I don't own Basara. Four days , four days to go!


Chapter 18: A Fresh Start...


Against Mizu's very loud protests, Nobu decided he would be better off seeing to Dango at home, and invited us to join them on their way there. Our stuff was collected from the ground and thrown into the back of their cart with ease, and Ranmaru seated inside to save his legs.

Walking on ahead with Dango, Mizu's angry mutterings met us, Nobu shaking his head and Hanzo laughing at her. "She's alright when you get to know her. That part just takes a while."

"Can I expect arrows pointed at me for a while then?" Shrugging, Hanzo lifted his arms up, folding them behind his head as he walked in an attempt to appear cool and relaxed, promptly tripping over thanks to his new pose. "You okay?"

Pushing himself off the floor, Hanzo shrugged again, jogging to keep up with Nobu's cart. His small act of clumsiness actually brought a smile to my face, demented as it sounded. He wasn't fake like other people were.

"I see you've managed to reach an agreement with him," He smiled, nodding up at Talon's swooping form.

"Yeah, we did."

"Good to hear, he's a good bird, and loyal."

By the time Ranmaru's stomach growls had reached their loudest, and Mizu had simmered down enough to join him in the cart, a village came into view at the base of the hill we were on, Nobu visibly lightening to see it. A few minutes later, and I could see why, "Daddy, Daddy you're home!"

"Dad's back!"

Laughing with good cheer, Nobu hopped off the cart, seizing two children from the floor and swinging them about. Wearing a similar grin, Mizu stepped from the back, even extending a hand to help Ranmaru out.

A small crowd was gathering, a woman breaking from the ranks to rescue Nobu from the twins threatening to drag him to the ground, all three of them bearing the same light brown hair and wide eyes, contrasting Nobu's dark exterior. "Chiyome, we met these pair out in the forest. Their horse threw his shoe."

By now the crowd had grown bored, so Chiyome blinked at her husband, turning to face us. Suddenly feeling shy under her gaze, Ranmaru ducked behind me, making her raise an eyebrow, but bow all the same, speaking as she did, "Welcome to Kodokuna Village. My name is Taka Chiyome, you've met my husband Nobu, and these are my children Sora and Tsukiko."

She made the two children bow too, their movements perfectly synched. Were it not for Tsukiko's pigtails and pink yukata against her brother's blue, it would've been extremely challenging to tell them apart.

Meeting the gesture, I felt Ranmaru follow likewise, "My name is Sayomi, and this is my…" I glanced down at him, finally taking the liberty, "Younger brother, Ranmaru."

Taking the hesitation in stride, Chiyome allowed Nobu to explain the situation to her, finally nodding her head. "It would be our honour to have you stay in our home, Oda Sayomi and Mori Ranmaru."

Bristling slightly at the last names, even if one was incorrect, I felt my body prepare to run for it, hand closing around Ranmaru's wrist, much to Nobu's enjoyment, "You're safe here children, we're not going to turn you in." Noting no change in my posture, the large man gave a sigh, planting a hand on Sora's head, "I swear on the life of my children that no-one in this village will betray who you are."

Gaping slightly, Mizu suddenly cut in, apparently appealing to Chiyome alone, "You can't make that decision! That privilege belongs to the Elder, remember?"

"He would not allow us to turn them away after making the invitation, Mizu. Perhaps he will agree with you and ask them to leave, but until then, they're our guests. Understand?" The steel was unmistakable; Chiyome's voice cutting down the argument before it could grow, making the older girl nod reluctantly, "Good. Sora, Tsukiko, please, show our guests to our house and wash for supper."

"Okay Mommy!"

"Leave it to us!" Marching up to us, Sora latched onto my hand, while Tsukiko took Ranmaru's. "This way, my Lady!" Being pulled along by two half pints aside, today was certainly turning out better than most of them had after Oda's death. Whoever this Elder was, I hoped he ruled in our favour.


Slowly opening the door to check on the children, Nobu allows himself a small smile at the four lumps on the floor, Chiyome joining him a second later. "Mizu will make things hard for you." She warns, leaning into his embrace. "Should I leave some sake out?"

"Please do, she's hard to argue with at the best of times. This prejudice isn't good for her."

"Try telling her that." Chiyome gently kisses him on his cheek, "Now shoo, you'll be late."

Despite her worries and me at the door to ensure that they don't come to fruition, we meet most of the council going in, each nodding to the elderly man seated on the dais. "Shall we begin? Is everyone present?" A general call of agreement goes up, the man nodding once more, "Who will start?"

"I will." Mizu announces, already getting to her feet, "I refuse to have them here. They're both killers."

"Are we so different?" Nobu argues, and the council retreats slightly, knowing that this will simply be resolved between them. "Did we not meet them as we were returning from dealing with the Devil King?"

"We could not afford his rise to power, here we have a choice. Elder please, send them away."

"On what grounds, Kobayashi Mizu?" The Elder queries, stroking his beard as he speaks, "We cannot simply leave them to fend for themselves."

"The Oda army will have remnants, men who will gather behind them at their call!"

"Sorry to interrupt," I break in, not cowering under Mizu's furious glare, "We all heard what Katakura Kojuro said to Date Masamune about the pair we are currently discussing."

"Which was?" Clearly the Elder is amused by how heated the council seems to be getting.

"He told him, and I quote, 'She and the boy both died in the fire at Honno-Ji. Akechi brought the temple down before I could get to them.'"

"They have no skills!" Mizu suddenly hisses, grasping at straws to keep her argument strong, "Noble's children like they are can't work the field, and I doubt they'll help with Village business!"

The rest of the council dissolve into murmurs, unable to truly pick a side, giving Nobu the chance he needs to think. I can tell when an image suddenly hits him, and he stands again, looking straight at the Elder, "The boy can hunt and the girl can read. I have been witness to both." Pondering this, the Elder strokes his beard again, and Nobu knows he's won, it's all in his expression,

"So long as they remain of use to us, I see no reason why they should not be housed by us." The look of happiness on my face is only just overshadowed by the scowl on Mizu's.

Hanzo Kobayashi, aged 17


When I woke up in the morning, it was to humming and loud protests that the voice's owner did not need a bath, he'd washed yesterday. Family sounds, ones that for a split second were welcome in my half asleep delirium.

Of course, then I heard Ranmaru's voice, and I was up like a shot, quickly stepping into the next room, where the twins were educating him on the best way to get extra portions while Chiyome's back was turned. "You're awake," She smiled, reaching behind her to get an extra bowl. "Sleep well?"

"Yes, thank you."

"Good to hear. Though I am surprised that these two," The twins suddenly dropped their gaze, eating their rice in large mouthfuls that even Ranmaru couldn't match, "Didn't wake you with all their shouting."

I couldn't help laughing, taking a small portion for myself, "I must've been having a good dream then. Usually I'm awake before Ran."
Chiyome opened her mouth to speak, only for another door to open, Nobu staggering out and holding his head, "You've poisoned me, I knew you were up to no good with that grin last night!"

"Daddy's drunk!" Tsukiko giggled, receiving a hair ruffle from her father.

Despite this, I caught the nervous look on Ranmaru's face, the feeling of worry encroaching on me too. Oda was usually jovial when he was drunk, but seeing as the man drank sake like it was water some days, you were never quite sure if he was ordering another flask of the stuff, or an execution. Not that he ever did execute anyone under the influence of course that was below him.

But Nobu subverted our expectations, merely taking the final seat around the table, and helping himself to a large piece of fish that was on offer. "Yes, I did notice the empty jug this morning, dear husband. You didn't invite any of the others back did you?"

"Well, young Itsuki did look pretty thirsty when I saw her…"

"Nobu, she's twelve!" By now, Sora and Tsukiko were unable to control their laughter, and a glance at either parent showed they were simply performing for their audience. All the same, I kept my giggles discreet, hiding them behind my hand, while Ranmaru wore a small smile.

"Alright, I admit it, I'm a helpless drunk!"

"You don't need to admit it to me, your father did when I married you."

"That traitor! So that was why you were keeping me from going out with the men after!"

That one finally did it for me, I snorted in the least ladylike way possible, Ranmaru joining the twins as they clutched their stomachs in laughter. "That reminds me, good news from last night's meeting!"

Sobering up instantly, Chiyome took a careful look at me, "And?"

"The Elder has officially invited you both to stay. The house down the lane's yours whenever you feel like taking it."

"And in return?" I asked, knowing such a thing couldn't come free. Having taken a mouthful of fish, Nobu held up a hand while he chewed, finally swallowing it a few moments later, "Ranmaru, you'll be joining Mizu on the hunt. You were quick with your bow yesterday, and we need that to keep everyone fed."

Nodding, Ranmaru gave me an excited look, the prospect of keeping his archery up keeping his day on a good track, "And you Sayomi have unfortunately been outed by your actions last night." I flushed, recalling how Chiyome had eyed my books with curiosity, my voice echoing through the house as I read aloud to her, "There's always room for a scribe here, and the Elder also asks that you teach the village's children how to read."

"Oh, she can do that." Ranmaru broke in, giving me a triumphant look. "You've just given her an excuse to surround herself with books all day!"

"Ranmaru!" I hissed, the blush growing larger by the second.

He gave a slightly cocky look, but was distracted by another groan from Nobu, who was at the 'swearing off drink for life' stage of a hangover. Shaking her head, Chiyome got to her feet, "Remind me why I put up with you?"

"Because you love me, now please for the love of everything holy and everything alcoholic, get me your cure!" Widely smiling, she left through the back door, returning a few minutes later with a small vial in hand. Placing it in front of her husband, Chiyome began collecting the dirty dishes, telling the twins to start getting ready for the day.

Making to follow them, I was firmly pushed back down by her, "I want that plate clear, young lady. If you're going to be moving into that house, I guarantee you'll be tired halfway through and all because you didn't eat breakfast."

The look in her eyes quelled any arguments, and I slowly picked up my bowl again, trying not to let my happiness show too much. With Chiyome around, shepherding our lives, I could see this transition going a whole lot smoother on Ranmaru, especially if she did turn out to be like Nohime.

But she looked a great dealer younger too, and when I asked how old the twins were, she smiled slightly, admitting they were six. This meant, going by her youthful face, and marital experience she was around twenty, the same as Gracia had been.

Looking at her, I couldn't help but wonder at how different she was from the ninja, and whether Gracia would've been like her, had she been born as a peasant. While Nobu drank his cure, and I ate my breakfast, still in my red underdress, there was a knock at the door, Chiyome momentarily pausing in her tidying to open it, "Itsuki, come in!"

The name caught my attention, especially seeing as Nobu had attempted to blame the lack of alcohol in the house on her. But the twelve year old bouncing in the hall looked far too innocent to have even heard of alcohol. She was dressed in a blue tank top and armoured skirt, with yellow earmuffs, straw boots and a white fluffy scarf and gloves the only hint that she felt the elements.

But it was her hair that caught my attention, two gravity defying braids in a very fetching light blue shade.

Ignorant to my staring, Itsuki shook her boots off and held out a basket to Chiyome, "I found these near the fields. Are they the right ones?" While the herbs were inspected, the brown eyes fell on me, darkening slightly, "Are you the samurai everyone was talking about?"

I nodded, ed for some reason of how she would react, "I am."

"The one who served that meanie Oda?"

Somehow I knew lying was not going to get me out of this situation, and judging by the way Itsuki was staring at me, I knew she'd pick up on anything I said. "I was branded a traitor by one of his men and turned my back on them. I may as well serve the Date."

For some, inexplicable reason, that last sentence made Itsuki smile, and she came to sit next to me at the table. "You know Masamune? You know the Blue Dragon?"

"He promised Itsuki that he'd protect villagers from the bad samurai." Chiyome butted in, ruffling Itsuki's fringe as she put a cup of water in front of Nobu.

"Since then, she's idolised him."

Nodding fiercely, Itsuki opened her mouth as though to ask another question, but was beaten to it by Ranmaru, who'd finally recovered his voice, even if he was blushing worse than I had at New Years, "You were the one who led that peasant army last year, weren't year?"

At Itsuki's next nod, I nearly spat out my water. During Oda's rise to power, there had been a small uprising that had been giving us trouble, but it had been quelled nearly as fast. Back then, we'd assumed they'd faced the inevitable and gone home, but now I realised it was because of Masamune. No wonder he'd been so mad about innocents getting pulled in, and why he'd hesitated on killing Ranmaru as my 'little brother' had described on the road. The guy really had a soft spot for kids.

But Chiyome's words also gave me a reason to worry, "We're in Date lands?"

Finally coherent again, Nobu gave a slight wave of his hand, "Technically yes, but we've long agreed that as long as we pay our taxes on time, soldiers stay away from here." Sensing the conversation was over, I ate the last mouthful of my breakfast, and got to my feet, just as the twins came in from getting dressed.

Retreating to change myself, I ended up standing in the centre of the room, engaging in thought that was probably deeper than was healthy. If soldiers never came here, then how did they protect themselves? Mizu was the only one I'd seen with a weapon since arriving here, and that would explain her hatred of samurai if she constantly had to deal with them.

But a lone woman, no matter how determined couldn't possibly stand up to an entire army. There had to be something else here, something I wasn't getting. Shaking the thoughts away, I began getting dressed, tying the same robes as I had back in Gifu and brushing my hair with my fingers.

For the slightest second I thought about braiding it again, but settled for securing it at the bottom, bringing my tied bangs to rest on my shoulders rather than letting them dangle like normal. A new style, for a new life.