By the time we got back to Edo, with a promise to visit again, Satoshi was firmly in the role of mediator. Luckily for him, Hanzo kept to a distance after walking away, rarely sticking around long enough to do more than let us know he was still in the vicinity. "Botan, his reaction isn't exactly unexpected."

"Well, it was to me. He could've just told me, like a normal person."

"Then why aren't you pissed at me? It was my plan!"

"Don't think you're getting off easy." I warned, swinging my leg over and dropping onto the ground. I waited for Satoshi to dismount as well before continuing, "Your track record just makes it a little harder to be surprised."

He was smart enough not to try saying anything to that. Nodding to indicate the subject was closed, I started dealing with the saddle and bridle, passing them to the nearest groom. I had thought about going for another ride at some point, but the idea had lost its appeal before we were even at the border. "Do you think I'm overreacting?"

"Oh don't ask me that Botan, I'm neutral in this."

"Neutral my arse, you said his reaction was reasonable."

I heard my uncle exhale heavily and mutter under his breath before speaking properly, "Maybe this could be a chance to get some space, sort this out individually. After all, you are separate people."

With that nugget of (slightly hungover) wisdom out of the way, Satoshi traipsed towards the castle, whistling. Or, at least for a few bars he did. After that he was reeling off his extensive curse list.

Rolling my eyes, I went back to brushing my horse down, the strokes getting slower as I thought. Satoshi could be trusted not to say anything about my predicament and I felt I could still trust Hanzo enough to keep his mouth shut for a bit longer, or at least as long as it took me to do a quick bit of investigating myself. Mind firmly set, I resumed my task, finishing in record time.

Like I hoped, the corridor Lady Oichi was on was still fairly deserted, my footsteps echoing enough that Miyo poked her head out of the door to see who was coming long before I was close enough to knock, "Lady Sayomi, is everything alright?"

"Everything's fine," What was it about this woman that made me lie? "I was hoping to speak to Lady Oichi in private."

Miyo frowned softly, looking into the room behind her, thinking hard. She really was protecting Lady Oichi with everything she had, in any way she could. When she glanced back, I made sure to look as unthreatening as possible, keeping my hands in sight, and my eyes on hers.

For a terrifying moment, it looked like she was going to refuse me entry, but then she gave a heavy breath and stepped to the side, "I'll just be outside."

When the door closed behind me and I located Lady Oichi, I froze stiff, paralysed by the sight of the dark hands surrounding her. Whilst I was certain there were no more repressed memories that could traumatise me, and that whatever demon possessing me probably wouldn't enjoy a roommate, I still hung back, clearing my throat to let her know I was there.

She turned in my direction, but didn't acknowledge me, her attention getting taken up again by the dark hand she had been poking at idly. Swallowing my fear, I edged closer, jumping back at the last second when one of the hands suddenly moved. The slight squeak I made finally got her attention, her eyes becoming a little more focused. "Ichi likes it here. Lord Happy is so bright. But the little ones stay away from here. Their games are played elsewhere."

Children had always been one of her weak points. Ranmaru and I would spend days at a time playing with her, and I know it was her fervent wish that, even if she was just playing a part in the beginning, she and Nagamasa would be blessed with a baby.

My mental jury remained undecided whether it was a good or bad thing that she had never conceived before Akechi murdered him.

As lonely as she sounded, she had to know I wasn't about to let Yori or Kotone play with her. Even if I needed answers, I wasn't that desperate. "I'm sorry. There aren't many children left in the castle. Is there anything else I could get for you?"

"Tama takes good care of Ichi, Brother." She continued, like she hadn't heard me. "Lord Happy talks to her a lot."

Another mention of Gracia and Oda. Forgetting why I was there for a second, I asked gently, "Lady Oichi, can you tell me what happened at Azuchi Castle? And after, if you can?"

Something strange came over her then, the haze in her eyes lifting somewhat. "I'm not a doll."

"I never said you were." I assured, too surprised by the insistence in her tone. Asking her outright would probably give me next to no information, but a letter to Masamune might. "Lady Oichi, I'm not your brother. I'm not…" I swallowed hard, "I'm not Nobunaga."

"He's behind you." She whispered, the haze returning. "I see his eyes in your face. Everything you see, he does too."

I went completely still, "You mean the thing possessing me…it's your brother?"

Lady Oichi didn't get the chance to answer me, because the door was suddenly opened, Miyo entering with a tray and a stern expression. "I'm sorry to interrupt, but the gong went for lunch a little while ago."

"Of-of course." I nodded, aware that keeping Lady Oichi healthy was one of our goals. "Thank you for speaking to me, Lady Oichi…" My voice trailed off when I turned to look at her.

She was wearing an expression comparable to ones Oda himself sometimes wore when displeased. It wasn't obvious, of course, but underneath her usual daze there was an almost imperceptible rage. Annoyance at being cut off? An unexpected pride went through me at the thought that in this way she could still fight for herself, but it quickly vanished when I realised it wasn't being aimed at me.

No, it was reserved entirely for Miyo.

I puzzled over the issue hard, only half listening to Satoshi trying to teach Kotone about aura elements. While he showed her the power of his, explaining as he turned one of the practise mannequins to ice, I kept my thoughts upstairs, a frown all over my face.

"Now, you'll find ice suits people who use styles like iaijutsu or ones similar to it. Helps their speed if their opponent's frozen to the ground. Example being…?"

"Lord Uesugi?"

"Right. Now, fire is more fitting for those very much focused on damage. You said Mizu used fire when shooting?"

"I think that was her aura. Sayomi?" I didn't answer, still trying to think the matter over. Kotone sent a look to Satoshi, who gave an annoyed sigh, pulling his sword back out. Without shouting a warning, or at least one to me, the hay block I was sat on was suddenly split in half, a line of ice spikes leading back to my uncle already beginning to melt.

"Lovely of you to join us, Botan. Do you need the question repeating?"

"I'm not your student any more, no need to talk down." Despite myself, I hastily rewound the last couple of minutes, finally finding something that sounded like it had been aimed my way, "Yeah, Mizu used fire." I turned my tone into something more instructing, looking over to Kotone, "An archer like Mizu is very susceptible to being rushed. Arrows laced with fire or ice can go a long way in delaying an enemy."

Satoshi gave a reluctant nod, "Very good Botan. What about lightning?"

This time it was Kotone who piped up, a grin splitting her features, "Flashy and loud?"

"For certain show off dragons and their eyes, that's right."

"There's more to it than just pretty lights," Satoshi lectured, fully immersed in his teaching role, "As most armour's made of metal nowadays, lightning's proving its worth more with every war. That's obviously ignoring that swords and spears have been made of the stuff since our ancestors realised how well it put holes in the other person."

"Eloquent as ever."

"I try not to waste my education." Kotone's giggling made his chest deflate again, his eyes sending her the least effective glare I had ever seen, including ones I used to send to Mizu.

"What about you Sayomi?" Kotone suddenly asked, making snap out of my mental montage of the early days of mine and Mizu's friendship. "What element do you have?"

"Don't have one." I answered breezily, taking a seat on the hay bale again. "I don't have a battle aura for it to use."

"But you told me that great warriors had them."

"Guess that means I'm not as good as I thought." I shrugged, grinning all the same. In truth, I did find it just a little bit funny.

Satoshi however, misread my words and smile, "A Hiroto feeling sorry for herself. There's a new sight." I gave him a glance that lasted long enough to read his expression before turning back to Kotone, comfortable that he wasn't going to start lecturing.

It was hard, finding a place to start my explanation, "I never really needed it. Under Oda it was just a shield, so the element was never needed. I guess I just fell out of practise, so it buggered off."

"Can't you read them though?" Kotone asked, expression turning into recollection a second later, "I mean, before Oichi did that weird thing with your eyes."

"'Weird thing'?"

"I don't know, how would you describe it?"

I didn't get a chance to do more than start my laugh, Satoshi's voice cutting into the sound in a commander's tone, "Botan, get your sword. We're having a spar."

With a quick look at Kotone, who was about as confused as I was, I cautiously collected my katana, and slipped off the hay, letting her take my seat, even though it was gradually falling apart thanks to the attack Satoshi had sent it.

My uncle let me take a space opposite him, sword back in its sheath and ready to be pulled at a moment's notice. I copied his stance, putting a foot behind me after a second's thought. We hadn't even locked swords yet, but already I had a bad feeling about this. Satoshi was radiating focus, something he usually reserved for his pipe or his flask.

Bracing myself was probably the smartest decision I could've made, because a split second before drawing his sword, his aura flared up and nearly sent me onto my back. I take pride in the fact that my mind was able to scream shitshitshit a few times before he came flying at me. Bending backwards to avoid the first swing, my hands fumbled on my own sword, and it was only by taking a few steps back that I was able to keep my head when his sword came back around. "Jeez Satoshi, try a little harder!" I snapped, furious at my own paralysis. "You very nearly knocked off your heir!"

"Other way around, I keep telling you that!" Satoshi lectured, backing up a few steps at last. Well, now that I had estimated the years off my life to be around five, I finally took a small breath.

In just a few short swipes, Satoshi had nearly killed me, and he hadn't even used any of his ice moves yet. Whatever lesson he was trying to teach this time, I'd be lucky to survive learning it.

Satoshi moved his sword down so the tip tapped the ground, before moving forwards a few steps taking the last few at a run. This time I mirrored his movements, swinging my sword for his neck at the last second. With only a second to block it, Satoshi only just managed it, a grin on his face nonetheless, "Now we're talking, Botan." He was doing great at keeping my blade away from his throat, but when he tried for more, I had the upper hand. All it would take was one second, and blood would've been drawn. Just a scratch, and we could go back to teaching Kotone, like we had been.

I let myself grin slightly, even though the reflection in my sword showed bright red eyes. Adjusting my grip slightly, I put a tiny bit more pressure on, hoping it would break the stalemate. And because of it, I didn't notice what Satoshi was planning until his foot came down on mine.

From any other opponent I might've expected something like it. But from my uncle?! To make matters worse, he took advantage of my brief lapse of concentration, bringing his foot back up and breaking the stalemate enough that he was able to plant it into my stomach. Other than hurting like a bitch, it almost made me choke, and Satoshi put his new advantage to good use, taking a few urgent steps back.

Coughing harshly to ease the bruise that was probably forming, I ignored Kotone's gasp of shock before turning my head to the side and spitting onto the ground, clearing my throat again.

Alright, forget friendly. I was going to cut off his fucking head.