Mitsunari brooded over his small cup of tea. He was growing too close to Magoichi Saica. He huffed and took a long gulp of his tea draining it dry of it's contents. Something needed to be done about Magoichi. He needed to separate himself from her, lest he become drawn to her like a parasite to it's host. He took a good look at his map considering what to do with his men in the mean time.

He watched his men pack up their tents getting ready to start the day. With his side deeply wounded, he was limited on the offensive attack. He had many allies now: Yukimura, Muneshige, Magoichi, even some of Motochika's men were here ready for their next battle. Motochika on the other hand was taking longer than expected. He accepted their allegiances, but he was not about to ask them for any help.

"Mitsunari."

Hearing his name, he turned to face Magoichi.

"I need to talk with you." She placed her hands on her hips and he knew she was upset.

"Good. I needed to speak with you also." Mitsunari stood to meet her eye to eye.

She blinked a little surprised. "Alright. You go ahead."

"I'm sending you and the tiger boy out north."

Her scowl reappeared. "What for?" She folded her arms across her chest. "I am no errand girl, not even for you, Mitsunari." She smiled a little cockily.

Mitsunari remained complacent. He wasn't in the mood for jokes.

"I'm telling you, you will travel due north. Take care of that annoying tiger master with the tiger cub. It is a bit ironic, but I have my own reasons for keeping Muneshige here and sending you out." Mitsunari looked away. He felt the conversation was over.

"Excuse me?" Magoichi's eyes narrowed. Mitsunari looked back at her.

"Who would take better care of you that me, Mitsunari? Send the tiger cub and that chainsaw man separate from us." She stepped closer, too close for two generals discussing warfare tactics. Mitsunari glanced around seeing his men walking about. Just the tip of her gloved fingers touched his chest plate and he angrily slapped her hand away.

"Do not touch me so casually." He walked towards his tent packing things up.

She followed not the least bit amused by his rejection.

"...Do you think I will just obey what ever commands you hand out to me? That's not how the Saica work!" She shouted to Mitsunari's back.

He kept his back to her picking up a few loose items.

"Then do what ever you like. It's of no concern to me."

He heard her gasp lightly.

"You..."

He turned to her with his classic hateful expression.

"We will rendezvous near Osaka." Mitsunari picked up his belongings.

"I only want to hear words of victory. If you don't succeed, don't bother showing up." Mitsunari walked off leaving a speechless Magoichi in his wake.

Magoichi walked away feeling a blood vessel in her forehead about to burst.

Mitsunari mounted his horse. He looked back seeing Magoichi talking with the ever courageous Yukimura. He watched their forces head out of their encampment heading to the north.

He hated having to be so cruel to Magoichi, but to win this war, he needed to be a bit heartless.

Mitsunari ventured across the land with his men in tow. The rations were even more scarce that usual. He needed to restock his supply for his men's sake.

He never could understand why they needed to eat so much. Knowing Ieyasu still drew breath was enough to sustain Mitsunari for days without a single ration.

It had been a good week since his army split up. Mitsunari gritted his teeth wondering and hoping that Magoichi would meet him after this battle was over. He gripped the reigns of his horse tightly. At the very least, his side had healed to a dull ache, the wound closed completely.

He heard his men murmur to each other and he looked up seeing a village up ahead. Mitsunari brought out his map seeing no markings of their being a village this soon in their journey.

"Careful, men. This aura does not bode well with me." Yoshitsugu announced from Mitsunari's side.

They slowly made their way into the community. The town looked nearly desolate save a few people scattering into their run down homes.

Mitsunari looked around seeing nothing but the dusty streets. He jumped down from his horse glancing back at his men.

"If you're so hungry, go out there and find yourselves something to eat." He snapped.

"Yes sir!"

Mitsunari wandered off sensing something strange about the small village.

A loud rumble erupted from Muneshige's stomach. He held his gut feeling it rumble a bit more.

'I really need to get something to eat... I wish my wife was here to cook a nice meal for me...I don't even remember the last time she actually cooked!'

Muneshige walked up to a small house. He saw a little girl run into the house when they arrived. He knocked politely waiting until the door slowly slid open. A mother stood holding her small child shaking in her skin.

"What do you want!?" She asked terrified.

Muneshige laughed nervously. "Well, you see, I am a humble samurai. My companions and I are passing through, and I wondered if you had any food to spare."

She almost laughed." Food? Any food!? Does it look like we have any food at all here? Take a look around, there's nothing here, not ever since Nobunaga's remnants have taken over our village...!" She wept remembering.

"Nobunaga-isn't he dead?" Muneshige asked.

The woman shook her head. "He still haunts us at night- we can hardly sleep over all the crying...now leave us alone!" The door was slammed shut in his face.

He looked towards the summit of the village seeing a tall tower looming ominously over it's occupants. He shivered and wandered away to find something to eat.

Mitsunari walked steadily up the steps of the dark tower. It's outside looked worn out, the wind sent the tower creaking and rocking to and fro ever so slightly.

He glanced over seeing black masses growing from the dirt. Startled, he drew his sword. A woman emerged from the shadows, her dark hair cascading down her shoulders.

He watched Oichi approach him, swaying as if she were a zombie risen from the dead. She raised her head, eyes on Mitsunari.

"My lord Nagamasa...could it be...?"

Mitsunari held his sword defensively.

"Stay back, demon queen! I'll only warn you once!" He shouted.

Yet she still stepped closer undeterred by Mitsunari's harsh words. Mitsunari's eyes locked onto hers. She looked upon him with the softest smile.

"My lord...you came for me." Mitsunari's breath caught in his throat. Her hand gently glided down the side of his face, her pink lips turning up in a smile. Mitsunari watched tears develop in her darkened eyes.

With the hilt of his sword he pushed her away.

"Be gone, woman...I want nothing to do with you!" He began walking away.

As soon as his feet reached the top step to leave, a dark groan spat out from Oichi's lips.

"You are not my Nagamasa..." She sighed wistfully.

Mitsunari frowned turning to her.

"Finally, you seem to have come to your senses!"

Oichi's violet eyes were laughing at him.

"Mister Grumpy, please stay and play with Oichi." She floated towards the samurai, a small smile on her face again.

Mitsunari took a few steps back down the staircase.

"I'm warning you! Stay far away from me, or this will not end well for you!" He looked around wishing Yoshitsugu would come and 'save' him from this situation.

Oichi gave a dark chuckle and chased the dark king down the multitude of steps.

Mitsunari knew he was fast, but each time he looked back Oichi was right on his tail. He ran down a small path hoping to run into any of his men. This woman was determined to 'play' with him. He had enough 'playing' with the Saica leader.

Looking up ahead, Mitsunari saw an ally camp down the side of a hill only a few meters away. Quickly, he jumped and slid down the incline. He jumped down and flipped around, his feet skidding to a halt in the dry earth.

"Hn!?" He looked before him and there was no Oichi. He quickly glanced to his left and right and heard and saw nothing.

Suddenly, something grabbed him around his whole body.

"AH!" He shouted out in surprise. He looked down seeing dark shadows surrounding his body.

"Demon queen-!"

The large black shadow formed into a hand and carried him over to where Oichi stood.

She giggled lightly.

"I caught you, Mister Grumpy!"

"Let me down, woman!" Mitsunari struggled inside the shadows grip. He coughed feeling the hand grow even tighter, the air being crushed from his lungs.

His sword dropped from his hand clattering to the earth below.

"O-I-CHI!" He spat angrily.

"Oh!" Oichi snapped out of her trance. Immediately the shroud dissipated leaving Mitsunari to drop down to the ground. He winced hitting the ground on his back.

"Shit...!" He rubbed the back of his head and opened his eyes. He felt dizzy, his vision doubled for a moment until Oichi's depressed face came into focus. He glared hard at her. He knew she could be volatile, but now her features were etched with concern.

"Did Oichi...hurt Mister Grumpy?" Her pale hand came up to touch his head gently. He batted it away not wanting her kindness.

"Stop that! You're making it worse!" Mitsunari hissed sitting up. He glanced over at Oichi. She pouted sighing and mumbling something over and over to herself.

"Oichi did something bad..." She whined pathetically, sitting with her legs splayed out, hands between her thighs. His eyes followed the curves from her shoulders all the way down to her hips and down her delicate looking legs.

Mitsunari's eye twitched realizing what he was doing.

"Yes, you did! You're useless to me." He made to stand, but something kept him pinned to his spot.

He glanced at Oichi angrily. Her shadow hands held him in place. With a sigh, Oichi crawled over Mitsunari.

"Oichi is not useless. Nagamasa said so." Mitsunari began to sweat being pinned back to the dusty ground. If he hadn't being eying her up he could have avoided this whole thing.

Her rose petal lips grew closer. Mitsunari only cringed away.

"Ah!" He let out a shout before her lips covered his in a sobering kiss. In it he could taste her pain, her hate- her sin. He frowned wondering how she could possibly be feeling the same emotions he felt every day.

The overwhelming feeling of loss consumed Mitsunari. He groaned in agony reliving the moment when his lord died. It pained his so much, his body began to ache, tears forced their way from his eyes, howls of pain filling the air. Blood poured out from his mouth, his nose, his eye sockets. He felt like his body would explode.

And suddenly, just as soon as the intense feelings had started, they were gone. Mitsunari panted looking up. His eyes were out of focus. He tried hard to bring them back in seeing a blurred face looking down on him.

"Mister Grumpy..."

He wondered why his men had not jumped in to aid him. He looked around himself again seeing nothing but ashes, not even the ally camp remained.

"What...?" He mouthed out.

Oichi sighed again. Mitsunari blinked repeatedly and looked at her suddenly understanding why she called to him. There were similarities- love, devotion, a want, a need to fill a hole deep inside themselves.

Mitsunari did not protest the next time her soft lips ghosted over his own. He opened his mouth searching out her lips with his own. She pulled away sighing as she opened her eyes to stare down at the pale man on the ground.

"Oh, Mitsunari, this burden we both share, let us create a tumultuous storm to end it all." Her soft fingers intertwined with his suddenly bare hand.

"Let us become one!"

'Lord Hideyoshi...Forgive me!'

Mitsunari held Oichi close to himself. The warmth she gave off sent chills down his spine. He never knew something could feel this warm, this inviting.

He opened his eyes looking at her illuminated skin. His own self was illuminated with a light that came from inside his own body.

He wanted to hold, to touch, to pull. He needed to take and to give, and Oichi offered him everything he wanted and more.

Her body, flush against his own; Her soft moans reverberating in his ears. He growled being buried inside everything that was Oichi.

Each kiss they shared sent Mitsunari spiraling deeper into Oichi and her own darkness.

"Oichi." He moaned out her name. Her hands caressed Mitsunari's face as he lost himself in the pleasure. He pulled her into another hot kiss reaching his peak inside her. He lost himself unable to control anything at this point. She cried out sharing in his climax.

Mitsunari held Oichi close, her warm body sending a soothing pulse through his own. Kisses and touches were exchanged without a word. There was nothing to say, everything was mutual in this moment.

Oichi cast a smile down on Mitsunari embracing him.

"We can finally rest now, Mitsunari." She whispered tiredly.

He opened his eyes watching her dark hair float around her body. Out came the shadow hands from her soul. Her eyes were closed and yet her body controlled those dark hands that lunged for his throat. He twisted trying to pull the hands from around his neck but in vain.

"Mitsunari!" He heard the distant echo of a deep voice calling his name. He looked around seeing his sword just out of arms reach. He tried to grab it but it was no use. He felt his vision going, the strength to continue draining from his body.

'Hideyoshi...'

Mitsunari coughed gasping for breath. The hands were gone from around his neck. He looked up seeing Muneshige with his chainsaws bared fighting off Oichi and her shadow.

Mitsunari shook his head watching Oichi fall to the ground with a groan.

"Oichi!" He nearly screamed through his coughing fit. He got to his feet stumbling over to her. She didn't respond, her eyes still shut, lips parted slightly as if in sleep. He looked over her form shaking his head. Gently, he took her body into his arms.

It was as if he were holding an empty shell.

Mitsunari began to cry. He couldn't stop the sob that ripped from his chest.

"No..Oichi!" He couldn't explain the sense of loss he felt over the death of this woman who he just met.

Mineshige looked on confused.

"Sir, I...she was trying to kill you. I had no choice." He said with pure honesty.

"Go! I never asked for your help!" Mitsunari shouted glancing back at Muneshige.

"...sir." He walked away leaving Mitsunari alone.

Mitsunari laid her body back down in the dust. He stood looking down at her, anger etched on his features.

Everything good was always ripped from his very hands, and this was no different.