Anyone who's read Sibling Support and has not read my profile page should know that this is the first part of Sibling Support, I will write for that when this is finished... well, if I finish it
Disclaimer: I don't own anything! Except Sakura, she is my own created character, second daughter of Tadakatsu Honda, thus making her Ina's younger sister
Chapter 1: Preparing For Battle
Sakura sat up in bed, head resting against the wall, staring at the opening to the room, the strong, cold, wind was making the door slide open and closed, making the moonlight shine in every time the door slid open, Sakura had the bed furthest away from the door, so the moonlight mostly shone over her sisters bed, Sakura had always considered Ina the more beautiful and in this light, with Ina sleeping in the moonlight and Sakura watching her in the shadows, well, in her opinion it only made her right. But she was afraid that the cold wind howling through the door would wake her sister up, she quietly got up and crept over to the door and closed it, and wrapped the lock around the door, even though it was Sakura that needed the sleep for a battle the next day... Well, later that day, it was Ina who was getting married soon, and she needed her sleep. Sakura tiptoed back to her bed and lay down under the covers, she was trying to concentrate about leaving for the battle tomorrow and, while she was trying to remember what Hanzo had said to her, it was her first battle and he and her father were making sure that she was prepared, even though she doubted that Hanzo would let her out of his sight, and while she was thinking, sleep finally claimed her.
Sakura would have liked to have slept in the next morning, but Ina decided to wake her up in the most natural way, and the sunlight streaming through the open door forced Sakura's eyes to open, she yawned and stretched her arms above her head, not even wincing when she hit the wall, she'd been doing that since she was little, she didn't even feel any pain anymore, she looked around and saw Ina, fully dressed and brushing her long black hair at the vanity which the two of them shared in between the two beds, Ina smiled when she saw her younger sister awake "Ah, the early bird" Ina said with a light sarcasm, Sakura simply smiled in return and stood up, she'd dressed in her armour earlier so there was very little for her to do until everyone was ready to leave for Nagashino, but somehow, Sakura had a feeling that something was going to happen, something life altering... For her, at the very least, she hated that feeling, the last time she'd had it it had effectively ruined her friendship with Hanzo, and as Sakura grew, so did the distance between them, but she knew that she'd be okay with him watching over her during the battle, even though whenever she was scouting for the Tokugawa, if he wasn't on a mission, he watched over her, constantly, even though they both knew that Sakura would never feel the same way towards him as he did towards her... She'd felt guilty at the beginning, but now it all seemed to follow a pattern, and she was still relieved that she no longer felt guilt when the two rarely spoke directly to each other.
"Here" Ina said, standing up, "You've got a busier day than me" And she walked over to Sakura's bed and sat down behind her, and starting brushing her hair and, even though Sakura didn't, Ina winced with every knot. Sakura may have been the better fighter and the stronger, but it didn't stop Ina being incredibly protective of her younger sister, ever since their mother had died, Sakura looked into the vanity and saw her sister's face, she rolled her eyes "Relax Ina, you're not hurting me"
Ina pulled a face "I know but..." She looked at Sakura's face and their eyes met "I'm still your little sister... and always be will be" Sakura said in understanding and pulled a face as well, she'd had to get used to it, to her sister and father, she would never grow up, she was surprised that Tadakatsu was letting her on the battlefield, even though he'd never allowed Ina too.
Ina seemed to guess what Sakura was thinking, it was a perk as they were so close, "Sakura, you know that Lord Ieyasu asked me, but even though Father refused, if it went to me I would have probably said 'No', even though I do sometimes wonder what it's like"
Sakura smiled, "Don't let your fiancé hear you say that" Sakura teased, Ina simply smiled, used to this banter, especially lately, ever since the engagement had been announced, but Sakura's smiled faded and she stood up as soon as her hair was tied up and walked over to the corner of the room, where both of their weapons were resting, Sakura picked up her bow and spun it around a few times and Ina could sense her uneasiness, and she had a horrible feeling she knew what was wrong with her "Sakura..." She started, not entirely knowing what to say "Father won't be overlooking you on the marriage front, I'm sure he's trying to find someone for you" Sakura scoffed "Yeah right..."
Ina stood up and walked behind her sister and threw her arms around her neck "Come now Sakura, don't be like that, trust me" Ina dropped Sakura a small hint, one which she didn't miss, she turned her head to look at Ina, a small smile on her face "You know who Father's got for me?" A small smirk came to Ina's face but she shook her head "No... He's still deciding" Sakura forced Ina to release her grip when she turned around to face her sister "Ina, please promise me that you won't let him make me marry someone... Well, someone I wouldn't be happy with!" Ina could see the dread in her eyes, but Ina smiled "I promise"
Then a shadow across the door got both of their attention, it was Hanzo, he looked at Sakura, and she had learned to pick up the awkwardness in his eyes "We're ready to go" Was all he said, Sakura nodded and he left, the two sisters looked at each other for a moment before Sakura turned and left her room, Ina right behind her.
***
Meanwhile, in the Takeda camp, Yukimura Sanada was pacing up and down, his brother, Nobuyuki Sanada and Katsuyori Takeda where with him, "Relax Yukimura, we outnumber the Oda" But it didn't stop him from pacing "I have a bad feeling about this battle" Nobuyuki stood up and put his hands on Yukimura's shoulders to stop him from pacing "Yukimura! Relax! I've never seen you nervous before, especially not before a battle... Lord Shingen's thought of everything, we own most of the territory; we only need to strike at the Oda main camp before the Tokugawa arrive" Yukimura, who was forced to stand still looked at his older brother "The Tokugawa arrive tomorrow afternoon... We'll have to be fast" Katsuyori said, resting his head on his fist, the two Sanada brothers looked at him
***
Keiji Maeda was in the Oda camp, lying down near the entrance, there was a huge meeting going on around him, his uncle, Toshiie, was involved in it, mostly in friendly banter with Katsuie Shibata and Hideyoshi Hashiba, but at least they were coming up with plans, all Keiji had been told was that he was staying behind the Oda's lines until Nobunaga's order, he found it so boring, why couldn't he rush the main camp with his troops, he was strong and crazy enough to do that, but he had to follow orders. Keiji looked towards his lord Nobunaga, he was calm, like he already knew what was going to happen, Keiji had to admit, he was fairly anxious to see what Nobunaga had planned, but another part of him had a bad feeling, but he also felt strange, that somehow, after tomorrow, his life would never be the same again, but he had no idea what was causing it... All he knew was that the Tokugawa arriving would change the outcome of the battle 'Maybe that's what Nobunaga's waiting for...' Keiji thought hopefully, suddenly he heard footsteps behind him "Come on Keiji, neither of us are on watch tonight" His uncle, Toshiie, said, and Keiji stood up and walked with Toshiie back to their room, that was another thing he didn't particularly like, he had to share with his uncle because Nobunaga refused to promote him due to 'poor attitude', something which Toshiie had to always keep him in check for, but eventually, his bad mood disappeared in his sleep, and he dreamt about an angel... but she was waiting for him, and she wasn't normal... She was a warrior, even in his sleep; Keiji didn't know why he was dreaming this, he had no idea who she was.
AN: Okay so this is story 1 chapter 1, please R&R but no flames please even though criticism and advice are appreciated. Chapter 2 should be coming shortly, and in case you haven't guessed, not historically accurate!
