On the day they returned to the castle, it was midday. Mitsunari, relieved to be home, sprawled on his bed as soon as he was able and fell asleep. Masazumi came in quietly to check on him, then left.

When he woke again, it was because Chibi was jumping up and down on his back. He groaned and sat up. Tugging on his sleeve, the puppy barked and danced around near the doorway. He hauled himself to his feet and followed the puppy, still rubbing the sleep from his eyes.

Chibi led him to the wide open balcony. His brother and the two strategists were there, and so was Shiranui. She was waving a piece of paper around in her teeth and begging for something.

"What's going on?" Mitsunari asked.

Shiranui pranced over to him and he inspected the paper. There were two pictures drawn on it. One was a circle with a line through one end and the other was a long cylindrical object.

"We can't figure out what your wolf is asking," Yoshitsugu said.

Mitsunari looked at the paper again, then out over the castle grounds. "The second picture looks like the incense cannon."

"So she wants to use the cannon to launch bombs?" Motonari frowned. "But what for?"

Mitsunari smiled. Then his shoulders shook and he clapped a hand over his mouth. A few moments later he was laughing. Masazumi raised an eyebrow, a grin spreading across his face, while Motonari and Yoshitsugu exchanged glances.

At last, he recovered. "She wants to use the cannon to launch her fireworks. They're not bombs."

Shiranui nodded so furiously that it looked like her head would pop off.

Motonari smiled. "I see."

"The cannon is not a toy, wolf," Yoshitsugu said. "It wasn't designed to shoot fireworks."

Whining, she made her best begging face and put her paws on his palanquin, almost tipping him into the ground before Mitsunari grabbed the scruff of her neck and pulled her away.

"She'll be the death of me one day," Yoshitsugu remarked.

Shiranui whined again, begging for permission to use the cannon. Chibi sat beside her and made big eyes to help.

"I don't care," Masazumi said, shrugging. "The cannon wasn't made to fulfil one purpose. Let her do what she wants."

Barking, Shiranui butted his knee thankfully.

"Well," Motonari said, "we do have cause to celebrate. And I can't remember the last time I saw fireworks."

"Neither can I," Mitsunari murmured.

Yoshitsugu sighed. "Very well. As you wish."

"I see someone has no appreciation for fireworks," Motonari remarked.

"And I wouldn't have expected someone to have such an appreciation to begin with."

"Stop it, you two." Mitsunari glared at them. "Let Shiranui do what she wants."

"I'm not sure about this," Yoshitsugu said. "What if she breaks the cannon?"

"She won't." He remembered a broken walkway that mysteriously repaired itself while his back was turned. "Even if she does, she'll have a way to fix it."

Shiranui yipped and jumped up and down in joy.

#

When night fell, Mitsunari hurried to the balcony to wait for the fireworks. Both Shiranui and Chibi were at the cannon, though he couldn't see them from here. It was a clear night, with the stars perched overhead. Yoshitsugu was observing the sky as usual, and Mitsunari glanced around. There was no sign of Motonari.

He jumped when a loud boom rang out, and looked up to see the first shower of colour light the sky. More bombs launched in rapid succession, adding different shades of sparks to the display. These particular ones were smaller - perhaps they were Chibi's. He couldn't help smiling.

He and Yoshitsugu remained there in silence, side-by-side, watching as the colours shifted hue and pattern. A familiar tranquility filled him and he welcomed it.

Minutes passed. Motonari still didn't show up, and there was no sign of Masazumi either.

"Where's Motonari?" he asked at last.

"He said he preferred a view closer to the ground."

"Why didn't he tell -" Mitsunari heaved a sigh. Of course. "Can't you two get along?"

"Please, Mitsunari. You know I am quite reasonable, but he was being difficult."

"I'm going to go look for him." He turned to go and looked over his shoulder. "Are you coming?"

"Perhaps later."

Mitsunari didn't want to leave him alone so suddenly, but he had no choice. Motonari had done this on purpose to get him to join him. If he didn't show up, the strategist would get angry at him - again - and he wasn't about to let that happen. So he went, exiting the castle grounds and heading for the large hill nearby. Soldiers from all the different armies mingled there, drinking and having a good time.

Mitsunari scanned the area for the most isolated spot. There, at the top of the hill. He made his way over and was glad to see that he had guessed right. Motonari sat there alone, as far apart from everyone else as possible, and looked up as Mitsunari joined him.

"I thought you forgot about me," Motonari remarked.

"I didn't know you were going to be melodramatic about it."

"Hardly. Yoshitsugu and I couldn't come to an agreement. I told him to tell you that I'd be here. Didn't he say anything?"

Mitsunari pressed a hand against his face and suppressed a groan. Having two strategists was worse than one. Especially if they were bickering.

"The view here is better," Motonari said, ignoring him.

"You weren't waiting long?"

A sweet smile. "No. Not really. Although I would have appreciated it if you had gotten here before Chousokabe came and bothered me. It's amazing what drinking does to a man."

"Some sake would be nice. I should have brought something."

"How inconsiderate."

"I was too busy hurrying down here to find you!" he spluttered.

"I was only teasing. Calm down."

They fell silent and watched another series of fireworks blossoming. Mitsunari was wondering why the explosions were so small now when he saw two familiar shapes running towards them.

"Onii-sama? Shiranui?" he exclaimed. "What are you doing here?"

"You'll see," Masazumi said.

Shiranui put a basket down and wagged her tail. They opened it and found a tokkuri and sake cups inside, as well as a generous amount of mochi.

Mitsunari raised an eyebrow. "Where did you get the mochi?"

She gave him a smug look. I made it myself.

"As if we're supposed to believe that," Motonari said dryly.

"It's true." Masazumi shrugged. "She came to find me with the basket."

Wagging her tail again, she barked. Enjoy yourselves. Then she bolted back towards the castle.

They spread everything out between them and examined the snow-white mochi.

"She wasn't lying," Motonari said, picking one up. "Look, you can see pawprints on them. I wonder who pounded it for her."

Mitsunari glanced at the rest. "I hope she washed her paws before making these."

"She wouldn't be so thoughtless." The mochi stretched as the strategist bit into it.

They waited as he chewed, and from the way he closed his eyes, it must be divine.

"Is it that good?" Masazumi asked.

"Try one for yourself. It's almost a waste to eat it."

Motonari was right. The mochi was heavenly. Though there were quite a few pieces left, they only had two each and couldn't bring themselves to eat the rest.

"Let's save it," Mitsunari suggested. "Motochika and Yoshitsugu might appreciate it."

"Whatever you want." Motonari poured the sake. "I couldn't eat any more anyway."

"I'll take the basket to them," Masazumi said, his eyes flicking slyly between them. "I'll be back later."

With that, he left, and Mitsunari watched him go with some resignation - obviously his brother felt that he was interrupting. The two brothers preferred being together most of all, and the younger Ishida hadn't wanted him to leave like that.

As they drank, Mitsunari remembered the first time they had shared a drink. It all seemed so long ago now. He sneaked a glance at Motonari, whose eyes were still fixed on the sky above. The fireworks were large again, indicating that Shiranui had gotten back to the cannon, and now they were forming shapes.

He wondered, briefly, if the display was visible from the east.

"You didn't seem the type to enjoy fireworks," Motonari remarked.

Mitsunari glowered at him. "What do you mean by that?"

"Your face just now. That's exactly what I meant."

He snorted. "I have a sense of refinement. Besides, I…"

Fireworks are meant to be enjoyed with people precious to you, he wanted to say. But for some reason the words lodged in his throat.

"You what?" Motonari asked.

"N-Nothing," he stammered, trying to think of a better way to phrase his thoughts. Some things were just so difficult to say.

Shaking his head, Motonari emptied the tokkuri between them. Perhaps he already knew. Mitsunari was just glad to be here with him on such a peaceful and beautiful night. A powerful warmth surged through his breast, something he hadn't felt in a long time.

The fireworks decreased in frequency as the show wound down. Perhaps the wolves were getting tired. For most of the spectators, it didn't matter - the partying would continue, fireworks or not.

Motonari glanced at him and then hid his mouth with a hand, trying not to laugh.

"What?" Mitsunari grumbled. Maybe the sake was going to the strategist's head. "Is there something on my face?"

"No. But I can't help it if I find Sakichi to be a cute name."

"You -" His cheeks burned. "How did you - when - "

Motonari laughed. "Chibi came to me earlier and wrote that name. I suppose he wanted to know if it meant anything. When I asked where he got it from, he wrote your name."

"I can't believe he remembered such a thing when I was teaching him to read," he mumbled. "Why did he have to ask you?"

"Do you really dislike me that much?"

"Fine, what was your name?"

"That's for you to find out." Motonari hid another smile, though he couldn't stop himself from giggling.

Mitsunari just glared. As the last of the fireworks scattered out across the sky, even as the sparks of colour faded away, they revealed the glittering stars up above. The beauty of the night would continue for some time.

The strategist shifted a little closer to him, and their fingers brushed together. Gazing into each other's eyes, the two smiled before turning their attention back to the sky. At last, they had time to bask in their companionship again, and together they would keep the peace throughout the country.

For Mitsunari, as long as Motonari was at his side, he was happy.

Amaterasu - The End