That night Lu Bu ordered a banquet for his officers at Puyang Castle to celebrate his victory over Cao Cao as his forces fled to Xu Chang. A messenger is dispatched to Juan Castle a couple of hours after the battle for the officers addressed to Zhang Liao. Once he heard this news he promoted some noteable soldiers to garrison commanders and ordered them to keep an eye on Juan Castle and to make sure to keep it intact while they were gone. Zhang Liao rounded up the other officers including Mitsuko and they rode on horseback thanks to the warhorses in the stables. They rode to the castle in under an hour, the sun starts to set. Mitsuko was surprised to see the castle on the inside look huge on the inside. It must've been quite a fight she thought to herself. Shortly after their arrival they were escorted to the main chambers as a bright amber colour shone on the entire castle.

Mitsuko was surprised as they entered the room to see a huge assortment of tables and chairs considering Zhang Liao never told the other 3 officers why they were coming here. The large room was decorated extravagantly with red luxurious carpets leading into the room as you open the door, the many silky smooth banners decorated with gold jewellery hanging from the ceiling however they bear the banner of Lu Bu's forces. The amber light coming in from the window brighten the room but makes it more noticeable that the walls were very Spartan save for one or two pictures professionally drawn pictures hanging on the wall. The tables and chairs were in the shape of an upside down 'U' shape with Lu Bu at the head of it alongside his daughter and en empty seat reserved for his most trusted officer Zhang Liao. Mitsuko sat at the lower ends of the assortment of tables off to the right side where the lesser experienced and lesser known officers were sat.

Among these tables were plates and plates of freshly cooked food mainly smaller animals like pigs and meat buns. Everyone started to eat anyway, Mitsuko was the last to start opting to glance at everyone feeling a bit...apprehensive about everything. Eventually she started eating and realised how merry the atmosphere was. Even though she kept to herself the atmosphere never shifted from all work serious type, it was weird for her to see everyone being merry and happy so suddenly. She turns towards Zang Ba sitting on her right side who seems to be more...hands on with his food going at it like he's demon devouring a human. She chuckles to herself as she glances at everyone having a merry time.

As the banquet progressed the once amber light turned into a bright white light created by the moon as it begins its rise to replace the setting sun. Mitsuko's mind tried to stay on the banquet taking place in front of her eyes however she was just too curious about the events leading to this moment. Zang ba noticed that she's spacing out so he asked her what's up.

'Hey are you ok?'

'what? Oh yeah sorry, just a little tired still you know...fatigue and all that.' She explains.

'Ahh fair enough, then in that case you won't mind if I take this piece.' He steals a leg of chicken from her plate.

'Hey!' Mitsuko shouts as she grabs his hand which is just like her normal talking voice in this merry atmosphere. Zang Ba laughs as she tries to wrestle the piece out of his hand. Eventually all the food was amazingly finished and Lu Bu ordered the servants to bring wine for everyone. Everyone begins to stand to collect the alcohol that was being served. Like people waiting to be served in a bar. As they stand and drink the servants removed the tables from the premises. Mitsuko leaned on the wall for a while observing everything rather than engaging with many people. She even saw the mighty Lu Bu with a smile on his face, it was almost surreal to see the mightiest warrior in the land having a good time rather than the usual intimidating look he always had, it put Mitsuko a little at ease to see for herself that he was just a normal man not like a special diety or anything. She wasn't much of a party girl, partly because no one really invited her to one before. She was content being on the sidelines or rather she was used to it anyway, she was surprised to see a rather attractive female servant in a rather bland robe with long brunette hair come up to her.

'My lady would you like some wine?'

'Oh sorry, I erm don't really dr-'

'Ahh Mitsuko are you really not going to join the rest of us?' Zang Ba staggers over.

'I erm...'

'Of course she wants some wine.' He grabs the drink and playfully shoves it to Mitsuko who instinctively grabs the drink. The maiden servant smiles softly before leaving them to their own devices. He drapes his arm around Mitsuko and drags her around the room.

'C'mon loosen up and relax I think we all earned it this day especially you. Drink up.' He almost orders as she drags Mitsuko round, she looks at the drink hesitantly briefly remembering the first time she drank it. She gave in to Zang Ba and took a quick sip and swallowed it quickly to avoid as much of the aftertaste as possible. However it was in vain as Mitsuko could still taste it almost as much as the first time and begins to cough. Zang Ba laughs in response.

'Aha can't handle the drink eh?'

'I don't normally drink this stuff so I guess not.' She states plainly leaving Zang Ba in shock.

'What? Impossible a woman of your calibre should be very well acquainted with the wine!' He declares.

'I'm not sure whether I should take that as a compliment or an insult.' Mitsuko thought to herself as a man dressed in full leather armour began to drift towards them.

'Ahh so this is the battle maiden who you've been fighting with...hmm doesn't seem like much.' He states as he examines Mitsuko. He looked fairly intimidating as he hovered over Mitsuko's face who tried her hardest to not flinch or step back.

'Ou Xing you haven't seen her in action, she's stronger than she looks.' Zang Ba responds as Mitsuko pretended to drink from her cup. His breath reeks of alcohol.

'Please, how strong can a woman be in battle?' That touched a nerve with Mitsuko and shot up a glance at him.

'You'd be surprised once you finally open your eyes.' He took one step closer and was inches from her face trying to be intimidating for a moment before Zang Ba pushes him lightly away from her. Mitsuko smirks as she continues to pretend to be drinking.

'Hey back off.' He says to him.

'Yeah after all, Ba is much stronger than you so I would suggest you do what he says.' Unknown to her, her left eye changed to a navy blue colour.

'Ahh Mitsuko you're making me blush.' Zang Ba rubs the back of his head nervously.

'Ha don't make laugh I could beat him a contest of strength easily.' Ou Xing announces.

'Is that right arrogant bastard? Then lets find out.'

'Here and now?'

'What's the matter, scared?' Zang Ba taunted.

'Of course not! Servants bring the chairs and table.' He orders as a crowd began to form around the two looking determined to beat the other. Mitsuko chuckles as this as the stage is set. They both sit down and grasp each other hand with their elbow on the table. One person shouted begin and they started an arm wrestle. Mitsuko chuckles again to herself as she stealthily escaped the room opting to instead go on a walk around the palace.

She finds it peaceful strolling around in the night, in her normal time she wouldn't do anything like this as she would be scared of gang members and so forth, now that she doesn't have to worry about anything like that she finds it very calming to walk under the night sky without the fear of getting mugged or stabbed since it would be hard for someone to infiltrate the palace. She couldn't believe how relaxing it actually was.

Eventually she found herself on a small bridge traversing over a pond filled with lilies. She leaned over the railing and looks up at the crescent moon shining brightly similar to the sun though...not as elegant. She closed her eyes due to the peacefulness of her surroundings and her thoughts quickly subconsciously shift to Akari. She remembers the first time she met her. She was a transfer student who just started at her school but she didn't know where to go so she asked the first person she saw.

'Hi sorry to disturb you but do you know where class...erm...' she gets out a school handbook out of her backpack as Mitsuko looks at her with confusion.

'305! Do you know where room 305 is?'

'Yeah it's actually where I'm going you can come with me if you want.'

'Really? Awesome thank you!' She clutches to Mitsuko's arm who turns away trying to hide her blush, she wasn't used to this much physical contact from anyone.

'I-its not a problem. I-I guess you're a transfer student huh?' She stammers being uncomfortable in a situation she's never been in before.

'Yep, my name is Akari what's yours?'

'M-Mitsuko.'

'Mitsuko...That's a nice name!' She smiles brightly at her.

'I think you maybe over exaggerating.' Akari laughs out loud.

Mitsuko opens her eyes and realises that everything was just a memory to her. She stares down at the pond and rubs her head with her right hand.

'Damnit yet again she keeps plaguing my mind...I suppose I do deserve it don't I?' She mentally yells at herself unaware of another presence walking towards her until she hears very close footsteps to her right side. She snaps out of her daze and sees Ling Qi standing on the opposite side of the very small bridge with a chalice of wine of her own.

'So this is where you were after all this time.'

'Oh yeah, I was just taking a stroll through the palace. Sorry if I worried you I just wanted to take a bit of a walk through our land a bit you know since we finally have one to claim.' Ling Qi chuckles to herself for a second before joining Mitsuko on the small bridge and leaning over the same railing as her.

'Yeah I know what you mean it is surreal to finally have a land we can call home you know?' Mitsuko turns towards her and was entranced by what she saw. Ling Qi with the bright moonlight coming from the sky was so beautiful it was like admiring a professional painting. It made her heart skip a couple of beats and couldn't take her eyes off her.

'D-do I have something on my face?' Ling Qi questions. As soon as she spoke Mitsuko snapped out of her trance and immediately began to be flustered.

'N-no of course not you look great, perfect even!' she blurted out. Ling Qi was taken aback slightly by this compliment but she smiles at her.

'Oh well thank you.'

'Reaaaal smooth Mitsuko, real smooth!' Mitsuko mentally curses herself as she tries to salvage this conversation.

'I would've thought you'd still be enjoying yourself with the rest of them.' She responds.

'I don't know it is strange to try and socialise with drunken officers that serve your father.' Mitsuko laughs in response.

'Yeah I can see that would be strange. It's even more weird seeing your father drunk having a good time...erm no offense of course I didn't mean anything by it.'

'Don't worry I understand, he isn't the friendliest of men up front is he. Even I'm a little caught off guard from time to time.' Ling Qi giggles as Mitsuko sighs a breath of relief, relieved that she didn't take it the wrong way. She sees that her gorgeous smile began to falter.

'Still...I wonder how long this can last, what does the future have in store for us in the land of chaos.' For some reason seeing Ling Qi not smile kind of pains Mitsuko for some reason, she didn't understand why though especially since they still on 'just met terms' she thought.

'Well...no one really knows do they? You just have to go with the flow don't you? Take it as it comes and all that. However I do know one thing.' She turns towards Mitsuko who looks kind of confused.

'That between your father, Zhang Liao, you and me and everyone else I think we can handle anything that can come our way and at the end of all this we'll come out on top.' Ling Qi smiles at her and nods her head.

'Yeah you're right, come I think that deserves a toast.' She holds out her chalice, Mitsuko finally realises that she kept a hold of hers and held it out aswell. Ling Qi surprises Mitsuko by hooking her arm with Mitsuko in a way that they both are interlocked but can put the chalice to their arms with ease. Mitsuko paused for a few seconds before she processed everything and thought this was just an ancient warrior thing and drank it the same time as Ling Qi who politely waited for her. As she drank the liquid she tasted what seemed to be grapefruit of some kind. After she swallowed the wine her eyes widen when she realised that she forgot it was wine that she drank as the after taste began to take effect. She leans over the bridge and began coughing as Ling Qi cackles at her.

'Can't handle your drink eh Mitsuko?' She pats her back.

'Hey I can! I'm just not used to it I don't normally drink alcohol do I!? Besides why aren't you like me now?'

'Why I'm the daughter of Lu Bu of course, there's not much that I can't handle.' Ling Qi laughs again as Mitsuko sighs before she began coughing again with Ling Qi patting her back again.