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Strategic Difficulties	By : KuroSakura Category: +S through Z > Samurai Warriors Views: 1768 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: Disclaimer: I do not own Samurai Warriors/Warriors Orochi, and I do not make any money from these writings.

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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, 1^st Person,

Disclaimer: Koei owns the Warriors series, not me.

…

-Mitsunari-

“Well, Mitsunari, you've got yourself a nice set-up here.” Keiji says, grinning as he steps into my rooms, following Yukimura and Kanetsugu. I shrug, motioning to the mats I had pulled out for my friends. Kanetsugu and Yukimura kneel gracefully onto the mats while Keiji just flops down. He crosses his legs in front of him, leaning back on his hands. Kanetsugu gives Yukimura an exasperated look, forcing the poor man to look sheepish, though there is nothing that Yukimura can do to change the way that Keiji is.

Once they're settled, I kneel down on my own mat, reaching forward for the teapot. It has been ages since I've had anyone to have proper tea with, since Nagamasa and his wife Oichi left after the last battle. Not that I often drank with them, as I am not one who is able to easily stomach such open displays of adoration that they are eternally giving each other. I pour the tea for the others before pouring one for myself. Yukimura and Kanetsugu take their tea and drink while Keiji looks at the small teacup. I realize it is rather small for a man of his stature, but it's a standard cup, and there is nothing I can do about it. After a few moments, he picks up the cup gingerly with two fingers, and I'm struck with the thought that this must be how he handles Yukimura. As gently as possible.

Not that Yukimura is fragile. At least, not physically, and maybe to Keiji he seems fragile, but he honestly isn't. If anything about Yukimura is fragile, it's his spirit. Granted, I have not seen a spirit blaze as bright and passionate as Yukimura's, but if Yukimura is made to believe his purpose exists no longer, or that his friends have been murdered, then it is likely he will fall apart. I can understand Keiji being gentle with him for that. After all, I haven't even a slight idea as to what it is about Yukimura that draws Keiji like a moth to a candle flame, but with that sort of adoration, it is hardly likely that Keiji would risk harming whatever it is that draws him.

Not, of course, that Kanetsugu or I would allow Keiji to live if he harmed Yukimura in the slightest of ways. There is something we both admire in Yukimura as well as just being his friends. I believe for Kanetsugu it is Yukimura's unshakable belief that in the end, the honorable will prevail. For me...I am envious of his naiveté as well as his ability to always stick to his ideals. Granted, I have not compromised my own in years, but I have in the past. And I am very good at manipulating my own ideals to suit whatever I need to do. I suppose I am also envious of his purity...Perhaps that is something I only perceive, but when I look at Yukimura, I am given the image of someone pure, and unsullied by the horrific things in the world. I imagine that I must have been unsullied at one point, but I can no longer remember it.

“Lord Mitsunari...” I look up from staring at my tea. It has been a very long time since I've allowed myself to drift into my thoughts. Even knowing that Cao Pi was highly unlikely to allow any harm to come my way did not make me feel safe enough to allow myself to drift so far as to become unaware of my surroundings.

“Yukimura. My name is Mitsunari, and as a friend, I would expect that you would refer to me as such.” I say, putting some of my usual antagonistic tone into the words. He flushes slightly, scratching the back of his head before nodding.

“...Mitsunari...” Even knowing that I will not be upset at the lack of a title, and having been one of my closest friends for years, he still has problems will calling me by my name. I sip at my tea, waiting for him to continue. “How are you holding up? I know that Lord Sakon's appearance was a surprise to you...”

I continue sipping at my tea, putting off answering. I will have to be honest with them. I am always honest with them. It is hard to lie to the face of one's friends, or so I have found with gaining friends. Still...This is not something I wish to discuss. At least, not at the moment. After all, I'm not quite sure how I feel. Surprise, yes, but otherwise, I am simply frustrated with Cao Pi, who seems to have taken it into his head that he must stake a claim over me as though I am simply a possession which two men are in disagreements over the ownership of. And I will be damned if I am treated as a possession.

“Honestly, Yukimura, I am unsure. I was surprised, yes, to see Sakon after being assured several times that he had perished when Orochi first turned our lives upside down, but surprise is something easily gotten over, yes?” I take another sip of my tea, not looking up to meet my friends' eyes. I know they are worried for me, and I want to reassure them, but I'm not sure what I can say to do so. Plus, I have to be careful of what I say, because Sakon still sits outside my doors, and I know he can hear us. “I'm relieved, of course. I...did not like to think of the world without Sakon in it.” I admit quietly. I'm not sure if it was quiet enough to keep Sakon from hearing it, but I am not worried about that at the moment. It is rare that I can be honest with anyone, and if there is anyone I can be honest with, it's Yukimura, Kanetsugu, and Keiji. Of course, I can be honest with Sakon as well, but he is currently untouchable, until I make up my mind on what to do.

“So you don't know what you're going to do yet?” Kanetsugu asks gently. I shake my head, and Keiji shrugs.

“No one can expect you to make up your mind so quickly. You're human, Mitsunari, and you have human emotions, just like the rest of us. Of course you're confused; your heart doesn't know what to do with itself.” He says, setting down his empty cup before he breaks it. “I'd be more worried if you had made up your mind already. But, between us, I cast my vote for Sakon, if it matters. You need someone who's relaxed around, not someone with a stick shoved just as far up his ass as you do.”

“Keiji!” Kanetsugu gasps. “How could you say something like that to Mitsunari?!” I have to stifle an urge to laugh in a sip of my tea, and I notice that Yukimura has a fist to his mouth as his face turns red. Keiji just grins, not apologetic in the least.

I've probably never told Yukimura, but I think that Keiji is a good fit for him. He helps Yukimura calm down and learn that the path of the warrior is not simply one of fighting. Besides, I enjoy a good joke as much as anyone else, and when it's coming from Keiji, I know that it is definitely not malicious, unlike when from some of Hideyoshi's other retainers.

“It is all right, Kanetsugu. His opinion may be...gruff and unrefined, but I respect it as one from someone who is simply looking out for my welfare.” I finally say as it appears Kanetsugu will die from indignation and Yukimura from lack of air because of his attempts to hide his laughter. Keiji grins in triumph, and Kanetsugu almost pouts as he listens to my words. The poor man...He needs to find someone like Keiji or Sakon for himself. Someone to teach him that the world is not based solely on honor, ideals, and propriety. Perhaps what Keiji says is true, and I need that myself. Still, this decision I must make on my own, and there are reasons for me to choose them both.

Yukimura has finally started to breathe again, though now his red face is due to Keiji's laughter. The man noticed the young warrior's predicament and couldn't help but begin laughing. I watch this all from behind my teacup, which, I now notice, is empty. I have missed my friends terribly. I missed their advice, their antics, and their ability to make me feel...safe, I would say. When I am with them, I feel as though nothing could ever harm one of us, although I would never tell them that. I am realistic to the point of pessimism, and I know that something could harm us. I would rather keep my friends at a distance than allow them to be harmed should something happen to me. Let alone what I do for myself.

My door slides open, and I set down my cup to reach for my fan. No one enters my rooms unannounced. No one. So I do not release my grip on my fan, even when only Cao Pi enters. I believe he and I have had this discussion before, and it may be time to revisit the lesson learned.

Cao Pi closes the door behind him, his arrogant smirk on his face, even as I stand, murderous intent in my eyes. Not only has he broken one of the few rules we have in place for my privacy, he has interrupted a time with my friends, a time I hold very precious. “Are there festivities underway? I have not heard such laughter in awhile.” The prince of Wei says, still ignoring my obvious anger, although he is looking at me. He glances over the room once, but apparently decides that there is nothing of import on the table.

“We are simply talking, Cao Pi. Now you will leave my rooms, and if you wish to enter, you will knock like a civilized man.” I say, trying to keep my voice at a normal level. It's almost like Sakon's appearance has removed everything Cao Pi and I have been through and learned about each other.

“There is no need for that. I simply wished to inform you that we will be leaving shortly. Father wants me to check on a village's claim of disturbance, and you will accompany me.” Cao Pi says.

I stand there for a moment, unsure of my ears. When he says nothing else and I am assured of what he has said, my fingers clench around my fan, which I pull from my waistband and point at Cao Pi's chest. I have not opened it yet, but Cao Pi is treading on very thin ice. “I do not even get a choice? No. I will not go. You will get out of my rooms, and you will not enter without express permission.” I step forward, poking Cao Pi in the chest with the fan. He steps back, surprise written on his face. Is this man truly surprised for me to react this way? I have never given him cause to think I would react otherwise. “If this is because Sakon is here, and you seem to think that I have no honor whatsoever, then you are sorely mistaken. Until I have made up my mind, neither of you shall receive my attentions, is that clear?” I continue stepping forward, and he continues stepping back, until he is back in the hall. I see Sakon trying to hide a smirk out of the corner of my eye and make up my mind. “If you are so worried, take Sakon with you. If either of you are within this castle tonight, then I swear, I shall go elsewhere for some peace to think. Perhaps if you two are alone with each other, you'll learn something.” With that, I step back into my rooms and slam my door shut.

I turn back to the others to see Keiji half-risen. Yukimura sets his hand on Keiji's arm, and the wild man sits back down. I move back to my mat, kneeling back down. I pour myself another cup of tea and begin sipping it to make my inner turmoil fade and match my outer calm.

“I could go give 'im a good knock on the head for ya.” Keiji offers after I sip my entire cup of tea and pour myself another, this time paying attention to my friends' cups as well.

“That will not be necessary, but thank you for the offer, Keiji.” I say, though I am seriously considering letting Keiji have his way with the Cao Pi. It's almost as though he's already been knocked on the head, so what harm could another do?

A/N: Damn, that took forever. Finished at 2:24 am, by the way. I had just meant to read up to where I'd finished reading before, but then it kinda...typed itself. So, here it is, so stop bitching for awhile, k, Meg?
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Strategic Difficulties