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"It's just a deer!" the princess's shrill exclamation pierced the air, ringing throughout the forest like an alarm bell. Masayuki cringed at the sound, if not only for its volume, but also the apparent flare of frustrated emotion behind it. He saw Yua's expression, glanced through the pain and...

When Yua was startled at the rustling sound creeping in the underbrush, Masayuki was put on full alert. Without thinking, his hand jumped to the hilt of his sword, his breath hitched, and his senses flared as he stared into the brush, hoping to catch a glimpse of movement, some clue. A few...

A shadow plaguing Masayuki's mind pulled him like the tides of the ocean pull the beach into its murky depths. He could think of nothing else as he stood on the shore, its icy black waters slowly rising, in time threatening to engulf him. A chill ran down his spine and gooseflesh tickled his...

Masayuki studied Yua as she turned to face him. It was clear that the girl was uncomfortable. Vaguely he wondered if it was his presence that was intimidating to her, or if it was that she had barely any experience out here, in the real world. Maybe it was both. "What I want is... irrelevant,"...

Yua was just as insightful as she was beautiful. And while Masayuki hadn't intended his suggestion to sound completely selfish, the princess saw right through him, somehow. He did wish to walk the grounds around the castle for a few personal reasons, never mind knowing that it would do the...

Masayuki waited, and all the while, his mind kept turning about the mysteries of Yotoyama castle and the dark aura contained somewhere within it. Yes, the aura was here somewhere, but it was impossible to pinpoint. He felt as if he was close, yet he had no way to verify it. He couldn't very well...

Masayuki stepped back as Yua rushed forward to embrace her father. Her sobs filled the air as the true gravity of the situation came down. The news of the deaths of the rest of the Yotoyama family settled more heavily on Masayuki's mind than he had expected. The memory of the day that he had...

The young woman was nearly as light as a feather as he pulled her up from the ground. Her eyes were reddened, tears evident on the porcelain skin of her cheeks. Her voice was hoarse as she stuttered her words. The poor girl was absolutely horrified. And why wouldn't she be? This experience would...

Masayuki was alone in the courtyard, save for the already decaying body of the Oni and the buzzards perched upon the eaves of the castle, waiting for their chance to pick at the putrid flesh. As he pulled the helmet off of his head and tucked it beneath his right arm, he could hear the other...

The sounds of battle grew evermore apparent as the party of Saitō warriors closed in on Yokoyama castle. With swords and bows in hand, the dozen warriors stormed through the gates of the estate. The Yokoyama samurai were in disarray, apparently having not expected this brazen attack. The source...

--- [ ☀ ] --- A cool spring breeze rustled the blooming wisteria, scattering pale purple flecks like confetti in the air. Warm sunlight carved down through the leaves like blades. It was a fine spring day. Masayuki found himself in the wisteria woods, soaking up the calming aura of nature...

Never in his career had Lieutenant John Liu beheld a scene so grotesque. When he ducked under the police tape and stepped through the open double glass doors of the Fill 'er Up, a stench so foul permeated the air that he swore the hairs in his nose had burned off that instant. On instinct, he...