and please, believe me when I say (closed)

[ex_onslaught851]

WHO: Yukimura, Saitou, Zhao Yun
WHAT: Conversations about the aftermath + Nagashino + feelings things
WHERE: Resistance Army Camp
WARNING(S): To be determined?

[So we have a Saitou/Yukimura conversation and a Zhao Yun/Yukimura conversation happening up in here. GOOD? GOOD.]

Comments

[ex_onslaught851]

[After Saitou and Zhao Yun had dragged him back to camp, Yukimura had been asleep for most of the time since then. The mental toll on him had been worse than the physical, but he was beginning to recover slowly. Even so he wasn't allowed to stray too far on his own, just in case.

Regardless, he too had a duty to his men, and so once he'd been cleared to he'd gone to check up on the casualties from Nagashino. It was high... too high for his liking, and the guilt which had become an all too familiar feeling as of late returned in full force.

When he returned to the officer's tent himself, he caught sight of someone else-- someone he recognised, and it was hard to ignore the way his heart leapt in his chest, though that too was quickly overwhelmed by guilt. There was much to talk to him about, it seemed, but he wasn't exactly sure that Zhao Yun wished to speak with him right now. Still...]

Zilong?

[It had been a long time since he'd called him that. Hopefully he didn't mind Yukimura doing so.]

[dragonrises]

[he turns with a fond little smile - it has indeed been a long time, and it's nice. Music to one's ears, in fact]

Yukimura. Have you wriggled out from the watchful eye of the healers, too?

[ex_onslaught851]

I have - though it took me quite some time. It seems as though they were rather determined to keep me.

[And they hadn't let him forget about the fact that he'd been quite keen to hold onto two certain warriors, too.

The smile is easily returned, and Yukimura crosses over to join him.]

Are you feeling better?

[dragonrises]

[yes, extracting himself from that grip had been interesting. But his cuts and bruises are healing nicely beneath his clothes]

More or less. I feel better when I'm able to go about my duties, and not stay cooped up in bed somewhere. What about you?

[ex_onslaught851]

I still feel quite... tired, admittedly. But I do not wish to continue to sleep my days away. I too feel better when I am able to be productive.

[Not that they'd let him do too much at the moment, but Yukimura was doing his best with what he had.]

[dragonrises]

That battle took a lot out of you. Let yourself recover. Though, I can certainly understand wanting to stay busy. You look well enough. [color back in his cheeks, and all that]

I will remain here with my men until I receive word from my lord. It could be a while. I hope that is acceptable?

[ex_onslaught851]

[Speaking of colour in his cheeks, Yukimura flushes slightly at his words.]

You and your men are welcome to stay for as long as you like, Zilong. That has always been the case, and it will never change. There is not much here, but I hope that you will be comfortable enough.

[dragonrises]

I am sure I will. It cannot be worse than some of the places we had to hole up in while searching for my lord, so long ago. [wow, it really had been some time, hadn't it? It's almost nostalgic, now]

It is good to have the chance to fight by your side once more.

[ex_onslaught851]

[That makes Yukimura smile again.]

Yes, I am sure that you have dealt with worse. Still, hopefully the hospitality here is not quite that bad, and thankfully the circumstances we have reunited in this time are not as dire as all of that.

It is good to see you again too, Zilong.

[dragonrises]

[he eases into a chair left by one of the healers] So. [hmm now how to approach his curiosity...?] Lord Saitou. He is from your country, is he not?

[ex_onslaught851]

[Oh, Yukimura knows where this is going. Not that it will stop him from answering Zhao Yun's questions truthfully.]

Yes. Though he is from nearly three hundred years after my own time.

[dragonrises]

[an obvious blink of surprise] That long? I had no idea. He seems to be a fine warrior, either way. Surely, we would not have made it out of that battle alive if not for him.

[a skillfully short pause, so that the next question doesn't come off sounding wrong] How long has he been a member of the coalition?

[ex_onslaught851]

I was rather surprised to learn of it myself. But at the same time, I am relieved that some things have not changed, even so long after my own time.

[That earns him a curious look.] It has been quite some time now - well over half a year, at least. He has been a valuable asset to our army.

[Not that he's going to ask why Zhao Yun is curious about that all of a sudden.]

[dragonrises]

Is that so? Well...good. At least that means that Orochi's minions are not suddenly pulling more strangers here from across time.

[it was only a moment of curiosity, nothing more. But it's surprising to him that it's been that long. Shu has been curled up in its own little corner of the realm too long]

[ex_onslaught851]

That seems to be true, for the most part. I certainly hope that it stays that way - we hardly need more complications.

[Then again, saying something like that meant that complications were bound to come knocking, just because they knew they weren't welcome.]

[dragonrises]

No, indeed. Sorcery and a resurgence of demons are complicated enough.

[what else did he need to ask Yukimura about? Oh, right...]

We lost a number of men in that battle. There may be a few things we need in order to observe their burial rites properly. Would I be able to ask around the camp for them?

[ex_onslaught851]

Of course - please do not hesitate to ask for anything you may need. I am sure that Lord Shingen would be more than happy to grant you anything you wish for.

[Considering how much Yukimura had talked about him to Shingen, that was truer for him than most...]

[dragonrises]

Thank you. [a bit of a smile] I should perhaps give my regards to Lord Takeda as well. It has been a very long time, indeed.

[and for a moment he just sits and gazes at Yukimura, as if looking him over to see if he had changed at all since the last time they were together. Maybe remembering some of the things they used to do and say, the places they've been and things they talked about...]

[ex_onslaught851]

I am sure that he would very much like to see you - though please do not let his teasing get to you too much.

[Why the warning? Because Yukimura hadn't hesitated to talk to his lord about how much he'd enjoyed the time that they'd spent together. Not the more personal details, of course, but Takeda Shingen had a way of picking up on things that most others did not.

When he meets Zhao Yun's gaze, he's not entirely sure what to say after that. Yukimura doesn't feel as though either of them have changed a lot - at least, it's been easy to relax in his company as always, and talk about things as though they hadn't been apart for all this time.]

[dragonrises]

[he's of the same mind - it's like they had never been apart at all. Now that the formalities had been taken care of, they were free to pick up where they left off, weren't they?

Well. Mostly]

I have missed your presence, my friend. Even among my countrymen, with my lord and his family safe, and our people settled, I have still thought of you often.

[ex_onslaught851]

I too have thought of you often - it has not been the same without you around. When the war started again... I found myself hoping that you would return to our side, and fight alongside us once more.

[Return to his side, specifically. But it was hard to admit quite that much right now, even if the colour in his cheeks might have given him away.]

[dragonrises]

I had wondered, how things would turn out. But my lord is allied with Lord Tokugawa, and that does not seem to be changing for any reason. [he may not completely understand the politics of Yukimura's time, but he does know that with each of them reunited with their lords, they weren't likely to be just sent off together. Did he jump at the chance to lead the troop headed for Nagashino? Maaaaybe...]

If only the peace had lasted longer. It is much easier to find time to ride and visit other holdings when there is no need to keep reserves around for battles.

[ex_onslaught851]

Lord Tokugawa...

[His face fell a little at that. There was little chance of getting him to co-operate with them directly- and besides, Yukimura himself was none too keen on the man himself. Which meant that they might not have much time left together at all, before Zhao Yun is sent off again. He can't help but frown, his gaze shifting so he can look at the floor instead. It's hard to hide his disappointment.]

I wish that the peace had lasted longer as well. But once more I will take up the spear and fight for peace- no matter what it may take.

[dragonrises]

As will I. At least we know, no matter where we may be, we are fighting for the same cause. All of us are united together in this.

[it's small comfort, but comfort nonetheless. They really are united in this, even if they may be on opposite sides of the land]

For now, at least, I am here. And if the healers have their way, I will not even be allowed to don armor until I'm back to full strength.

[ex_onslaught851]

"No matter the distance, our hearts are as one." As Lord Kanetsugu would no doubt say, were he here.

[A small comfort, yes, but it's something. Yukimura smiles a little after that.]

And do not underestimate our healers. They are rather used to dealing with stubborn warriors, so you may be stuck here for a while yet.