Reishin coughed in the middle of the night. His breath felt as if smoke was forming inside his lungs. Every breath he exhale, a puff of smoke came out. He feared. He feared for the residence's safety. If he were to set up a fire in the middle of the night, there will be more casualties than just himself.

Therefore he ran. He ran outside the Jinnori residence and into the open. The emperor's courtyard seemed like a good place if he were to combust right there and right now.

Reishin fell to his knees. The smokes that came from his mouth pooled together like his body was a furnace. Breathing was even harder for him when he realized his veins was glowing red and orange. What was happening to him?

He thought, perhaps if he were to die, he would at least have the best view of the stars. He looked to the sky and saw his favorite constellations. That puts him to ease.

He saw a flicker of white came to his vision and suddenly beside him, there was another person. Eyes glowing gold, white robes unbuttoned and loosely fitted.

Fourth son, Ryuura.

"Your Majesty…" he said, coughed.

Ryuura hovered to the minister's side. It was a common sight for someone like Ryuura who has an abundance of spiritual power to float as he pleases.

"I suppose… if I were to die tonight I would look at the stars too…" he said.

Those words were not expected from the fourth prince. He was always so aloof and uncaring. He was known to do as he pleases and never to listen to anyone or anything.

"Do you… do you know what is wrong with me, your highness ?" Reishin coughed.

Ryuura nodded. For a brief moment his eye glowed the brightest blue and his skin glows just like his.

"This… is a mark of involuntary possession. Your body is rejecting the invasion of the mind. A spiritual clash if I put it simply…" he said. A mere breath of air and his body returned to normal.

"You are like me too." he added.

Reishin has no idea how to comprehend this new information. Magical possession? Spiritual clash ? He was just a mere minister. Why would anyone try to harm him…

"Perhaps…" Ryuura stepped forward and moved Reishin to face him. "They finally sent someone to hunt me down."

"They ?" Reishin questioned.

"Yes. They. Those who hated me and wanted me dead. As if allowing me to live in this cursed body is not enough…" he growled.

Burn them all. Burn the pain, the sorrow, the suffering. They will NEVER understand how you feel…

Reishin caught the prince by the hand. "Does it hurt too?"

Hence the anger disappear like smoke.

"...It does."

Reishin smiled softly and patted the prince's head. It was a habit of his that he cannot stop.

"Well, I have no idea nor remedy to cure your pain. But if talking about it helps, I am willing to lend an ear, your majesty…"

Ryuura scoffed. "Your lungs hurts and you are barely keeping it together. Yet you offer help? You are weird Reishin."

Reishin just smiled. "My experiments shown that a burden shared makes them less painful. As you are here distracting my pain, I am also helped by your presence."

Ryuura frowned and sat down with the minister. "Can I… stay with you here longer tonight ?"

Reishin laughed. "Of course you can. Let me bring you some tea. It seems that tonight we will not be sleeping until the pain lessened…"

And they stayed the whole night looking over the stars. Wondering and dreaming of a better life and a grander fate. Both of them would not be caught dead talking to each other on broad daylight. Yet when painful nights came, they always found a way to see each other.