Inside the Shadows

Disclaimer: Other than a copy of Devil King, Sengoku Basara 2, Sengoku Basara 2: Heroes, and Sengoku Basara Battle Arena, I do not own Sengoku Basara. If I did, Oichi should been more useful in the anime.

Author's Note: Oichi's my favorite character… in both Basara and Musou. Actually, my two favorites are the same for both Basara and Musou. Anyway, this is set after the anime and is centered on Oichi. Pairings include… OichixNagamasa and OichixMasamune… later on… with hints of other pairings.

Chapter 1: Inside the Tiger's Den

She was running frantically, her eyes shimmering with tears that threatened to fall. She could see his back now, his armor shining against the sunlight. With a feeble voice, she called out, "Nagamasa-sama!"

Before she could reach him, she fell on the grass. She continued to stare at him as he turned around and she pleaded, "Run!"

Ear shattering sounds filled the air as her eyes widened. Time slowed as he began to fall. It resumed when she screamed, "Nagamasa-sama!"

As she run towards him, everything stopped and her eyes widened as she was now the one falling all of a sudden. As she fell, the doors opened and two figures emerged. One of them was the young tiger of Kai, the other…

"Dokuganryu…" she whispered as she landed on the floor with a thud. Her eyes stared intently at the one eye of the man. Tears began to fall from her eyes and she tried her best to breathe, whispering, "Thank you…"

She had forgotten what else she may have said as the pain that emerged from her chest began to spread, numbing her after what felt like an eternity of pain.

But she never forgot that single eye that stared intently at her as her lips moved. How they had blazed with various emotions…

Surprise…

Confusion…

Pity…

Anger…?

She had wanted to ask…

'Do you… hate Ichi too?'

But she never got a chance to ask as her eyes began to close. That's when she felt herself being swallowed slowly as if she was in a middle of a swamp. She opened her eyes once more but she could not see anything. No… that wasn't right…

She saw everything…

An endless darkness…

'Is this hell?' She had mumbled softly. Nothing answered her. She could not even see herself. But she continued to slowly be swallowed. She did not resist.

'This is Ichi's fate. It's all Ichi's fault. I'm sorry. I'm sorry." As if she was reciting a mantra, she continually whispered the same phrase over and over again.

Then…

"Ichi!" A voice far, far away called out to her.

The first thing that came into her mind was…

"Nagamasa-sama?" Her voice came to a whisper, "Where are you, Nagamasa-sama?"

Instead of replying her, the voice continued to call her out, "Ichi!"

"Nagamasa-sama!" She yelled, reaching out a hand to where she felt that the voice was coming from.

"Nagamasa-sama! Nagamasa-sama!" Forcing her entire body to move, Oichi forced her body to move towards the endless darkness.

"Nagamasa-sama!" Oichi gasped as she felt a jolt of pain coming from her chest. She fell on the soft futon once more, wincing in pain.

"Oi, oi, you shouldn't get up all of a sudden." A voice suddenly told her. Turning around, she came face to face with a man wearing a camouflage ninja suit, "Well… at least you're awake."

"Danna! Oichi-hime is awake!" he shouted, turning away from Oichi. After a few minutes of silence, he sighed and rubbed the back of his head, "Hah… Well, guess I have to see him personally."

When Oichi realized that he was about to leave, she weakly grabbed his shirt and whispered, "Wait…"

He turned around and faced Oichi, a bit surprised at the sudden gesture. Oichi whispered against the protest of her pain, "Where… am I?"

"You're-"

Before he could answer, the sliding door opened and a man wearing a red armor appeared before them, "Sasuke! Is it true?! Oichi-hime is awake?!"

The man he called Sasuke sighed once more and gently pried Oichi's hand off his shirt. Oichi realized that it was the young tiger of Kai. Facing the young tiger, Sasuke nodded and answered, "She's awake but she's still in pain."

"Ah! Then let me get the doctor!" The young tiger shouted, about to run but stopped abruptly when Sasuke grabbed his arm and dragged him inside.

"I'll get the doctor, Danna…" Sasuke said, forcing the man to sit next to Oichi's bed. Oichi stared at the man and Sasuke whispered, "She's asking where she is. I believe Danna is more suitable to explain it to her."

With that said, Sasuke disappeared, leaving Oichi alone with the loud man. The man looked at Oichi and bowed, "Please forgive my late introduction, Oichi-hime. I am Sanada Genjiro Yukimura, a retainer for Takeda Shingen of the Takeda clan."

"Take… da…" Oichi repeated slowly, even if she knew that already. It was as if she was repeating the word to get a hold of reality.

"Yes." Yukimura nodded, "At the present, you are in the main house of the Takeda. Sasuke, the shinobi that had been with you, carried you from the ruins of Azuchi castle. The doctor said that… Oichi-hime should have died."

"Eh?"

"Even the doctor couldn't explain it. The bullet should have pierced Oichi-hime's heart but… it stopped…" Yukimura looked sad all of a sudden, "He said that it would be a miracle if Oichi-hime was to ever wake up again."

"A… miracle…" Oichi repeated softly.

"Oichi… hime?" Yukimura curiously raised his head and his eyes widened as he saw tears falling from Oichi's eyes, "D-D-Does it hurt, Oichi-hime?"

"Why?" Oichi covered her eyes, "Why? Why does a miracle have to happen?"

"Eh?"

"Danna, I brought the doctor-" Sasuke appeared once more and he blinked as he saw Oichi obviously hiding her tears while Yukimura looked like he didn't know what to do. Sasuke smirked inwardly and teased his master, "Oi, oi, Danna, it's not nice to make a girl cry. Especially a princess…"

"Wha-! I-I-I didn't-! I mean-! Ah!" Yukimura lowly bowed his head, "Forgive me, Oichi-hime!"

Sasuke snickered, "Okay, okay. Danna, let's leave this to the doctor."

Sasuke took Yukimura by the collar and dragged him outside. Sliding the door closed, Sasuke let the doctor and Oichi have some privacy. From outside the sliding door, both of them could hear the quiet sobs of Oichi. Sasuke looked at Yukimura and saw him sitting patiently in front of the door. Sasuke took a few seconds before asking, "Danna… what are you doing?"

"I am waiting." Yukimura answered.

Sasuke rubbed the back of his head and asked once more, "… For… what?"

"I am waiting for the doctor to finish so I may apologize to Oichi-hime once more."

"Oi, oi. I was just joking, ya know?" Sasuke said but Yukimura simply shook his head.

"Whatever I have said, it does not change the fact that it has caused Oichi-hime some grievance. For that, I must apologize."

Knowing that his master was going to be a stubborn kid, Sasuke let out a resigned sigh and said, "Well then, I better report this to Oyakata-sama."

Yukimura nodded, "Yes. I am sure Oyakata-sama would very much like to know that Oichi-hime has awakened."

"Should I also report this to our other guests?" Sasuke asked, making Yukimura turn to face him.

"Masamune-dono?" Yukimura asked for confirmation to which Sasuke nodded. Yukimura thought about it, "Is there any particular reason why we must report it to Masamune-dono?"

"Eh?" Sasuke blinked and rubbed the back of his head, "Well…"

Since Sasuke managed to rescue Oichi from Azuchi castle, it became part of his routine to check up on the sleeping princess every few hours each day. When he had heard that there was a great possibility that the princess would never wake up, something inside Sasuke stirred. It was similar, if not the same, as the feelings that stirred inside him whenever he was with the Uesugi kunoichi.

The first few days were silent. The princess never stirred nor made a single sound. Then… the whispers began.

There was occasional the whisper of 'Nii-sama' which was accompanied by a look of pain.

Then there was the longing whimpers of 'Nagamasa-sama' with a look of complete sorrow.

But what got Sasuke's attention was the rare whisper of a title.

'Dokuganryu…'

Unlike the first two, each time the sleeping princess said that title, her face would be peaceful. And it would be a lie if Sasuke say that he wasn't interested in why she was saying that title.

But…

Sasuke shrugged, "I don't know. I just thought maybe we should also say it to them? I mean, Dokuganryu did see what happened to Oichi-hime too."

Yukimura seemed to have accepted Sasuke's reasoning and nodded, "Very well. I'll leave to you then, Sasuke."

"Hah!" Sasuke bowed before disappearing once more. Yukimura faced the door once more and he heard whispers. Soon, the whispers became cries.

"No!!!"

Yukimura immediately opened the sliding door and walked inside. Inside, the doctor was trying to restrain a struggling Oichi, "Oichi-hime!"

"Please calm down, Oichi-hime!" The doctor begged and he faced Yukimura, "Yukimura-sama, please help me!"

"H-Help?" Yukimura repeated.

Oichi shook her head from side to side, screaming, "No!!! Please!!!"

"Oichi-hime, please calm down! You'll reopen your wound!" The doctor repeatedly pleaded to Oichi. Even if he was unsure of what was happening, Yukimura grabbed Oichi's wrists and forced her to lie down. Yukimura positioned himself so he was on his knees by Oichi's head. The doctor, on the other hand, was trying desperately to grab her legs.

"No! Please! Please!!!" Oichi begged, tears falling to the futon but Oichi continued to thrash, kicking her legs wildly.

"Oichi-hime… please calm down! We will not hurt you!" Yukimura tried to calm her down but those words seemed to make her more aggressive.

"O-O-Oichi-hime?"

"Oichi-hime, plea-"

"No!" Oichi shook her head furiously, "Please… Please let me die!!!"

"Eh?" Yukimura's eyes widened and his grip on Oichi's wrists alleviated. Oichi took this as her chance and kicked the doctor's chin. The doctor toppled away from Oichi. Yukimura wasn't given the chance as Oichi slipped away from his grasp and dashed towards the open door.

"O-O-Oichi-hime!!!" Yukimura called out, running after her.

It only took a few hurried steps before Oichi whimpered against the pain, her legs giving out. But instead of falling to the cold wooden floor, a pair of strong arms caught her in time.

"Oi, oi, oi…" Oichi's eyes widened as she recognized the voice. She turned to face the man holding her but was only able to stare at the one eye that seemed so similar to a dragon's eye.

"Doku… ganryu…" Oichi mumbled softly.

"Ah! Masamune-dono! Katakura-dono!" Yukimura called out, rushing towards them.

"Oi, Sanada Yukimura, you got outrun by a girl?" Masamune raised an eyebrow at Yukimura.

"Ah! Please pardon my inadequacy!" Yukimura bowed. Masamune chuckled at Yukimura's reply and shook his head. Instead of continuing his conversation with Yukimura, Masamune looked back at Oichi.

"Patients should stay in their bed, you see?" Masamune said to Oichi, helping Oichi back to her feet. Oichi wobbled and Masamune held her by her shoulder.

Kojuro closed his eyes and commented, "Masamune-sama should listen to his own advice."

Masamune slightly frowned but cleared his throat. Staring at Oichi, he asked, "You're not supposed to be out of your bed yet. Right, Sanada Yukimura?"

Yukimura nodded, "As you have said it, Masamune-dono."

Oichi, who had been looking at the floor, slowly raised her head. Masamune slightly flinched as he noticed the tears falling from her eyes. Oichi, with a soft almost inaudible whisper, said, "I… Ichi… wants to die…"

Kojuro and Yukimura stiffened at those words but Masamune simply stared at Oichi. Yukimura stared at Oichi and yelled, "Oichi-hime! Please reconsid-"

Masamune cut him off and said, "Got it."

"Eh?"

"Kojuro." Masamune closed his eye, "Give me your katana."

"Masamune-sama!"

"Dokuganryu…" Oichi whispered, staring intently at Masamune.

Masamune opened his only eye and stared at Oichi, "She already made up her mind. Her recovery is a miracle anyway. Meaning…"

He noticed how Oichi stiffened at the words he said next, "… she's supposed to be dead."

"Masamune-sama, if I may be frank-"

"Masamune-dono!!!" Oichi was dragged away from Masamune by strong, yet gentle, hands. Yukimura pulled Oichi to stand behind him and Yukimura stared at Masamune with determined eyes, "Although I am quite unsure how Masamune-dono could say such thing, I will not allow you to hurt Oichi-hime!"

"Oi, oi, Sanada Yukimura." Masamune pointed at Yukimura, his hand in a pistol-like gesture, "The princess you're so bent on protecting wants to die. Aren't you being the selfish one here?"

"Even if… Even if I would be going against Oichi-hime's wishes, I do not believe that Oichi-hime truly wishes for death." Yukimura reasoned.

"Why not ask her, then? She's right behind you." Masamune offered, smirking at Yukimura.

Yukimura nodded and cast a glance at Oichi, "Oichi-hime, do you truly wish to die?"

Oichi stared at the floor, "Ichi… Ichi wants to die…"

"Oichi-hime…" Yukimura whispered, sadness looming in his usual energetic face. Masamune sighed.

"Wrong question, Sanada Yukimura." Masamune commented before staring at the woman behind Yukimura, "Oi, if you wanted to die, why are you still staying behind Sanada Yukimura?"

Oichi's and Yukimura's eyes grew in surprised. Oichi trembled as she whispered, "I… Because I…"

Yukimura faced Oichi once more and placed his hands on her shoulders, "Oichi-hime, please reconsider! I truly believe that deep inside your heart, that is not what you truly wish."

Oichi continued to look at the floor, "But I… if Ichi lives…"

Oichi closed her eyes as she remembered the faces of the two men she ever cared about in her life and shook her head, "I'm sorry… Ichi… Ichi is…"

Masamune sighed and looked away, "How about we make a deal?"

"A deal?" Yukimura repeated.

Masamune closed his one eye and said, "You have three days to change her mind, Sanada Yukimura. If by then, she still comes to me and asks me to kill her…"

Masamune glanced back to Oichi, "I will grant her wish."

"Dokuganryu…" Oichi whispered, unable to look at him.

"I… I…" Yukimura looked away, unsure on how to respond to Masamune's deal.

"We accept your deal, Dokuganryu." Yukimura turned around and his face brightened instantly.

"O-Oyakata-sama!" Shingen walked towards them and stopped next to Oichi, crossing his arms.

Masamune smirked and began to walk away, "Well then, good luck, old man."

Kojuro sighed and bowed to them before following Masamune. Once the dragon and his right eye were out of sight, Shingen turned to face Yukimura and shouted, "Yukimura!"

"Yes, Oyakata-sama?!" Yukimura shouted back.

"Why did you hesitate?!"

"Because… Because I was afraid of the consequences if I was to fail!" Yukimura replied honestly.

"You… IDIOT!"

"GAHHH!!!" Yukimura took the full force of Shingen's punch, destroying a sliding door and colliding with several boxes.

"YUKIMURA!" Shingen shouted, crossing his arms once more, "What do you wish to achieve?!"

"I wish for Oichi-hime to live!" Yukimura replied.

"Then there is no need to hesitate, now is there… Yukimura?!"

"Yes! Oyakata-sama!"

"Yukimura!!!"

"Oyakata-sama!!!"

"Yukimura!!!"

"OYAKATA-SAMA!!!"

Oichi blinked as the two men continued shouting at each other. She turned around when she heard a sigh. Next to her was the shinobi named Sasuke crouching, playing with a ball attached to a cup by a string, a toy he saw on the floor that was probably in one of the boxes that got caught in the middle of Yukimura's 'trip'. Sasuke noticed her looking at him and said, "Might as well sit down, Oichi-hime. They'll be at it for hours… half an hour if we're lucky."

Oichi nodded and sat, unsure of what to do. After a few minutes, Sasuke noticed Oichi looking at him…

Turning to face Oichi once more, Sasuke realized that she was looking at the toy on his hand. He twirled the ball before hitting it with one of the sides of the cup. Oichi looked impressed and Sasuke offered the toy to her. Oichi looked at Sasuke, unsure of what to do. Sasuke scratched his cheek and said, "Well… they'll be at it for a while. I was thinking that you might want to do something…"

Oichi took the toy and stared at it. Sasuke observed her as Shingen and Yukimura continued calling each other.

"OYAKATA-SAMA!"

"YUKIMURA!"

"Don't you know how to play a Kendama, Oichi-hime?" Sasuke asked after a few minutes of observing Oichi who simply kept staring at the toy. Oichi shook her head. Sasuke rubbed the back of his head and said, "Well, it's quite easy, actually. You just hit the ball with one of the smooth sides of the cup or put it on top of the spike."

Oichi hit the ball with one of the smooth sides once. Sasuke chuckled as the ball fell to the floor afterwards. Oichi looked at Sasuke and asked, "Did Ichi do it wrong?"

"Well, there's no wrong move in Kendama…" Sasuke said, mumbling softly, "Not that I know anyway."

"Try out different things, Oichi-hime. Like juggling the ball with one side or with the two sides or maybe twirling the ball then catching it with one of the sides- There's a lot of things to try out with a Kendama." Sasuke continued, smiling at Oichi.

"Ichi… Ichi will try…" Oichi replied, juggling the ball with one side. Sasuke nodded as Oichi began to juggle the ball by alternating which surface it would collide with. Sasuke grinned as he noticed Oichi's small smile.

"Oichi-hime never played a Kendama before?" Sasuke asked, earning a nod from Oichi.

"Ichi never played anything before. Ever since Ichi was born, 'Nii-sama-" Oichi stopped, the ball falling to the floor once more. Oichi closed her eyes, "'Nii-sama… 'Nii-sama always told Ichi what she should do."

Oichi felt her eyes water once more but tried to stop the tears from falling. Oichi closed her eyes and trembled, "Why… Why do they want Ichi to live?"

"Ichi… Ichi has lost everything." Oichi said, clutching the toy against her chest, "Nagamasa-sama… and even 'Nii-sama… Ichi… Ichi has lost everything she ever cared about…"

"Oichi-hime-" Sasuke reached out but stopped.

Oichi stiffened when she felt a hand on her head. She opened her eyes and looked up, surprise to see that it was the Tiger of Kai looking at her with soft eyes. Unlike the rough voice he had used against Yukimura, Shingen told her in a soft, almost soothing voice, "You don't have to stop it."

"But… If Ichi doesn't stop… Ichi… Ichi…" Oichi's shoulders trembled.

Shingen began to caress her head and said, "Stopping it hurts more than letting it go. Cry now, child. It is alright to cry."

"I'm sorry…" Oichi apologized as tears began to fall. Shingen continued to caress her head, letting the young woman to cry. Yukimura sat next to Oichi, silent for a while.

Although they knew it wasn't going to stop the young woman in asking for death, the three men of Takeda knew that right now…

Crying is something that she must do…