005 ▽ [video] ; January 4th (early morning)

[reverencing]

[To describe the way Ishida Mitsunari's eyes bore into the screen is a task easier said than done. Whether aware of the recording or not, the way his expression changes from stoic indifference to absolute vehemence is almost instantaneous as the realization of things begins to sink in. A steady growl builds in the back of his throat, his grip on

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[perma-action, I shall assume]

[reverencing]

[At the sound of the woman's voice, Mitsunari jerks his head towards her with a snarl. In the time it took the woman to reach his room, he'd succeeded in injuring himself further - small gashes in his forehead, purple bruising forming above his eye, blood and saliva clinging his chin. He stares into her, breathing heavily as he watches her lean against the door frame, managing little more than another primitive growl before tearing his gaze away.

He struggles to rise up to his feet, a frustrated sound escaping him as his body sways a bit, dizzy from the injuries he's caused to his head.]

He is gone...

[reverencing]

Gone...

[Mitsunari repeats the word, leaning against the wall for support as he steadies himself. He is in no mood for the woman to chastise him. With an awkward grunt, he lifts his head enough to glance over to her.]

Leave me be... This matter is not one of your concern.

[reverencing]

[Mitsunari grits his teeth together, fighting back another hiss as he slowly sinks down to his knees again. She's correct - he doesn't want to be seen by her or anyone else in this state and yet, he can't seem to calm himself down. He can't do it on his own and yet, he won't reach out to anyone.

He brings his arms around himself, trying to stop shaking.]

Why is he permitted to live after all he has done...? The lives he has destroyed, the hypocrisy he reigns over... Building himself up, building his support on a pedestal of lies and betrayal...

[reverencing]

You to, Magoichi...?

[His voice comes softer, quieter as he manages to focus on the ground.]

You too shall abandon me...? [His voice grows louder, seething between grit teeth. The moment of clarity he'd just expressed was already gone, the dark king once again finding that hate building up in the back of his throat.]

Go ahead-! Leave me! Allow me to die in a pool of my own blood!

[reverencing]

[A smack just might do him a world of good...

Mitsunari is silent as she speaks, still awkwardly leaning against the wall with his arms wrapped around himself. His shaking has subsided a bit but she's right - he can't control his emotions right now. It's too much for his mind to process; it isn't the idea that Ieyasu is gone that has driven Mitsunari this far, it was the fact that without Ieyasu here, his purpose - his duty - was once again delayed. How could he avenge his lord if that dog was safe in a realm far from this? How could he bring honour to the Toyotomi name and restore the glory of Hideyoshi's rule?

Dishonouring his lord is the one thing Mitsunari vowed to never do... But without Ieyasu's presence, without that traitor here to receive judgement... What could he do?]

My heart carries a heavy burden...

[reverencing]

It weakens... [His voice is quiet now, eyes meeting the ground where bits of debris and drops of his own blood sit.] With each moment I remain, each wretched moment that I realize he is gone...

[He raises a hand to his chest, gripping the fabric of his jacket tightly as he squeezes his eyes shut. He grits his teeth together, face twisting as all that pain begins to rise up in his chest once more. All that disappointment, all that shame.]

I could not kill him-! In all the time I have been granted here, I could not seize that opportunity, I could not bring him to justice in the name of my Lord Hideyoshi-!

[reverencing]

[Mitsunari is quiet but his body continues to tremble, if just slightly. It's difficult to tell if he's truly calming down or if his anger has merely turned into crushing depression at the realization of his failure. He still cannot bring his eyes to meet Magoichi's own.]

Would Lord Hideyoshi laugh at my foolishness...?

[reverencing]

[It was almost strange how the woman's words brought a feeling of comfort to him, some kind of solace in knowing that Magoichi nor the pirate thought any less of him for what he'd done - or rather, what he had managed to abstain from doing - here in Death City. While Ieyasu's continued existence outside the realm of this world angered him and continued to shame the great name of the Toyotomi, there was nothing that Mitsunari could do at this time. Nothing he could say could bring back Ieyasu - he could shout and growl, he could clench his teeth and tear at his skin but that would not bring his enemy back. Nor would it bring back Lord Hideyoshi.

He needed to be patient.

Leaning against the wall for support, Mitsunari slowly began to rise up to his feet. His head pressed against the surface, leaning a smear of red-orange against it from the blood that seeped from his forehead. He stays there and steadies himself. He is still angry, still filled with regret, sadness and disappointment - but he cannot dwell on that