Lee's face twitched and moved compulsively as he searched into the future. "No one is waiting for us. It's fine to set the portal up here."

Hayato nodded and outstretched his hand, creating a portal just above the inner gate while Anzen created the entrance in front of us.

I let myself become engulfed in the fog, and prepared for a sudden drop downward. My mind still too involved in endless plans and thoughts to notice how my legs ached upon impact.

The rest fell through as I inspected the area. We were in the gardens just beside the palace. Large bamboo shoots and withering blossoms only held from completely taking the scenery over by a cobblestone walkway looping from the entrance to the very back of the multi-storied palace. The Doctor would know that we would be following him, and even with sentries set on all entrances and exits, the smartest decision would be going to the highest flight so no matter where we entered we would still have to move up to him.

Climbing the palace wasn't an option either. The roof went and overhung far past the wall, and this wall was made of stone and the finest wood that one could find. There would be no gaps or holes to find purchase on. Hayato and Anzen also lacked the strength to create portals up each flight. Trying to get into the palace so heavily populated was like trying to push an unmovable object.

The only feasible option was a small lounging area at the rear of the palace.

My companions followed as I walked further down the garden path. Loud clutter and shouting could be heard through the walls. I could only imagine what they were doing to the age-old building. Defiling it like they did with all things.

Sora jogged to catch up with me and spoke. "Lee is too weak to foresee what is to come. Should we proceed or wait?"

I nodded. "We continue. Vigilantly."

Staring intently at the way ahead, Tunnel vision surrounded the world and my thoughts. It dimmed all desires but one like a cap placed over a candle. That desire wasn't even vengeance like I had first thought it to be. It was a grasping attempt at reconciling all that I had ruined. That had been my want from the start, but I had finally grown the stomach to cut my way to that goal. They made their allegiances when they left their destitute homes and lives.

As I jogged down the walkway, a smell made its appearance. Smokey. Dusty. Something old being thrashed about and burned.

My jog quickened to a run as the smell only grew stronger and the smoke grew visible. The palace seemed almost infinite, passing window after window and ornate column after column.

Finally, the corner showed itself. Sora had informed me that Lee's ember was still too burnt to see far into the future, so I had no reason to delay turning the corner.

The fire roared and crackled loud enough for the four soldiers not to hear my footsteps or notice my presence. Dozens of century-old pieces of furniture were set ablaze on the brick tiles of the outdoor sitting area. One of the four samurai spoke to the others. "Is that all they wanted burning? If it gets any bigger it'll probably hit the grass."

Another taller soldier replied. "That's the last of it. And we know, that's why we're supposed to watch it. If the fire spreads we'll be in deep shit, so put out what gets too far."

The third commented, "A shame to see this go to waste. Could've made a fortune on all of it."

The first opened his mouth once more to talk, but before he could begin to start his sentence, I had run forward. With the history burning in the foreground, he didn't even notice me until the sword peaked out of his sternum. Three more.

The taller and commanding one jumped back and pulled out a crude glaive. It wasn't military-grade, which meant that he had prior experience and most likely criminal to boot. He seemed more like a man from camp Fuman o' Matsu that had been given the deal I and the Doctor received. After the tall one realized his friends wouldn't be engaging on my blood-soaked self anytime soon, he jumped forward and swung.

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I jumped back to dodge the swing, but as I expected the experienced soldier knew how to follow suit.

He thrust the pointed part of his blade towards my gut with all his momentum and weight, looking to spill my guts as quickly as possible.

If I wanted to take the time to play with this criminal, I would've just clashed my sword against it and stayed defensive but I had neither the patience or enthusiasm to. So instead, I lifted my leg and stomped to the ground the moment before the blade became dangerously close. The glaive hit and skid across the brick, bringing the tall samurai close enough for myself to attack. I swung at his exposed neck, and thanks to the monks' reforging, my katana went clean through.

The beheaded criminal marked two more.

But before the third opponent approached me, Lee finally caught up.

He closed his eyes for little more time than a blink, and drew his sword. The third, greedy samurai swung at Lee, but he was dodged perfectly.

Apparently, Lee still had enough foresight to see only brief moments ahead. Good.

Another swing. Another perfect dodge. As soon as the samurai became vulnerable, Lee used his off-hand to punch him straight in the temple, rendering the greedy samurai unconscious.

Anzen and Hayato arrived before I walked to the forth, quiet one. He edged closer to the fire in defense. Walking straight backward while staring at me.

The twins took the opportunity and opened a portal behind the samurai. He unknowingly stepped into the foggy gate and exited on top of the pile of burning furniture.

With a confused yelp, the samurai stood and started trying to find his way down. But he only lasted moments before an arrow plunged into his chest, finalizing his end. One more.

All were subdued, but I still counted one enemy left. I walked next to Lee and stabbed the samurai unconscious on the ground. Lee repulsed and exhaled sharply at the sight of blood so close to him.

I didn't mean to distress Lee, but an enemy alive was just an enemy for fighting later. The Doctor and Shogun wouldn't allow deserters to live, which meant they could only fight.

Hayato spoke as he and Anzen grew close. "Will the back be safe to enter through?"

I responded curtly. "Safer than the front."

Anzen sighed and responded in his sarcastic manner as Sora finally regrouped from the back. "You couldn't wait until he got out of the fire to shoot him? The smell is enough as-is."

Sora flashed an annoyed look at Anzen, and then went back to intently inspecting the surroundings like he was known to do in dangerous times. Lee slowed his breathing and spoke. "I just used my Ember to fight... him. If we go in now we won't know what's ahead." He seemed reluctant to carry onward. Out of all of us, Lee had seen the least amount of bloodshed, had the least experience with war and violence and so he was the most in need of time to take a breath. But we couldn't afford it. The Doctor had been plotting since he joined the yokai hunting company. Any moment he would play his trump card and seize full control over the samurai under the Shogun, and on top of it all, he was preparing to dissect the corpse of the one I loved.

Time was more of the essence than ever before. With that in mind, I hastily opened the two sliding paper doors to reveal the palace's interior.

The pristine bamboo flooring was now tracked in dirt from the hordes of Samurai. The paper walls to the outside had beautifully crafted images of cherry blossoms and sun lilies, now torn and covered in soot. All the wooden benches and cabinets full of old training equipment and yard tools were burning just behind where I was, leaving nothing but dustless voids in their place.

The wooden ceiling warped and burnt from the hot smoke just outside the room. The door to the rest of the palace was ajar but too closed to see farther in.

The entire room felt empty and surreal. A place so familiar torn apart at the hinges and made barely recognizable.

Sora peeked into the room. "They move quickly."

Hayato commented unhappily. "Turning a place like this into some sort of military base just feels... Wrong. Why burn everything?"

I responded. "A threat. A show of power. Or perhaps they simply intend on storing their mules and manure."

All of it, I hated. I could remember the day I had turned eighteen and was tasked with finding a way to earn myself and my family honor. The lone and lost climb up the mountain. Collapsing and waking up in the palace in all its glory. Waking up to... her.

But now they were both taken from me and torn apart.

My blood surged through my veins even faster. A man without anything left was a dangerous one, my father would say. And to think in my time hidden away in my shack I thought I had already lost everything.

With a step forward, I broke the threshold and stepped foot in the palace of the goddess once more.

I was home, and I intended to rid it of all the parasites that had tried to claim it their own.