A large, grand fortress made of stone. A large sqaure wall surrounds the tall fortress. On each corner there is defensive tower, equipped with a cannon. The walls are thick, with gaurds regullary patrolling them. Its a very big fortress now. Moritsune's little trip to his shadowy master ensured high increases to his budget. With a bigger barracks and yard, and overall more territory. More troops as well. This fortress is located at the base of the Kuro mountains, with some forest surrounding it. Infiltrators beware - the back forests are even more gaurded then the open front. For obvious reasons, of course....

Its a large fortress for a man with an even larger appeteite for dominance.

Now residence to Akisu Yoru Toushin-Izayoi, who is now an Official General Leader hired by "The man without a heart", Dr. Enma Akusai.

*Aki sighed, he didn't want to talk about this. He was tired and had a rough day already.* It's a little hard to explain, but the mainly Hiko had become the evil Fumetsu. I know the true Hiko wouldn't have wanted to live like that and he needed to be stopped.

Kyomi: Hmm I see *looks up at Akisu*...You look awfully tired Aki-kun...Are you feeling alright *she gets up and feels his forehead* Your burning up. *sets him down to the bed* I see you do need sleep huh baby. Well you got luckly today *kisses his cheek*

*He knew he was tired, but burning up? Was he getting sick? All he could feel was that he was getting really tired, but that at least was understandible since he'd been through a lot today.* I'll talk to you when I'm feeling better, I promise. And that's a promise I won't break.

Kyomi: Just so you won't go into a really sick fit, i'll sleep here with ya. Beside I haven't smelled your scent in two years *smiles* it would be nice to get that feeling of sleeping near you again. So *places the covers over Aki and then she goes behind the Asian Screen and undresses then changes into a nightgown like kimono and laid under the covers with Aki* Sweet Dreams baby *kisses him and cuddles with him*

*Aki smiled a little, glad to see she'd forgiven him somewhat and it was nice to sleep next to her again. Her body was warm and soft and she smelled the same way she had two years ago, bringing back some happy memories. Aki then closed his eyes and fell asleep, his arms wrapped around Kyomi.*

*A few hours pass and the vial that Aki took which is actually a slow working poison that triggers hallucations to the mind. Suddenly, Aki's dream began with a dark stormy night at the waterfall of the Kuro Mt. behind the fortress. Then a clash of lightning strikes and gives a short unveiling of the two warriors facing each other. The visual of the two warriors in the fight was unsure to make out. The two warriors fought it out with their blades in horrific combat. Then flashes of a plain field covered in blood then a fortress on fire and then finally a river with blood flowing down with a lock of white hair and a shadow reflecting off the river. The lightning reveals half of the face and it was Aki with a fresh bloody scar from the left side of his forehead all the way down to his collar bone and his left hand was removed but wrapped up and it was dripping blood. Aki then turned around and held the sword in a a familar stance then the lightning crashed again and the last thing heard was "Death is but a word, experiancing it can change the innocent to sinners", the voice was Hiko and suddenly the dream ended*

*Aki woke with a start, sitting up quickly and putting his face in his hands. He was breathing hard and sweating. He looked around the room, trying to figure out where he was.*
~My room at the fortress.... It was just a bad dream.~
*But that wasn't entirely true and he knew it, he'd had a vision much like it earlier that day. It was shorter, but he was certain it was part of the dream.*

*Kyomi wakes up and sees Aki freaking out*
Kyomi: Aki-kun are you ok? What's wrong? What happened?
*Kyomi was scared at Aki's look in his face*

Nothing, just a bad dream. Go back to sleep. *He practically snapped at her. Aki then got out of bed and headed into the bathroom to wash his face with cool water. He was still feeling very anxious about something and he wasn't quite sure why. Like something bad would soon happen. Maybe what happened in the dream would come true?*

The sounds of screams and an overall ruckus could be heard from the basement. Eventually it dies down.

Scythe: "Vier and Neun, you two are to hunt Zwei down and test his combat prowess. I need to know if anything has diminished over the years. Zhen, you are to follow them and keep Ein occupied. If possible bring him back alive. None of you are allowed to kill either of them."

Drei had been sitting there awake again, and sitting there with her hand in her face like she just woke up and wasn't all there yet.

Drei: "Like hell! I'll kill Zwei before you can have your precious 'weapon' back!"

She staggers out with her mask in her hand. The other 3 follow her. They get outside no problem. Drei gets horribly lost.

*Suddenly the vision that Aki had of himself appeared behind him in a ghost like image. The future Aki was very war-torn looking and but seemed like he was the exact same age as he was.

Future Aki: So, you begining to see the blurred truth like father huh? *laughes* I was never the one to think too much outside the box like Shi said. But he wanted my newly found fortune, he was jealous of my success!!! *and then he took out Shi's head* but I made him pay dearly *laughes* Akusai-sama was right all along but it's time to act fast and now while we have the upper hand and overthrow Akusai-sama and destory that bastard. WE can do it I know we can.

*The vision certainly freaked Aki out, but at the same time he felt a great truth to it. He'd been worried that he would someday have to face Shi, but this only proved that Shi would become his enemy. Taking down Enma however...* I don't have the force to take down Akusai-sama. He has too many loyal to him.

Furture Aki: But if you take out his special helpers first you'd be taking away his loyal fellows *he laughes* I didn't *then looks sad for a moment* Unfortunately, I had to take out one who was very close to me....I wish it never ended up that way. *tightens his fist and then smacks it to the wall* They will ALL betray you just as they betrayed our father....the one that mattered anyway, Hiko. He knew the life he choose would lead him to death but the one WE will choose will lead us to ultimate victory....You know my words are true, you must see it

*Aki slowly nodded. They would all betray him eventually. Everyone around him could easily be part of Enma's group. He then looked back to where his room was and where Kyomi was sleeping.* What about her? She wouldn't betray me.

Future Aki: Just like father, just like son....it will all come down..to only one....or your death. Remember that Aki...

*suddenly another voice emerged*

Hiko's Ghost: Listen boy, you gonna listen to an fake version of yourself of listen to the real you? I lived a life of total danger and I was betrayed because of my decision that I choose. You change whatever you have in visioned...I did...with death of myself, you can change whatever the outcome is in your vision...it has been done yet so you can still prevent any of it from happening...Trust me son...I'd never lie to you, so don't lie to yourself ...

*then the voice of Hiko & Aki plus Aki's image disappears and he is left with the words of wisdom or the sight of damnation*

*Aki wasn't sure which to listen to. He trusted Hiko, but the vision he'd had of himself spoke what he felt to be the truth as well. That Enma and his people would betray him if he didn't take care of them first.*

*After thinking to himself for awhile, he walked back out into the bedroom and sat down on the bed. Maybe he could talk to Kyomi about this, but what if she was against him as well?*

*Kyomi was sleep but Ayame walked in and looked at him*
Ayame: Sir, no offense but you look like shit. What happened? I overheard some noise and I came by as fast as I could. Is everything alright, sir. *she began to notice something about Aki he looked like he was pale abit and he seemed like he hasn't had sleep in weeks*

A bad dream. *He got up from the bed and walked over to Ayame.* Along with a lot of other shit on my mind. *He sighed.* I think I might go for a walk. *Clearing his head would be good, but sleep would be better.*

Ayame: Yes sir, would you like me to accompany you or you'd like to go at it alone?
*She though something was wrong but didn't know what really. Maybe he drunk some bad sake, she didn't know really know*
Ayame: ya know it looks like you need to be alone, i'll just head back to bed *she leaves*

*He opened his mouth to say he wouldn't mind if she went with him, but she was gone before he had the chance. A walk alone wouldn't hurt. He headed downstairs and out of the fortress to walk along the perimeter outside. It was a nice night out with an almost cold breeze. It blew through his hair, which had gotten a bit long and messy over the years.*

* A man with a one sleeved leather trenchcoat. The man looked like Sethiroth but with jet black hair and his eyes were hazel. He unzipped his fitted leather trenchcoat and revealed his vest of knife holsters. Then man smiled with his evil eyes looking at Aki from the lowest mountain near Kuro Mt. which is behind the Fortress*

Koji: Ahh, so the effects are working? Excellent *laughes* Wondering why you feel the way you feel?...I can relieve you of you suffering *he takes out a strange sword which looks like a katana but it was thinner and sharper and longer*

*Not knowing he was being watched, Aki continued his walk around the fortress and stopped when he was on the side facing the Kuro Mountains. He stared up at the mountain and remembered his time there with Hiko. Who was he to believe, his seemingly future self or Hiko. The fact he was having these visions at all probably spoke badly of his mental health. One thing he was certain of, and perhaps the reason he was more willing to listen to his future self was that he didn't trust Enma at all.*

*Koji jumped off the side of the lower mountain he was on and appeared not directly but behind Aki and his hazel eyes glowed in the moonlight. Suddenly, a gust of wind emerged and the sound of Koji's leather Trenchcoat possibly gave his position away but he was counting on it*

Koji: Oi, Akisu-san! I'm here to cut your fate short. *smiles evily then he spun his sword and placed himself in his stance* You shall suffer even in death.

*Aki drew his sword, the one that once belonged to Hiko as he turned to face this new person.* Who are you? Do you work for the assassin's guild or Akusai-sama? *His eyes narrowed and he took a step back to get some space between the two.*

Koji: *feminine in look but with the deep masculine voice* I am Koji Kioshi, Elite Spy for the Moonlight Hierarchy. *he then points the sword at Aki and reconized the blade Aki was holding. His eyes widened but then got back to his sense* I am sent to dispose of you, your reign as a leader is has disturbed The Master.

Nice to hear I have fans already. *Aki grumbled and drew his other sword now that he knew this would turn into a fight. If this guy was actually part of the Moonlight Hierarchy, he'd recognize Kuro's sword as well, which Aki now held in his left hand.*

Koji: Those are the swords of Master Hiko Izayoi & Master Kuro Hisakata. What you are holding are treasures to the Hierarchy and Talons of your death. So you are the one Master Izayoi has been teaching lately, hmm. *he twist the handle and the blade retracts to a smaller size and placed it in his holster inside his coat*

Both of these swords are mine by right, not your Hierarchy. *He eyed what Koji was doing with his weapon. Putting it away? Perhaps he didn't want to fight or maybe having the swords scared him off.* And are you saying Hiko was part of this Hierarchy of yours? *He'd learned that Kuro was, but Hiko, too?*

Koji: Master Hiko was the 5 member of the Hierarchy and my former teacher. Your real father was my teacher as well but I knew Master Hiko before his days in the Hierarchy, I was barely in my teens when I met him. I followed him to the Hierarchy and stayed under his wing as his right man. The 5 members are the only dangerous of the 13....Kuro wasn't apart of the 5 but he had his own agenda.

I see... *It answered a few things, but caused far more questions in Aki's mind.* But that means Hiko left the Hierarchy because he wouldn't have fought Kuro otherwise, right?

Koji: Well he left the Hierarchy once he arrived here in Edo 4 yrs ago. He was a fugitive to the Hierarchy for 3 yrs before that. We couldn't find him til we were tipped off by an unknown factor. Once we knew, we sent Master Kuro to investigate...but we lost contact with Kuro after awhile....Hiko and Kuro had long rivalry toward each other. Since Hiko taught me and you we are like brothers of combat.

I suppose we are, but that doesn't mean you're going to let me go, now does it? *Aki was still holding his swords, though casually off to his sides. Ready to use them if needed.* I'd like to know why I'm on the Hierarchy's black list anyway.

Koji: Well *retracts his sword to open by twisting the handle* of course not...but your being on our list is for US to know and for you to never find *he places himself in the same stance Hiko taught Aki and started his attack. He place the blade facing behind him and ran toward Aki. He did a quick cut slash toward Aki*

*Aki blocked with both swords, the slash still moved him a bit with his feet digging into the ground.* This should be interesting since we've both been trained by Hiko, however, I know more than just what he taught me. *Now that Koji's blade was stopped for the moment, he took one sword blade away from Koji's and tried to jab him in the stomach.*

*Koji jumped and performed a split in the air then placed his hand on Aki's head. Then turned and flipped over his head and went to kick him in the back*

*Aki got kicked in the back and fell to one knee. He then pushed himself back to his feet. Something wasn't quite right, he should have been able to dodge that without a problem. Then he realized why he was out here in the first place, he couldn't sleep. He wasn't rested at all, which could make quite a bit of difference in a battle with someone who was probably even matched while rested.*

*Koji bounced off of the Aki after that kick and slid backwards then ready his sword for a straight up stabbing manuver* I have tricks up my sleeves just like you do my brother *smiles and attemps his attack with a running stab*

*He sidestepped the large sword stabbing at him and swung his own two swords. One aimed for Koji's neck, the other for his midsection, both going against the direction Koji had run at him.*

*Koji forgot to swung his sword after his stab distraction. He then was launched off his feet and slams into the ground a couple of feets back. He then gets up and laughes. He takes off his coat and reveals that he his a double chainmail outfit underneath the dark clothes he wore, but there was a gash in the first layer of armor*

Koji: Hey you almost had me there *laughes and then jets toward him but then bounces off a tree on the side and then a huge rock on the other side and did a front somesault and a huge gust of wind emerged then suddenly he said* Four Winds of Hell *And 4 slices aimed at Aki*