As the banquet neared its climax the majority of the officers were intoxicated including Zang Ba and Wu Zi who got carried away with the celebration. Even Mitsuko had a drink despite LingQi's assurance that she didn't have to, however she gave in to Zang Ba's teasing. At first the drink was ok however the after taste was something else. She expected it in advance though, so she took her time with it and handled it better much to her surprise. Though she still couldn't help but cough as the aftertaste started to come into play. She noticed that as she started to take her second drink that she felt weird, she wasn't sure if she was drunk or not but she notices that her movements were a bit more sluggish as she opens and closes her hand when she first notices that her body feels weird. After looking up and seeing her two officers completely smashed she concluded. However, after first noticing that she felt weird she stops drinking not wanting to try her luck.

'So what did I miss?' Mitsuko turns behind her to see Pang Tong casually standing there.

'Nothing of much importance just these two letting their drink get the better of them.'

'Haha is that so? Good for them. It is important to enjoy your victories when you can.' He chuckled as he saw the two drunkards enjoying themselves.

'Well I better take them to their quarters before they try and go on a rampage all night.'

'You sure you can handle them?' Mitsuko questioned. She wasn't sure if Pang Tong could take care of two drunk officers, especially when they are more larger and bulkier than he is.

'Do not worry, I'm sure even I can handle these two. I can be quite persuasive you know. Now c'mon you two let's get you rested for tomorrow.' Pang Tong walked next to them however the two officers refused to comply.

'What's the rush? The night is still young after all.' Zang Ba responds and kept drinking away.

'Is that so? Good for you for having energy. However…' he leans his head between them.

'If you do anything to ruin Lady Mitsuko's good name that she worked hard to build up…well I won't be able to protect you against the serpent's wrath.' Pang Tong chuckled more sinisterly this time as they both looked up to Mitsuko and suddenly became terrified knowing how strong she actually is. Fearing for their lives they immediately comply with Pang Tong's request.

'Our apologies Lady Mitsuko we will now rest for tomorrow!' Zang Ba announces rather loudly as he stood up and turned around to walk. However he immediately hit his face on the wall behind him. He grabbed his face and shrieked in pain.

'Oww who would put a wall here!?' Zang Ba yelled in his hand rather loudly that Mitsuko could still hear it who couldn't help but laugh softly at his drunken antics.

'You lumbering oaf you're making a scene!' Wu Zi whispers madly at him who quickly returned to face Mitsuko and bows apologetically.

'Please excuse us and accept our apologies my lady.' He grabs a hold of Zang Ba and leads him out of the banquet hall. Satisfied Pang Tong chuckled again.

'See, all you need is to think of the right words and even drunks will pay attention to you.'

'I see.' Is all that Mitsuko managed to muster, she was too busy wondering what he said to them to make them so afraid.'

'Well looks like I better follow them just to make sure they don't get into trouble along the way. Have a pleasant evening, I entrust Lady Mitsuko in your care Lady LingQi.' He bows respectfully before casually following Wu Zi and Pang Tong leaving Mitsuko and LingQi by themselves. The two of them sat in silence for a while, unsure of what to say to each other.

'Should we go for a walk?' LingQi offered not knowing much of what to talk about here.

'Yeah sure.' Mitsuko agreed and the two walked out together out of the hall and eventually exited the inner castle. A cool breeze hits them immediately as they walk through the doors.

'Seems to be a cold night today.' Mitsuko noticed as she attempted to make some small talk.

'It is, however I notice that no matter if it is a cold night or a warm one the moon is always there to greet us.' LingQi responded as she looks up at the sky, Mitsuko did the same as they saw the crescent moon in all its elegance.

'Yeah the moon and the stars are always up there at night. Hmph, I remember when I was younger that I used to look up at the night sky and make wishes and hope they came true.' Mitsuko's eyes turned into two opposite shades of blue as she begins to remember when she was little, what little memories she had of them at least.

'And what was it that you wished for?' LingQi questioned, curious as to what young Mitsuko wished for. What did she wish for Mitsuko asked herself as she began to remember that of the times that she remembered back at the orphanage it was mostly simple and materialistic stuff like a new mobile phone or luck in her exams. However she can't say those things to LingQi for obvious reasons. Though there was one that she remembered fondly of wishing for.

'This may sound silly but one of the things I wished for was for the night to never go away.' Mitsuko admitted.

'For the night to never go away?'

'Yeah, when I was younger the night time was much more interesting than the daytime and much prettier. It was so different that I thought I was almost transported into another world with the moon acting like a guardian looking down on us all that liked the night more. It was so much so that I actually did more stuff in the night than the day. Though not many people shared that sentiment with me.' Mitsuko laughs softly as she remembers how young and childish thinking like that was. She forgot until now that she used to stargaze quite a bit when she was younger even before she met Akari. She remembered looking out of the window of her room and looking up quite a lot. She wondered why she stopped doing it and why she forgot about that for so long.

'And what about now? Do you still wish for the same eternal darkness?'

'Well when you say it like that it makes me sound like a mad tyrant.' LingQi couldn't help but attempt to stifle a laugh, Mitsuko noticed that she did that quite a bit.

'Well do you?' LingQi inquired.

'I…well its not like I actually gave it much thought to be honest after I grew up, it was just children stuff wasn't it?' Mitsuko wasn't sure on how to answer that question without sounding a bit awkward. LingQi closes her eyes and smiles softly.

'Perhaps, still I do understand what you mean though. About the night feeling different. Its why I prefer training during the night than the day, I do feel more relaxed during this time. As well as feeling somewhere among the stars one of them was looking down on me when I was younger.' Mitsuko noticed that she responded the last part with a hint of sadness in her voice.

'I see.' Was all that Mitsuko could respond with, unsure of what to say next. The two walked together in silence before LingQi spoke up.

'I believe this was a similar moon to when we spoke to each other for the first time all that time ago.' Mitsuko widened her eyes in shock, it really had been a while since then yet, she remembers it like it was just yesterday.

'Wow that really was a while back wasn't it?'

'Indeed. I never thought you would be the person I know you as now back then.'

'And what would that be?' Mitsuko asked.

'A good friend.'

'R-really?' Mitsuko looked the other way as she was sure she was blushing madly at that, how could she say something so…bold so casually.

'Yes, I would've thought you would've been more distant but you are…friendlier than what you let on to your trusted allies.'

'Is that so? Well its not like you were entirely as I expected aswell.'

'How so?'

'I didn't expect you of all people to have such a mischievous side.' Mitsuko turned around and smirked at her. LingQi was taken aback by those words like she never noticed that she acted a bit different to Mitsuko.

'But that's…'

'Haha don't worry, your secret is safe with me.' Mitsuko laughed at the way she was flustered.

'Honestly…I thought I grew up from that.' LingQi crossed her arms and looked down in serious thought, Mitsuko thought she was annoyed at her.

'Hey I didn't mean it like that, besides its not that bad and I won't actually tell anyone you know.' Mitsuko attempted to get her to not be as annoyed.

'Its not that. Its just…I can't believe that I still have this side of me after all this time.'

'Is that such a bad thing? Its not like you're over the top with it, its just occasionally, you've been careful with it.'

'But that's not the point!' She yells with anger making Mitsuko take a step back as she was taken aback by the sudden eruption. LingQi realised what she had done and bows apologetically.

'I'm sorry Mitsuko, I shouldn't have raised my voice at you.' Mitsuko was quick to wave her hands in front of her face frantically.

'No don't apologise, if anything I should be the one to say sorry. I shouldn't have said anything.'

'You have nothing to apologise for Mitsuko, it was my fault and only mine.' She apologised and raises her head.

'Just out of curiosity why do you hate that side of you so much?' Mitsuko hesitated to answer that question.

'Well you don't have to tell me if you don't want to, I shouldn't really pry into things that aren't my business so-'

'I didn't want to be a burden to my father.'

'What?'

'We were invited to live in the imperial palace. Back then when I was younger I wasn't always so…composed. I was…difficult to control at times back then I guess. Too much so for the servants at the time. I didn't really know any better, I just wanted to have fun I guess you could say. However one night as I was feeling hungry and wanted something to eat even though it was forbidden.'

A young LingQi craftily stole some food and made her way back to the room quietly however she heard what seemed like voices from a barely open door. Curiousity got the better of her as she tiptoed to the door and stared into the gap to find her father Lu Bu talking to a couple of what seemed to be advisors due to their robes and extravagant appearance.

'Lord Lu Bu with the greatest of respect Lady LingQi is becoming more trouble than she is worth.'

'I know that, what do you expect me to do with her?'

'I don't know, talk to her my lord, you are her father after all.'

'Hmph, that maybe so but the disobedient child won't listen to a word I say.' LingQi gasped at this. Was she really that disobedient?

'My lord while I appreciate that lady LingQi hasn't yet become obedient, it is all the more reason why she should grow up and become a lady. Letting her continue on with her behaviour will eventually start to impact even your great family name.' LingQi couldn't believe what she just heard, surely her father wouldn't stand for this right?

'Indeed, she's become more of a burden than ever. Dealing with her was bad enough back at our old home. Now though…I will no longer tolerate her misbehaviour! if she doesn't stop her foolish behaviour…she will no longer be my daughter no matter how many tears she sheds. If that happens, do with her what you wish.' Lu Bu starts to walk away from the door.

'Yes my lord.' The advisors reply in unison as they follow Lu Bu. Unaware of the young LingQi on the verge of just breaking down and crying. She didn't mean to be a burden to her father by any means. She just did what came naturally to her. She wasn't aware of her consequences of her actions until now. She quietly returned the stolen food and returned to her room to sleep, stifling the sounds of her tears and runny nose. The tears threatened to escape her eyes however LingQi rubs them away, knowing now that her father does not wish to see them.

'After that day I vowed to never again become such a burden to him. That I would do everything he says so he wouldn't abandon me just like…just like-' LingQi felt the tears threatening to return however she was interrupted when Mitsuko couldn't help but envelop her in a hug. To think that her father would talk about her like that even if she did misbehave a bit. To talk about her like a burden rather than his daughter…to Mitsuko that…That is unacceptable and unforgiveable!

'I'm sorry, I didn't realise. I didn't mean for you to remember anything like that.' LingQi was confused as to why Mitsuko was apologising, she didn't view it like it was her fault at all.

'Still…they really shouldn't have talked about you like a burden, you were only a child, people like that…people like that should-' Mitsuko stops herself as she realises what she's doing and her position.

'Sorry I just acted on impulse, I didn't mean to make this weird or anything.' Mitsuko felt LingQi's arms envelop her around her torso tightly. Almost as if she's too afraid to let go.

'Mitsuko…thank you.' Mitsuko smiles softly as she hears those words and closes her eyes. As soon as she does however she hears a voice from the back of her mind.

'So you can comfort her when she's upset but you didn't think twice about me when I was suffering!? I thought what we had was special and irreplaceable…and yet here you are…as if you'd forgotten about me! Well I haven't forgotten you at all.' Mitsuko's heart started to race, she opens her eyes and looks down at her hands and sees them yet again drenched in blood.

LingQi sensing Mitsuko's uneasiness pulls away from her and notices that her eyes were blank with no colour in them at all, she was starting to hyperventilate as she stares horrified at her hands which didn't have anything on them at all.

'Mitsuko.' LingQi softly whispers as she shakes her slightly to help bring her back. It doesn't work, she's not sure what's happening to her but she can't let her be like this. So she shouts at her and shakes her more vigorously.'

'Mitsuko!' Suddenly colour began to return to her eyes, her breathing slowed to her normal rate. She looks down at her hands and back up at LingQi who wore a worried expression.

'Are you ok?' She questioned. Mitsuko looked at her hands once more before responding.

'Yeah I'm fine, I'm just…tired.'

'Are you sure?'

'Yeah don't worry. It is late at night after all, I promise that's all it is.'

'If you're sure…' LingQi drops it but knows for sure that she wasn't just tired. It was like she was horrified, that she saw something she shouldn't have. She knows something is wrong with Mitsuko but she's afraid she doesn't want to pry out the information. They both start walking along as LingQi keeps a close eye on Mitsuko.

'Mitsuko…please allow me to help you.'