes I am worthy. Or that he actually cares for me. However, that he has stayed with Wei, despite his obvious dislike of Cao Cao means that he feels Cao Pi is worthy of his loyalty as well. I'm not quite sure how I feel about that.
As for how I know of his obvious dislike of Cao Cao...The Hero of Chaos himself was here a few days ago. He had apparently heard of Keiji, Yukimura, and myself visiting and decided his son was not capable of handling us delicately enough, so he came to do so himself. Only after we assured him we were merely visiting, not attempting to lessen his forces or to sabotage him in any way did he return to his main fortress. Mitsunari, as Cao Pi's strategist, was forced to meet with the man. And I'm sure, it it weren't for the fact that Mitsunari is far too dignified to allow himself to be dragged, Cao Pi would have been forced to actually drag him from his room. I'm not sure what Cao Cao has said to Mitsunari in the past, but there is something between them that cannot simply be concerning Cao Pi.
Cao Cao himself does not seem too fond of Mitsunari, either. I suppose he realizes that should Cao Pi ever decide the time is ripe to overtake his father, and it is obvious that is his eventual plan, Mitsunari will not hesitate in aiding him. He must also realize that any plan Mitsunari actually comes up with will likely be far too much for his men to survive. Mitsunari is very, very good at coming up with ways to play on anyone's weakness, and he spends a lot of time watching those he plans to overcome. Even Xiahou Dun will be hard-pressed to deal with whatever Mitsunari could plan for him.
Altogether, Mitsunari and Cao Cao exchanged words only once, that I know of. Cao Cao mentioned that he need not continue keeping an eye on his son now that peace had descended, a sentiment that Cao Pi's wife quickly seconded, though far too quiet for most people to hear. Mitsunari responded shortly that Cao Pi simply continued to get in his way, so he would continue to deal with him until the situation dictated otherwise. Zhen Ji, Cao Pi's wife, was almost as displeased as Cao Cao.
The woman is clearly aware and jealous of Mitsunari and Cao Pi's relationship. I have seen her sidetrack Cao Pi when he is on his way to see Mitsunari. Not that I particularly mind, but something about the situation does not seem right to me. Cao Pi seems to be unable to deny her attention when she demands it, and that could mean that Mitsunari is not receiving the attention he should. Still, I have not heard him complain that Cao Pi does not pay enough attention to him, so I cannot be sure of anything. And I would hear about it.
I have always had a habit of sitting outside of Mitsunari's room when he wishes to be alone, or to be with Yukimura and Kanetsugu. He knows I do this, and he knows that I am able to hear any conversation he has if he speaks in a normal tone. He is aware that I am still in this habit, and so I hear his conversations. None of these conversations have mentioned a lack of Cao Pi's attentions. Then again, these conversations tend to just be friends catching up with friends. They might be holding the more...emotional conversations for when I am not around, or having them in undertones. Well, whatever pleases Mitsunari, I suppose. I don't particularly care if I can or cannot hear the conversations. I trust Mitsunari's judgment, which is all that matters, and is all that will make the difference in the end.
I look up from my sake when I hear footsteps approaching. I know those self-righteous footsteps quite well, actually. Cao Pi glares down at me from where he stands in front of the doorway. I wonder if he's realized that I can hear his conversations with Mitsunari...Probably not, because he continues to hold them. Anyone who has realized would have either stopped holding the conversations, or started to be quieter about them. Because hearing him get turned down by Mitsunari time and time again is certainly not what he wants me to hear, I'm sure. I return his gaze evenly, and he sneers before walking into Mitsunari's room. I settle against the wall again, waiting the fallout.
A/N: Here it is, chapter 3. Hope you enjoy!