The saniwa chuckled as she looked into the monitor. The cameras brought from her world serve the best as tools to watch the lives of the swords currently in the arena. Hasebe looked on at her, displease etched on his face.

"What's that look, Hasebe?" She asked, turning to him "Don't look at me like that, you won last year's round, after all, that's why you can stand like this besides me," She chuckled, pointing a french fry at him.

Hasebe glances away, looking at the screen.

He had been forced into the last game and had somehow won, aided by many other swords. It was hell, his time there. He didn't want to relieve it.

"Don't worry," The executioner chime, walking in and leaning on the master's chair.

"The game will get even more interesting after this." He grinned, stealing one of the saniwa's snacks on her plate.

Hasebe ignored him, looking into the screen.
He can only wish them for the best.


The rest of the morning was quiet, solemn even.
Some of the swords had volunteered to prepare food for the others but Ichigo had not showed up to the dining hall, irking Nagasone even further.

Though due to circumstances, they couldn't blame Ichigo either. The rest of the morning were spent cleaning the quarters and making the area more suitable for inhabitation.

Yamanbagiri and Yamanbushi had taken on the task to maintain the food inventory and the Shinsengumi swords were out scouting the courtyard, looking for any source of food as well as a small chance of an exit.

The Samonji were in their rooms, cleaning out the area and dusting out the futons. "It feels a little unbelievable," Souza commented. "Even in this situation we are cleaning out the area as if nothing is different from usual," He muttered, lowering the duster in his hand. He sighed "It would've been better if I just come in here alone, perhaps the Awataguchi will not suffer like that-"

"And let you come in here alone?" Sayo interrupted him, frowning. "I have only just reunited with Kousetsu niisama and Souza niisama…" He muttered, "I never thought that I have a need to be with you both….but I'd rather be inside here than to not know what happened to you." Sayo continued, clutching the rag in his small hand "And if anything happened to you...I will surely get revenge for that…"

Souza's brow furrowed as he kneels down and pulls the tantou into his arm, hugging him tightly. Sayo didn't have to be in this arena, he didn't have to participate.

"Osayo is right," Kousetsu muttered, oiling the sliding door. He looks satisfied when it slid effortlessly into place. "I was the one who volunteered anyway, the blame should be on me."

Suddenly, they heard a loud thud and looked out the window. It was the Shinsengumi sword, throwing themselves against the gate to force it open.

"It's useless." Kousetsu sighed "That door is sealed shut. It's impossible to open,"

Souza got up, glancing at his brother. Sayo sat down, hugging his knees.

"What happened the last game?" Souza asked his brother. Kousetsu look at them, hurt etched in his eyes.

"I wasn't a participant, but the saniwa had forced us to be a spectator," Kousetsu begin.

"The initiative gets more horrible every round and soon, the swords that we were so friendly and familiar with started to kill each other, one by one." He continued "If they did not fall by each other's blade, it will be by the executioner's, in the name of making the game more interesting."
"I want to have no part in it, yet...I cannot turn away."

"You never told us about it, you hid it for a year." Souza accused him.

"How can I tell you? The horror, the fear and the blood that was shed that day, I can never," Kousetsu frowned, looking away. Souza didn't pursue further for he knew if he was in Kousetsu's shoes, he would've done the same.

"What a laugh," Souza chuckled in dismay "The bird in the cage...yet now is a cage full of predators…."

"Will someone really die?" Sayo asked.

Kousetsu look back out to the Shinsengumi swords at the gate. "I hope not."


Dinner was quiet. No one said a word. Ichigo did show up this time, poking his food solemnly with his chopstick. They helped later with the cleanup, with Ichigo sitting quietly at the corner of the dining hall, staring blankly at the wall.

"Go to sleep," Souza told them that night, when they were once again back in their rooms. He held his sword up and watch his brothers curl into the futon, Kousetsu eyeing him. "Nii-sama, you stay awake to take care of us last night, so this time it's my turn," Souza smile slightly, putting on his best front. It was the least he can do for his brothers. "I'll keep watch this time."

Kousetsu sighed before submitting to the request, lying down on the pillow and allowing himself to rest. Sayo was still awake, turning his body so that he face Souza. "I would've done the same." He started. Souza raised a brow at him "I would've volunteered to come in if nii-sama didn't," Sayo continued. "That's why, don't blame yourself, Souza nii-sama,"

A warmth spread through Souza's chest as he smiles slightly. "Go to sleep, it's getting late," He softly replied and Sayo nodded, climbing into his sheets before allowing his eyes to close.

It was quiet for a moment. The whole citadel seems to have fallen into sleep. Souza settled down as well, glancing at the moon from the window. It was a clear night, with the semi-full moon illuminating the dark citadel.

It was well deep into the night when suddenly, the door open slightly, just enough for Souza to notice. He clutches his sword against him, startled at the sudden intrusion.

Yagen popped in, fully dressed and his sword still in his hand. He press a finger to his lips to warn Souza about making a noise and beckoned for him. Souza glanced at his brothers before walking out.

"What are you doing?" Souza started at the tantou "Do you realize what time is it?" He asked, going abit further from the room but still keeping an eye on it.

"I do, that's why I am here," Yagen started. "Souza, I have a request."

Souza frowned. He had cross path with Yagen a lot, both in the past and current. So much so that his relationship with Yagen could be considered as more than just acquaintance.

"Please, Souza." Yagen started with a deep breath "Kill me."

His words hang in the air momentarily.

It took Souza a moment to catch himself again.

"What are you saying?!" His words came out in a gasp. "Why would I do that-" He started when a realization dawned upon him "...no-"

"Listen to me." Yagen continued "If no one dies then Ichi-nii will surely be killed tomorrow….and...my brothers need him," He gritted his teeth "I can't just drop dead either because of the rules, so please, Souza, kill me."

"Why are you asking me, I am merely a sword of conquerors, not battle." Souza slide into his usual excuse but Yagen held him by his arms "You are not, you are a beautiful sword, Souza Samonji, and you have brought several winnings back ever since you entered the citadel!"

Souza let his shoulders drop. "It wasn't enough." He look away "I failed the last expedition. Perhaps that's why I was chosen to be in here,"

"That wasn't your fault!" Yagen replied but Souza only shook his head. "It's the result that matters," The uchigatana muttered. "And thanks to that, my brothers ended up in here as well,"

At that, Yagen released his grip on the sword's shoulders. "Souza, you need to stop thinking like that." He muttered "I too, volunteered to join this game when I found out that Ichi-nii and the others were forced to join,"

"How can I let them come in here alone?" Yagen shook his head, his fist curling "If anything, I want to stop this ridiculous farce!" He huffed, his anger rising "But if my death can save Ichi-nii….then so be it!"

"That's why….Souza, you have to kill me!" Yagen begged.

"...no…" Souza shook his head, backing away.

"Souza…" Yagen huffed, frustrated.

"I won't do it, not to you, nor to anyone…" Souza continued, turning away to return to his room "Go back, Yagen."

"Even though….I've begged you like this…" Yagen muttered. "...Souza…"

The sound of metal hitting metal echoed through the night air.

It only took a second for Souza to react, his hair waving with the momentum. "...Yagen…" He gasps as he tries to push Yagen's sword back. Yagen had drawn his blade against him and it was only at the last second that Souza managed to defend himself with his own sword. With a huff he push the tantou, sending Yagen flying across the hallway and skidding to a stop with his legs sliding across the dusty floors before he kicked off again for the next attack.

His movements were fast and Souza could barely keep up. "Yagen, snap out of it, I do not want to fight you!" Souza called, dodging yet another stab from the shorter sword.

Yagen did not reply, merely throwing his sword down, slash after slash against Souza. It wasn't long before his blade met flesh, drawing blood as he slices across Souza's cheeks. That was when he finally stopped, landing back on his feet as Souza pressed his palm against the wound.

"Souza…" Yagen started, staggering on his feet.

Souza wiped the blood off, sheathing his sword. He looks away and started to make his way back to the room, ignoring the tantou. "Souza!" Yagen had called after him.

Looking at the retreating silhouette, Yagen curled his fist. He couldn't just let him go like this. No. Ichi-nii will surely die if he doesn't do anything. Ichi-nii!

"I'm sorry, Souza," Yagen muttered, pulling his strength back to his ankles before launching towards the unsuspecting uchigatana.

The sound of metal connecting metal rang in the air as Souza tumbled away, effectively pushing some paper doors out of its rail.

"Souza!" Kousetsu's back was facing him, his blade drawn against Yagen's. The Tachi pushed Yagen back as Sayo helped his brother up. "Yagen Toushirou, you are the last person I expected to be doing this,"

"Doing this?!" The tantou laugh "Will you not have done the same if the initiative was one of your brothers?!" He screeched "All I ask is for you to take my life, Souza Samonji!"

Kousetsu glanced at his brother before turning back to Yagen, guessing the situation.

"Have you not considered the weight you will be putting on his shoulders if he had listened to you?" Kousetsu reasoned. "You who valued him so much from the older times, have you considered how he would've felt as well?"

Yagen paused, finally lowering his own sword.

"I-" he started, eyes darting from Souza to Kousetsu.

"That's enough," A voice echoed through the hallway as a figure approached them. "That's enough, Yagen," Honebami muttered, throwing a bundle of cloth at them. It landed with a loud thud before the cloth unraveled, revealing the contents inside.
It took awhile for them to recognize what was inside the wrap. The metal that shone in the bare light, the dark sheath wrapped with an orange tassel...

"Yamanbagiri!" Sayo called as he ran towards the cloth, pulling it apart. True enough, it was Yamanbagiri's sword….in pieces.

"What have you done?!" Sayo eyed the wakizashi, his eyes burning with rage. It was the look he had in battle.

"I did what I had to." Honebami replied back to him blankly "To protect my brothers,"

"Honebami…." Yagen was looking at the broken sword in disbelief as well.

"Yagen, Ichi-nii is completely out of it," Honebami said as he walked towards his brother. "It's up to us to help our brothers now," He coaxed Yagen to sheath his sword "But not like this, not with your life."

"You….killed Yamanbagiri!" Sayo angrily stood up, his hand resting on his own blade.
"Sayo!" Kousetsu called out to him in a warning. He shook his head at his brother. This wasn't the time for it.

"What's done is done." Honebami muttered "Even though I should feel remorse, I can only feel relief for now. I'm sorry." He continued, turning his attention back to Yagen who was still too shocked to react. "At most...the first initiative can be prevented." he turns, leading Yagen away.

Souza watch the two leave, his eyes resting back on the broken sword.

What will they tell the Kunihiros…?