It didn't hurt. Well, being attacked by shadows didn't, but the shards of metal flying around might've done some damage, I wasn't really focusing at the time. But with perfect timing, every muscle of my body began to ache, while my vision finally cleared, revealing the last thing I expected.

Forcing myself to sit up and look around, I took in the sight of the familiar decking and roof, my head beginning to shake slowly as a quiet denial left my mouth. Desperate to find some flaw in the area, something to prove that I really was just dreaming this time, I started turning my head in a flurry, mind already matching the garden to the hazy snapshots left in my memory. And then to add insult to injury, my muscles gave another flare of pain, the final proof that this was reality.

My hands were gripping the hilts of my father's swords tightly. Staring at them for a long second, I finally placed them back in the sheaths, hoping what little metal still on them would be enough to keep them in there. With that taken care of, I pushed onto my feet, taking a stumbling step forwards and clutching my head.

The forest came back to my mind unbidden, Jiro's expression of horror plastered all over his face coming with it. Was this just the afterlife? If it was, I'd be haunting those idiots who said death came without pain, because every inch of me was screaming as I made my way over to the decking, and while it quietened the more I walked, none of the rant was polite.

The mental map of the house needed dusting off, but I must have been certain of the direction I was headed in, because I didn't halt or hesitate at turnings, trusting the small voice guiding me with every part of my mind. Only when I was turning the last corner did I finally realise where we were going, my brain frantically attempting to get my feet to stop. Even if this was the entrance to the afterlife, or a dream that couldn't hurt me, I couldn't go in there again, not after-

When I came to the only open door, Tadashi's body was being gently lowered to the ground, eyes hidden by the length of cloth over them. The only thing that moved was his hair, brushing against the hand moving it from his face, my mother letting it linger just a second before pulling it away. A tear landed on the tatami before she gave her eyes a rub, finally looking up to see me in the doorway, staring at her with a mix of emotions I still couldn't describe now.

To her credit, she wasn't surprised, or if she was, she hid it well. Instead, she brought one finger to her mouth, pointing to the little girl still breathing next to her. I ignored the distraction, keeping my eyes solely on my brother. "I had to." She whispered, the words echoing in my memory, every forgotten or blurred detail getting repainted with the same brush, "They couldn't be allowed to take him."

"You'd let them take your daughter though?" I snapped, keeping my voice low as well. It wasn't for her, I told myself. It was for the little girl who should have at least a few years thinking the best of her mother.

"How old are you? You at least survive this long. He had no guarantee."

"He might've." I let my entire body tense, fists forming as a direct contrast to the tears forming in my eyes. "Our lives were never yours to take."

Mother averted her eyes, "The fates are set. Haven't you realised that yet? We're blessed in that we see what is, but cursed in that nothing we can do will prevent it."

"Don't you dare say we again." We implied a connection. "I never asked for your stupid eyes!"

"Neither did I." Rising from her knees, Mother took a step closer to me, looking me up and down as she did. I forced myself to recoil when she raised a hand, trying to make it plain that I didn't want her touching me. As always she ignored me, gripping the end of her sleeve and gently wiping my eyes with it. It was probably the only motherly thing she had ever done for me, and that small fact made more tears push their way out. "I didn't ask for it either."

Once I began to understand the dreams better, I sometimes entertained thoughts of what I would do if I was placed in this exact situation, and how I would save my brother and change everything. Crying on Mother's shoulder, trying so hard to avoid making a noise so the younger me wouldn't investigate, that image certainly never factored into my fantasies. Feeling her hand on the back of my head, stroking my hair, gave me a completely opposite woman to the one I had grown up hating, to the one I had just seen kill my brother.

Moving my head so I could see over her shoulder, my gaze fixed on a single point on the floor, blurred vison clearing just enough to see the smaller me quirking her head curiously, trying to understand the yokai in front of her, as of yet unaware of the body just centimetres from her. Sakura was somewhere near him, one side soaking up his blood, marking her forever.

Realising my sobbing had quietened somewhat, Mother took a step back again, stooping to collect her knife again, "What-what are you doing?" I questioned, genuinely confused.

Looking between her knife and me, Mother shook her head, almost laughing to herself, "Your dreams, they only ever went this far as well." The dagger fit easily in her grip, still dripping slightly with Tadashi's blood, "I know the future you have, Sayomi. It's a mother's job to spare her children such pain. Let me do this for you, at least?"

My hand automatically went to the katana hilt, feet taking an uneasy step back. This sudden personality change wasn't right, I was sure of it. But if she was telling the truth…Oh Kami, was this how Jiro had died? Killed in his worst nightmare?

I didn't even have time to plead with her. I don't know what I would've said, but by the time anything of substance came to my mind, Mother had lunged and my hand acted on pure instinct, drilled through so many years of practise.

The scariest split second in my life appeared to last for an hour. Mother and I were so close to each other, in a mocking mimicry of the hug she had just given. The notion that my armour would've protected me didn't even register until her dagger dropped to the floor with a quiet thud, and her breath hitched.

I realised we were the same height then, when her face turned and her lips pressed a kiss onto my cheek. A small, stupid detail, but the only one I was capable of really noticing.

Shaking, my fingers loosened from the hilt of what was left of my sword, letting Mother take a step back before collapsing to her knees.

I knew killing strikes. Hell knows I'd made enough of them, and still in shock, my mind let the cold analytical Blade take over. In my hurry I'd only had time to ram the sharp edge into her stomach, using her own approach to push her further onto it. She would die slowly, and in a lot of pain.

But that wasn't the impression you would get from watching her face. Mother looked at utter peace with the world, even fixing me with a smile full of pride, "I'm glad you could avenge your brother. That was-" Her face twisted for a second, forcing my eyes down to her stomach, where one hand was trying to pull the sword out. "That was all I- ngh!" The blade finally came free, falling from her limp hand to the floor, splattering blood in a new pattern. "T-Thank you, my d-darling."

Her eyes slowly drifted closed, finally freeing me from her gaze. Still numb, with the Blade managing my thoughts, I simply darted forwards and took Father's sword from its resting position, wiping it on my skirt before charging out of the room. My foot tapped the knife on my way out, knocking it towards Mother's body.

From there, everything went as I remembered it. I didn't linger long enough to witness it of course, getting to the outside decking before I heard the maid scream for my father. The general outcry resonated through the house when I was at the gate, and from there, I just ran, the weight of what had just happened finally overtaking me.

My feet tangled around each other, sending me flying into the dirt. My left side gave a heavy protest when I landed on it, the arm twisting before a tiny snap was heard. I didn't even notice when the pain hit, still trying to find my breath. I want to wake up. My mind whimpered, Let me wake up.

I seemed to get my wish. The ground I was lying on dissolved, leaving me staring at darkness. The cold of it embraced me, wrapping me in a tender blanket and hiding me from the world. Had it stayed like that, I would've been content to stay there forever, or at least until I was able to forget.

But I wasn't alone for long. A laugh, one I hadn't heard for three years echoed through the darkness, before giving way to a voice, "The truth at last, Young Blade."

My eyes widened, body attempting to prepare itself for another battle. Perhaps this would be the one to kill me like Mother predicted.

Instead, the void began to echo with new voices, ones I was sure I knew. "There she is!"

"Stand back, she needs to be put down before anything else happens."

"No wait, PLEASE!" It was the final scream that did what nothing else could've. The nightmare ended the second her voice dropped, and the darkness vanished from around me.

Using my good arm to push onto my side, I blinked a few times to get my bearings, curling my other arm closer to my stomach with a quiet groan. At least, I thought it was quiet, but a few heads turned my way, distracted from the main spectacle. Someone pushed out of the group, running closer just as my strength ran out, and my eyes closed again. This time, there was nothing left to invade my sleep.