The battlefield was empty now, leaving only behind bodies and banners of the Tokugawa faction. The last attack had been odd, full of aggression but incomplete. They seemed to be more focused in fighting than advancing. Saki moved a bit, sharpening her claws slowly, getting a better view, rethinking the causalities. Only two losses, one captured, most likely dead now as well due to the inner workings of the shinobi conduct. Several injured but nothing that kept them from combat.
Despite the situation of siege and guerrilla she had found moments to rest and recover. Her shadow was once more firmly trailing behind her instead of acting as a second skin. So far she hadn't been called back to the bukeyashiki, letting Katakura-dono believe she had gone back to her clan for the time being, to heal and report. He didn't question it although it felt like an uncomfortable lie, still the less he knew the better.
The shinobi sighed and sat down, clenching her hands, listening to small snaps underneath the metal. It felt a bit underhanded on her part but Tokugawa was no less opportunistic and calculating by choosing that specific time to attack. The contact, most likely spurred by Hattori Hanzo, came as no surprise after almost eight days of combat and strategy. Perhaps it was naive optimism but there was a small chance an understanding could be reached.
Both Oni-Hanzo and Honda Tadakatsu were there when she arrived to the designed meeting place, flanking the young man. He had grown, both in body and ambition. Saki examined the trio quickly, noticing the subtle differences in Tadakatsu's armour, the tension of Hanzo's grip of his favoured weapon, the spear and the fierce, determined will of Tokugawa's eyes. It was disquietingly similar to the intensity one could see in the Tiger of Kai… She bowed and waited. The shinobi had very little to tell them beyond "get out of my lord's territory".
"If the One-Eyed Dragon was to ally with me my strength would be greatly increased." Ieyasu tried, making her feel reassured that her efforts to keep them out was not in vain or a waste of time and lies. There was the old saying if you can't beat them join them. Meaning that all the attacks had also been a way to gauge their strength.
"Date does not need such compliments." Saki dismissed the underlying flattery. "And neither does he need such an alliance." Not one where he would be subordinate to another. And not when he had used a time of weakness to strike. Tokugawa Ieyasu pondered for a moment, quiet.
"Mitsunari…" Saki tensed. Then she shook the feeling away. He was as much, if not more, a Tokugawa enemy as he was the One-Eyed Dragon's. "Would he be willing to forgive him?"
"Forgiveness is for after the battle." The shinobi stated, frowning for a moment. Why would he care about such a thing? But the answer was rather obvious. Toyotomi had linked them in the past and for the younger warlord such bonds did not disappear simply because their paths flowed in opposite directions.
"One will always die." Tokugawa said, standing, ready to leave. "I cannot lose no matter what." He stated hand encased and protected by metal closing into a fist. Saki's claws twitched but she remained still, looking ahead.
"Then leave." She advised. "No matter how strong your army is the Dragon will not fall." The shinobi whispered the last words before shadowing away smoothly, leaving the meet, readying for battle once more. After a sudden bout of sickness reminded her of another reason for winning fast.
"There is something we need to discuss." Saki spoke out after the usual work with the medicine bag. Date grunted as an answer, still moving slowly, trying to make the bandaging a little less tight. Knowing there was a need for such a thing did not diminish the annoyance of feeling like a fish within a tangled net. She was wearing the light shirt that showed her legs, hair loose and wild. Hardly formal or the usually primly done braid and cold look but he liked it that way. "About my oath."
(this time of the year is murder. i apologise for shrties but workload...)