Like Some Child Possessed, The Beast Howls in my Veins --

[reverencing]

Characters: Ishida Mitsunari + Tokugawa Ieyasu
Location: Casualty Communal, Floor 3 (Unit J)
Rating: ...PG for now but subject to change
Time: November 7th, evening
Description: Ieyasu is back - and Mitsunari is less than thrilled about it.

Comments

[reverencing]

Ieyasu was moving swiftly but Mitsunari had always managed to be faster. Despite how the rage consumed and blinded him, those brass knuckles did not escape Mitsunari's sight. He had always been faster than the other man but he did not take Ieyasu's strength lightly. He needed to defend himself.

It was almost as though the blade in him was able to sense the inate danger of the situation he was now in. Throwing up his arm, Mitsunari steels it before his face to block Ieyasu's blow - as those brass knuckles come into contact, a loud ping! resounds through the apartment, brass colliding with the blade of a katana. Mitsunari's eyes narrow, growling as he pulls away, arm reverting back to flesh and bone once the contact breaks.

"Useless-!" he snaps, swinging his sword-arm out in a vain attempt to punch the other man back. His arm transforms again, cutting the air and narrowly missing Ieyasu's chest before once more reverting back, unable to maintain its form.

[reverencing]

Ieyasu's fist manages to collide with Mitsunari's chest, his metal breastplate taking most of the blow but the force causes the metal to dig into his body. He grits his teeth tightly and seethes, reeling from the sensation. "Useless--" he repeats through clenched teeth, grabbing hold of Ieyasu's shoulders. He does he best to try and push the other man off balance again, trying to push him back against the wall behind him.

"You will suffer for what you've done to me, Ieyasu!" he snaps, fingers digging sharply into Ieyasu's shoulders. He rakes them down towards the man's biceps as Ieyasu struggles, his jaw twisting and nose scrunching up as he narrows his green eyes, boring into Ieyasu's own. "You took everything from me..."

[reverencing]

"I want you to understand what pain is," he snarls, his nose pressing close to Ieyasu's own, green eyes unrelenting as his finger dig sharper into the other male's biceps. "Understand what your hypocrisy as wrought. The day you killed my Lord, you did not simply betray your oath as his retainer... You betrayed the trust of every man under your command, every farmer in his field, every man, woman and child that called Owari their home..."

Mitsunari draws in a sharp breath, fighting to keep himself steady, unable to break the stare he has locked on Ieyasu. His breathing comes ragged, fingers spasming a bit as they struggle to keep their tight hold. The anger continues to boil in his stomach, frustration and hatred colliding and racing through him. It's difficult to form a coherent thought, let alone speak - but he does.

"When you left my Lord to die on that field, you left me to die as well... You betrayed my trust, Ieyasu-! You betrayed me and then you come seeking my wanton brotherhood-?!" the words are coming and they're coming

[reverencing]

"You will never understand my pain-!" Mitsunari snaps, pushing Ieyasu's arms back roughly against the wall. "You talk of unity, of necessity and strife but you so eagerly cast aside your allies in favour of your useless goal... How can you expect unity and brotherhood when all you do is tear it apart-?!"

Mitsunari lets go of Ieyasu's arms but remains close, hands clenching together. "You have taken everything from me... All that I fought for, all that I've lived for," his voice is low, gaze still not leaving Ieyasu's own. "I shall never forgive you."

In Mitsunari's mind, Ieyasu would never atone for this. The only way to absolve Ieyasu of this sin would be to take a life for a life - Ieyasu's in exchange for Hideyoshi's. Without another moment of hesitation, Mitsunari's fist slams hard into Ieyasu's stomach. Though he'd intended for arm to transform, it remains nothing but flesh and bone.