Have you experienced a room filling up with sorrow? 

"Captain. ."

Like water filling a closed room—

Fast.

"Please. . I want to wake up. I want to wake up. ."

And you're drowning in your own emotions as you try to breathe the last ounce of oxygen. But, your efforts are futile as you're swallowed up in a blink of an eye.

"No, no, no, no, no. . !"

And you just can't stop.

Shinobi are trained to be unmoving. Stone-faced in front of adversaries, they are trained to go for the kill if need be. Put the mission first, comrades second. To be emotional was not an option. Emotions are the constant cause of downfall and the reason why missions fail.  Was being caught by the enemy a fault they could've avoided? Was taunting their captor a mistake?

Consequence being the loss of their beloved captain.

Despite trained not to show weakness, tears were streaming down faces, bawling cries were filled with sorrow. Fists turned purple and red as pain throbbed through it, electrifying through the arm but they paid no attention regardless. Their pain was nothing compared to the excruciating torture their teacher was going through. His screams will forever be embedded in their memory.

But they soon stopped as the man collapsed inside his cell, falling eerily silent as if nothing had happened. What remained were the sobs the shinobi made in horror. As much as they wanted to run to his side, the young shinobi could only remain in their own prisons.

"You'll pay for this!" Guy snarled, banging on his crystal wall. "You'll pay for what you've done!" Rage seethed through his teeth as he blared in a hatred very familiar to him. If only he could perform his special techniques, Hakaku surely would've lost his head!

But the white-haired man only laughed amusedly, like a spectator behind a the glass, safe from the lion's teeth. His eyes flashed mockingly at him. "You're overreacting. I'm testing if he has the capacity to live despite having the curse in his body. If he survives, he'll turn into a half-shikabane like some individuals whom I've successfully transformed. If he doesn't, well, he's up for termination," Hakaku callously explained.

He didn't care one ounce for any of them. Why should he have any sympathy for intrusive foreigners? The thought of ridding them all at once flashed through his mind. Ridding of them would ensure needless trouble, yet Hakaku decided to postpone it. Perhaps rid of them one by one? That thought is up for debate, but not now. At the moment, they had one purpose:

Lure in the samurai.

"You're as sadistic as ever, you fucking bastard," Saizo seethed from his cell but was seated relaxedly compared to the others. He had his legs were crossed while his arms were rested on his knees. The entire time Hakaku had first arrived, the scruffy man was silent. But now his anger was seething out of him like fire emitting heat. If looks could kill, his certainly could've snapped Hakaku's neck.

"Nothing personal, Masashi-dono," Hakaku retorted with a sneer. "Even if this whole situation is because of your sister."

"May the heavens drown you in karma. Hell won't be enough for the likes of you!" Saizo boomed.

"I only the heaven's will. You should see what's transpired for the past few years. Well, in due time."

"What are you planning?!"

"You'll see." He chuckled. "I have my duties to attend to. I bid farewell for now."

Hakaku may be known as the Imperial Adviser of the Land of the Rising Sun, but those close to him know that his cunning nature matches that of a snake. Merely giving the shinobi and man a haughty smirk, the man with snow-white hair turned on his heels and walked off with his assistant, whose shock reflected in his eyes. Nothing else was left unsaid from the adviser and no one else could call him back.

The doors closed behind him with a loud thud and screech of metal as locks secured them inside. 

"Masashi-san is your sister, Saizo-san??" Sakura quickly jumped into it, almost as if she completely forgot that they had lost someone. The excitement in her voice was not affiliated with glee or joy, but rather more towards confusion. Him being alive would make Yoshie's story untrue.

But Sakura wasn't the only one surprised. From tears their eyes widened in pure confusion. Yes, Captain Yamato lingered in their mind, but realizing this man with them was Yoshie's lost brother opened a new horizon almost too forbidden to enter. Yet here he was, crossed legged and calm, almost a mirror if not the unkempt appearance he took.

"Yes, I am," said Saizo through his thick crystal glass. "But I am not worthy of the clan I'm from. I'm too pathetic."

"No way!" Cried Ino, wiping away her tears.

"But Masashi-san said you were dead!" Said Choji. "That you died in the Third Great War!"

"I didn't die. Apparently, I was separated from everyone else."

Guy cocked his brow at the man. "Apparently?"

The thought made Saizo grimace and his fists clenched at the reminder. "To be honest, I lost my memories for a number of years. But when I heard Yoshie's name, I remembered. . everything."

"Why didn't you say anything?" 

"I didn't see the point. I'll only be reminded of the failure I already am. And now. . the whole country wants her dead. I've heard the stories, but from what I remember. . Yoshie is a kind soul who'd play her shamisen every morning and afternoon before training for the way of the sword. She couldn't possibly kill people in cold blood. Why would she. ." Saizo paused and looked at Sakura who stared so intently at him. "Would she?" 

His companions fell silent to this.

She most definitely can.

They will never forget that incident at the mountain.

The slightest hint of infection from the curse could trigger her killer instincts, and her ruthlessness brings a chill along one's skin. Yoshie went down that mountain in garments that matched the snow, and when she came back she was stained with blood that was not her own.

But contrary to her stoic disposition, there was pain in her eyes.

"She doesn't enjoy killing," said Neji. "But it seems she has to. Have you ever seen any of the experiments, that lord had conducted before?"

Saizo shook his head. "Unfortunately, I haven't. So I could only pray to the heavens to grant your friend there some mercy. Just like my little sister be granted mercy—

"May the spirits guide her."

* * * * * * * *

 Those crystal prisons were a secret not known to the rest of the empire. Only those of high rank were allowed the knowledge of what exactly they are (but few are able to truly comprehend, of course). But people did know that the empire had prisons for people apt in the ways of the spirits. Wherever those prisons are, dangerous criminals are locked away for a time if not for good. People say they can break your bond and render you powerless.

Well, no one really knew.

Ranmaru knew better than to spread rumors. As much as his friends would nag him into sharing secrets Lord Hakaku had disclosed to him, the young man was wise to keep his lips shut. Consequences would be dire, not only to him but to those close to him as well. Such were the measures made to ensure his complete silence.

"Oe-dono, busy running errands for Lord Hakaku?" A young servant asked the assistant. 

Scrolls were clinging on to the young man's arms, but they were in the verge spilling if Ranmaru wasn't going to fix their position. Now he does try, but only barely. His mind wasn't on them, but rather on the task at hand.

His friend nearly send him skidding along the polished timber floors. But by some miracle the young man managed to stay on his feat. He was sure that Niko would laugh at him for his clumsiness he actually slipped and fell. He did hate how the floors were slidy—only for him though.

"Yes, Hara-kun. From all that's been happening, things have been busy. I heard your brother is going to be sent out with the rest of the Imperial troops," Ranmaru told Niko as he recollected his composure.

Niko nodded. "He is. I couldn't meet him though before he departed with the rest. I heard from the others that they were all excited for some action."

The Imperial Adviser's assistant scoffed at this.

"Foolishness. They haven't even seen whatever monsters are out there."

"I know. Thus, I fear for my brother. I just pray he returns here with the rest of the people beyond these walls."

The clock was ticking and Ranmaru knew he needed to return to Lord Hakaku quickly. "Let's talk later; I have to go. Lord Hakaku is waiting," the young man told his friend and left as soon as Niko nodded understandably.

There were other servants walking through the imperial palace, running their own errands as he did. Though most were there for cleaning duty, everyone had special tasks just like Ranmaru. Loud chatters among them talked about officials of the land visiting often to meet about the horrors occurring across the land. Notably, rumors of the Demon Samurai and the Mourning Samurai.

The young man shook his head and divered it to something of less importance: the paintings he had grown to love so much.

The palace room dividers were intricately painted with the grass and trees and mountains that lay across the Land of the Rising Sun. The proof of the natural beauty was immortalized with ink and everyone in the palace was free to behold the artistry. There were even hints of inlaid gold ink in certain dividers. Not all of the palace had meadows and mountains painted on them. Some had demons and warriors and spirits fighting in battle scenes of heroes and glory. But they were especially reserved for the throne room, but parts of the palaces had similar sceneries.

To the office where Lord Hakaku waited, Ranmaru would have to climb to the second tallest tower of the palace. It faced the west where the sun would disappear into the horizon. This special room was where Ranmaru watched Hakaku study the stars for divine signs from the heavens, conduct small experiments on his own; it was close to his sleeping quarters as well.

"Excuse me!" The young man called when he arrived to the office. The room dividers were decorated with the dance of the Yellow Dragon. Its eyes seemed to stare at the poor boy. He shook it off and quickly opened the door, still balancing the scrolls in his arms.

Immediately Ranmaru found the Lord Hakaku seated in front of his desk. His shoulders were kept upright; the assistant couldn't see the slightest stoop from his master. 

"Did you manage to collect all the letters that needed my signing?" Hakaku asked without bothering to turn his head.

"Yes, my Lord. I did as you had asked." Ranmaru walked up to him and neatly placed the scrolls in a neat pile (he couldn't dare mess up in front of Hakaku).

"Good, good. I'd like you to check on that shinobi. It's been two hours and I expect that there has been some progression."

"Sir, would it be alright for me to ask a question?"

"Alright. Ask away."

"Why the shinobi? Instead of the other prisoners as usual?"

Hakaku chuckled.

"I simply wanted to see if they'd be more resilient. They're from a land that we have no diplomatic relations with and our country has been hidden from the rest of the world for so long. In due time, we'll let the curtains fall and maybe we'll think about conquering and spreading our influence."

"Spreading our influence?"

"If you haven't noticed, these people don't even converse with spirits. They've disconnected themselves from the rest of nature. I dare say this is the reason why the stars have been aligning in dangerous places."

"What happens when stars align in dangerous places?"

"It only means some disaster will occur. And, unfortunately, I don't know how to stop it. Lady Yoshie triggered this, and it'll stop with her."

Ranmaru was no skeptic to superstition or spirits as he had seen them throughout his childhood and even now. He was like everyone else, sure that Yoshie's demise would end all of this. The woman was a menace! Killed her own father and even destroyed her entire village! From what Ranmaru had been told, it was now a barren wasteland that nature was slowly taking back once again.

He hated her! A disgrace to the noble four Dragon clans!

"Now, go, my assistant," Hakaku cut the young man's thoughts short. "There is still much to be done."

Ranmaru bowed obediently and went off to see the shinobi who were deeply hidden down underground. Ranmaru didn't notice Hakaku snapping his fingers as a human origami flew onto the back of his shoulder. When the boy left, the adviser was smiling.

The walk down had to be careful since no one was supposed to know where these secret dungeons were. As quiet and casual the young man was, greeting his fellow servants courteously, a constant glance behind his shoulder was inevitable and the origami had to slightly crawl down to avoid detection.

Summer was coming yet it seemed that it already head. It was still due in a month, but the birdsong seemed to say otherwise. The sky was a pale blue with clouds smeared across it, like how a painter accidentally swipes his brush across his canvas. From the descent of the tower, Ranmaru could see the inlay of houses lined up neatly along the plain. Beyond that he could see the valley and the rice terraces that softened the terrain.

The way to the regular dungeons to the secret ones were not the same. He would have to go round back the palace to find the place he needed to be. A secret passage can be found behind a stone door with a symbol that resembled an eye. It was in plain sight because servants pass through here all the time, so the young man had to make sure that no one was watching. When Ranmaru found the symbol, he covered it and muttered something under his breath.

The stone disappeared for him as if it was never there—vanished into thin air. But as soon as the young assistant passed through, the stone reappeared and sealed the passageway.

His footsteps echoed with each stride he made, and Ranmaru was still wholly unaware of the spy he brought. He soon arrived, opening the door to the dungeon and revealing the prisoners inside.

Instead of seeing sorrow-stricken individuals, they seemed to have been revived by hope and determination. Adamantly staying brave in what can become of them.

~~~

Number of words: 2527

This chapter is dedicated to JustAReadingManiac! Hahahha, thank you so much for the support you've given me! And even rereading the book again, I'm really touched! Hope not to disappoint you along the next many chapters to come haha <3

So what do you guys think? Yoshie's brother is alive! Surprise, surprise! Please share me your thoughts, I wanna know what you guys think! :D

Also gonna try updating faster, ughhhhh Dx I won't be able to finish this book by the end of September at this rate Dx

- Rai