The familiar dull burn was what brought me out of the void of sleep gasping from the panicked knowledge that I had dodged death one more time. Sweat soaked silk sheets clung to me in the cool night as I tried to get my breath under control.

That was the third heart attack this year... How many do I have left in me before this body gives out for good?

The fading adrenaline of surviving the call of the grave reminded my body that since I wasn't dying then I had more important things to do, like empty my bladder. With a sigh I peel the silk sheets off me and reach for the crutch I keep bedside. But my hands find nothing but the night air. A larger sigh slips out as I resolve myself to getting around unaided. So I swing my body around to put my foot down when I hear what chases the last of sleeps fog from my mind. Another foot touching the rug. A shaking hand reaches out and finds a knee that I haven't seen in a few years now. Now it clicks in for me.

Ok, so I'm dreaming. Welp Rule #1 is don't pee in your dreams so let's enjoy this while it lasts.

Looking around the faintly moonlit room it only reinforced that I was dreaming as I was not in the apartment room I went to bed in but still familiar in that dream like surety that this is how its supposed to be. The bed I was now sitting on was a futon on a shelf sticking out of the corner of the room next to a large window letting in strands of moonlight between the gauzy curtains blowing from a soft breeze. Across from me is a small desk with stacks of paper and other things too faint to make out in the gloom. What next drew my eye was the bookshelf that held books but also something like a wine rack filled with scrolls and small jars. The breeze from the window caressed me again and I felt drawn to see the moon.

Swinging open the half shutter behind the curtain drew my breath away at the quiet beauty of the view. I was probably on the third floor of an asian mansion as it sprawled in a large walled compound with buildings here and there centered on a large garden with a pond in the center. The brightness of the moon was crisply reflecting off the pond drew my eyes skyward. There shining softly was a nearly full moon larger than I ever remember seeing and half hidden behind that was a smaller moon reflecting just a crescent. It was a stunning sight wrapped together with the silence of the garden and the silken wind caressing me. It was a sight that was intimately familiar, yet one I know I have never seen before.

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However, the peace of the night was shattered with a distant metal clanging that spread through the compound as others took up their own alarms. Cries of "Spy! Spy!". Like kicked anthill, armored guards wielding torches spilled into the night with purpose.

In the distance I could see a figure in a fluttery grey robe jumping across the rooftops with their arms swept back like an idiot from an anime. Two more leaps and they were across the garden then up the wall and over it. As if that was the signal to start, pounding footsteps rushed towards this room before a thick wooden door slide open with a loud clack that felt like something could have broken. A thin asian man with a shaved head and loose grey robes rushed in with a shout. "Young Master Kuo!! Are you alright!? I feared for the worst when the alarm went up!"

I turned to address my cousin when my foot caught on the rug and I stumbled forward yet fell over onto the bed. The reply I had died on my lips as the instinctual fear of falling was smothered unnaturally in my chest. Confusion bubbled then crystalized into fear at the realization that if I fell I should have startled myself awake. But even that was again aggressively drowned in foreign serenity.

Ignoring my stunned look, Huang grasped me below the armpit and all but dragged me to my feet. He leaned into my ear, "I know you are having another of your bouts brother but we must make it to the Patriarch and safety until the palace is cleared!" I was still dazed from the emotional blow but quickly caught my feet as we jogged towards the palace heart. Noticing us pass a concealed courtyard garden I urged Huang to stop. "Let me take a leak at that tree there. It may be dangerous out but I refuse to soil myself before my parents!"

The pensive look on his face let me know he would cave in, and a few moments I got the answer I needed. "Fine brother but it's on your head if my mother finds out we took our time on a night like this! You know she gets creative in her punishments." A quick step around the tree let take the time I needed to take stock of my situation while undoing my pants.

So let's see if I have this straight. I'm not in my body, I have someone else's memories in my head fighting for space, oh and I'm probably going to be dealing with some supernatural shit judging by how that spy jumped around and over a wall with no real effort... I do believe I'm boned but at least I have both legs now.

As soon as I was done relieving myself I was dragged back to the hallway and we were off again.