Mitsuhide did not immediately reply. He lingered in Motochika's embrace for a little while longer, drawing comfort from his friend's physical presence, before stepping back in deference to propriety and bowing his head.

This was not going to be easy for him.

"Lord Motochika, you... you died..."

His voice was cracked and uncertain; there was obvious sorrow there, the mark of a man who had been in mourning for the most important person in his life.

"At Yamazaki. Kuroda Kanbei's unit defeated you, left you to die. I reached you too late..."