Nature had done great strides in reclaiming the burnt and destroyed fortress and the battlefield surrounding it. But the echoes of cruelty were still about. And there were the people of flesh and blood that worked, hidden amongst the ruins and trees, carrying the symbols of the Oda clan, muttering half drowned in madness, dreaming of rebuilding the clan and the dream, praising Oichi as the devil queen. but they spoke of her not as part of the oda bus as if she represented something, or was something, a tool, a weapon...

Saki sneaked through the buildings that had been placed in between ruined walls, paying attention to all while inching nearer what seemed like an inner sanctum. If Oichi was indeed alive there was a chance that talking to her could resolve that situation. If not all of the people that wore Oda's mark with pride would be eliminated swiftly.

A solid bloom of darkness encircled and protected Oichi, generated by her... or for her. It seemed that whatever power over darkness she commanded was rudimentary at best. Which meant they could easily overwhelm and drown her. So Saki decided to use a respectful approach, something that should always be done when talking to a warlord. The shinobi stepped out of the shadows and knelt, bowing.

"Oichi-sama" the darkness agitated, opening like wings showing a woman that had not changed in all those years since the fall of Oda. Her eyes held empty darkness. She was but a vessel then, a shadow of a person, a puppet to something else. "Greetings."

The woman looked at her blankly, fallen on the tatami, as if half asleep. Hands of darkness rose and waved softly around her. Her dark eyes turned to Saki, blearily, empty, holding no memory or recognition. A tool. That's what she was now, just something they were using. And judging by the fanatical devotion to Oda they were willing to cross a barrier that not even Mitsunari in his devotion had considered.

"Another dream?" She whispered. "Just a dream… Just a dream… Just a dream…" Oichi sat up slowly, staring now. Saki supressed a flinch.

Ishida Mitsunari had tried to avenge his lord by sending all the people he perceived has enemies through the barrier between life and death. The Oda remnants were surely plotting to use that woman, who toed the line easily, being back when Date and Yukimura had seen her shot to death to make a monster come back from death.

Wander freely, wander far, off beneath the Devil's star

In the dark, the girl so bright, got up to see the day by night

Her fear in hand, her fear in heart, her fear did tear her soul apart

The white of flesh, the white of bone, the worms will leave your soul alone

Ask you now, and ask you may, the fate of all on this fair day

On and on the road does go, down into the depths below

Off you went to call the king, you wish to hear the Devil sing...

The singing whisper moved against the night softly. Saki sighed. Pitying her in that state was altogether too easy but… her claws twitched.

"Ichi is alone… all alone…" Oichi whispered once more, breaking away from the song, standing with the gentle help of those hands.

"Oichi-sama…" A familiar voice that Saki had not heard in years came from the entrance. The shinobi blanched, gaing for the shadows as a white-haired figure entered the small room, barely acknowledged by Oichi. "You seem quite active today. Auspicious."

"Father Tenkai." One of the remnants outside called. "It's ready…"

Saki shook her head. As unbelievable as Oichi being alive… But this one… this… man that hid behind another name without bothering to conceal much more… Katakura-dono had killed him in Honnoji… Akechi Mitsuhide…

"Come Oichi-sama. We have left your brother waiting for too long." He said smugly, guiding the lost woman out of the confining room as Saki hid in the shadow, worrying about the outcome and her duty.