The next day Mitsuko and her forces pack up and move though the march was deadly silent. No chatter amongst the generals or whispers from the soldiers. No one dared to speak up, less they want annoy their commanding officers as tension started to set in between them. Mitsuko was leading the march upfront, further away from anyone as she had a not so pleasant individual walling alongside her.

'You know full well she's looking for a chance to stab you in the back right?' Akari questions as she floats in the air in her blood-soaked uniform.

'You don't know that and neither do I. She may just need more time.' Mitsuko whispered.

'More time for what? To scheme? To sharpen her blade?'

'To realise that I saved her from him.' Mitsuko replied sharply.

'There you go again, justifying the murder of your victims.'

'Its not justification it's a fact.'

'Are you sure of that?'

'We're not having this conversation again.' Mitsuko dismissed as she kept pressing onwards. Akari floats in front of her, her bloodstains start to run down her uniform as if it was real with a malicious smirk on her face.

'Ok then, why don't we try and discuss ways to prevent yourself from getting killed?'

'I thought you wanted me dead?' Mitsuko questioned.

'I don't want you dead, I want you to SUFFER!' She screamed in front of her face though Mitsuko kept her composure, though she did struggle to do so.

'Sorry, don't know where that come from. Being dead can make you a little cranky.' Akari let out an innocent giggle.

'In that case leave me alone.' Mitsuko responded, not in the mood for her right now.

'Nope. Besides we got to talk about how to kill her.' She exclaimed with a demonic grin.

'Kill her? Not going to happen.' Mitsuko stated simply and kept walking.

'What? Why? Are you stupid?' Hikari was flabbergasted.

'I trust her. I trust she'll understand soon.' Mitsuko responded though she was the more she thought about it the more unsure of that belief became as Akaris doubts started to settle in.

'I trusted you and look how that worked out.' Akari called out. Mitsuko kept silent, she couldn't say anything back as it was true.

'Look, all I'm saying is that if you did that to me of all people, do you really think you can trust her when I couldn't trust you? Its best to treat her with suspicion now. You know she wont hesitate to go for your head now and put it on a goddamn pike!' Akari explained. Mitsuko didn't say anything as she replays that message in her mind subconsciously. She had to admit…it wasn't totally out of the question. If Mitsuko could do that to Akari of all people before then what would prevent LingQi from doing the same? Its not like they were together at all, plus being Lu Bu's daughter of all people she could definitely see a vengeful streak in her. She puts her hand on her chin while thinking about this.

Wait what is she doing? She shouldn't think anything like that, LingQi wouldn't do something like that, she just needs time to adjust if she knows. Hell for all she knew she had no clue at all, its just a bunch ifs and maybes.

'It may seem like that but you know full well she'll go after you, that asshole even said so, you think you know that woman better than her father?'

'Of course I do! You think he gave a fuck about her!?' Mitsuko retorted as Akari chuckled at her quiet response.

'Well he was in her life longer than you have. You just essentially entered her life, took away her home and dad.'

'Like she was going to be happy being a trophy wife to some pretentious noble.' Mitsuko rebutted.

'You never know. He could've treated her better, your track record with women isn't exactly the best now is it?'

'Greetings my lady.' Pang Tong calls out, freeing Mitsuko from Akari's taunts.

'Don't ignore me when I'm talking to you!' Akari shouts though Mitsuko did just that as he faced the robed hermit.

'Hey, what's up. Did you find anything about what happened between them?' Mitsuko questioned almost eagerly. Pang Tong glanced behind him to spot Dodomeki who looked away.

'Unfortunately not. Despite my efforts neither of them opened up to me I'm afraid.' Pang Tong lied, he saw Mitsuko worried expression become more apparent.

'I see.' Mitsuko sighed.

'Apologies for failing you my lady, but perhaps when we setup camp later it may be worth talking to them?' Pang Tong suggested, he thought maybe Mitsuko was perhaps not in the best mindset to hear everything…at least from his mouth. Though he did consider telling her the truth, though he thought a delay in that momentarily would be for the best. After all the last thing they all need is turning on each other, Mitsuko could potentially turn on Dodomeki, killing him instantly which would not be good for anyone, so for safety's sake he decided not to tell her the truth. Though it wasn't an easy choice for him.

'Maybe, depends if they open up to me.'

'LingQi will, open up your defences and BAM next thing you know your head is cut off.' Akari laughed.

'I'm sure they will eventually before we reach the mountains, in the meantime lets focus on the journey and once we setup camp and get everyone relaxed they may open up then.'

'Yeah, you're right, lets keep on going first.' Mitsuko responded as she and her forces press onwards with her gradually getting further away before Akari spoke up again.

'You know full well that he's bullshitting you. C'mon, he must know.'

'If he says he doesn't know he doesn't know. I trust him.'

'Tch, you're going to die if you keep trusting people, that's what you taught me. I'm trying to help you here, if you want to be strong you can't hang on to these relationships.' Mitsuko kept silent once again, wanting to ignore Akari's words. She knew she shouldn't listen to Akari, despite not actually disagreeing with her to an extent. She clenches her fist tightly as the image of her corpse comes to the forefront of her mind. She shook her head as soon as it did, she doesn't need any more reminders, she just needed to keep on moving forwards.

That night the army setup camp near a forest so that a couple of hunters could hunt the wildlife for food. Mitsuko gave it a bit of time before trying to find LingQi as she probably was training. It took her a while to do so oddly enough as LingQi ventured further away from the camp than usual. Finally she found her training near the middle of the forest in a small field. Mitsuko hid behind a tree as she watched LingQi trained, she seemed…too intense that Mitsuko didn't want to interrupt her. Every swing she threw had so much strength in it that occasionally she lost her balance for a moment though she recovered it. Mitsuko never saw her train so vigorously before, she wondered why she's pushing herself to this extreme. She started to become concerned about her well being if she was pushing herself this much, she wondered how long she had been doing this for.

LingQi heavily panted as she swung her final strike. She was about to collapse if she didn't plant one of her glaives onto the ground. Sweat drips down her face as she felt her heartbeat skyrocket. Though she heard some rustling in the forest and assumes it to be an enemy.

'Who's there!' She called out with a booming voice, she attempted to hide her exhaustion. Mitsuko hesitated to come out however she decided to come out with her hands in the air.

'Don't worry, its just me.' Mitsuko states as LingQi noticeably didn't lower her weapon at Mitsuko until she got a little closer. She sighed while doing so. Mitsuko was the last person that LingQi wanted to see at the moment. Mitsuko didn't really know how to respond so she tried to approach her casually.

'You really pushed yourself today didn't you? I told you, you need to relax.' Mitsuko laughs, though she notices that LingQi doesn't really laugh and just looks away with a stern look on her face.

'Its my training regime, am I not able to do as a I wish?' She responded bluntly.

'I mean you can, I'm just saying you can relax a little that's all. You don't want to tire yourself out you know.'

'I can handle myself thanks.' LingQi replied harshly, not looking at Mitsuko as she removed her glaive from the ground and examines it, trying not to look Mitsuko in the eye as she doesn't know how to approach her. Mitsuko meanwhile began to get agitated over LingQi's responses though she tried to keep her cool.

'I know you can, but still it can't hurt you know to relax occasionally you know. I just don't want you to leave yourself exposed or get killed that's all.' Mitsuko stated. Part of LingQi really wanted to agree and talk to Mitsuko as she did before though with the newfound knowledge …part of her just rejects that idea though but she isn't sure what to say.

'You should consider worrying about yourself, rather than me.' She announced before she turned away. Mitsuko lost her cool and raised her voice.

'Alright, what the fuck is your problem?' LingQi was surprised to hear Mitsuko raise her voice at her and turned around to face her as Mitsuko wore an annoyed expression on her face.

'Seriously, I'm trying to be nice here but here you are trying to push me away. I know you and Dodomeki had a big argument but if you don't say anything I can't help you.'

'I never recalled asking you of all people for help though do I?' LingQi fired back, shocking Mitsuko.

'You may not have asked but I still want to help you, isn't that what friends are for?'

'I thought so aswell, but if there's friendship there's trust.' She retorted, Mitsuko didn't quite understand that.

'Wait so…you don't trust me is that right? After fighting side by side for all this time, now you say to me you don't fucking trust me!?' Mitsuko was furious, why did she not trust her? What did she do?

'I thought I did before I realised how you didn't trust me.'

'What are you talking about? Of course I trust you.'

'Then how come you won't tell me what's troubling you!?' LingQi yells as she points one of her glaives at Mitsuko who seem shocked.

'I know you're hurting, I can see it in your eyes. You don't have to keep up appearances, I've been trying to make you feel comfortable enough to tell me…to be your friend but now I see its just fruitless isn't it?' LingQi stared at Mitsuko, her eyes instead of anger there's sorrow which made Mitsuko feel awful.

'I really thought you could trust me though to tell me your problems. Do you think I like not being able to do anything when I see you're in pain? Of course not! However…with recent events I thought I could trust you though that was also a mistake wasn't it?' LingQi wore a frown and looked down to the ground, away from Mitsuko who looked worried.

'Of course you can trust me.' Mitsuko tried to reassure her, feigning ignorance.

'Can I really though?'

'Yes!'

'Then tell me what happened with my father.' LingQi demanded as she walked closer, her eyes locked with Mitsuko with a sorrowful yet stern look to her eyes. It was now Mitsuko's turn who looked away, this confirms to Mitsuko that she knew.

'I knew it. Even now you can't tell me, can you?' LingQi questioned as she saw Mitsuko scowl before walking past her.

'Why do you fucking care so much about him!?' Mitsuko shouts before turning to face a newly angered LingQi.

'He was a fucking asshole anyway! He kept betraying everyone, ignoring his allies and didn't care who he threw away as long as they didn't get in his way. He was going to give you away to some other pretentious bastard in marriage, why would you care if he died or not?'

'Because he was still my father!' LingQi walking back in front of Mitsuko, both fuming with anger and frustration.

'He was the only one who I had. You talk about how awful he was, you should look at yourself before you criticise others!'

'Really? You're fucking comparing me to him!? You should be thanking me!'

'Is that so? Should Zang Ba or Wu Zi do the same then!?' She yelled back, making Mitsuko speechless and visibly upset.

'I…' Mitsuko tried to form a sentence, though words failed her as she saw LingQi on the brink of tears.

'I trusted you…and you took away the only person I had left in this world. He may not have been the smartest or the nicest man…but he was the only one that was with me, without him I…I'm not sure where I'd be now. But now…he's gone…because of you. I never felt so alone as I do now.' Mitsuko took a step back and looked away in space, those words made her forget to breathe temporarily. They caused a slight pain within her chest. LingQi couldn't face Mitsuko anymore as she turned away.

'This conversation has enlightened me that I don't belong here anymore. I will leave at the crack of dawn. You will not need worry about rations, I will make do on my own.' LingQi stated harshly as she started to walk away. Mitsuko tried calling out to her as she stretches out her right arm. Though when she tried calling out, no words came out. She never felt the urge to say anything, to call out, to scream, anything at all as much as now. Though nothing came out of her mouth apart from a whimper. She crashed to her knees and can only watch as she disappears in the forest. Unbeknownst to her LingQi glanced back at Mitsuko, she partly regretted what she said but she also justified it with the knowledge that she was her fathers killer all along. She clenched her fist next to her chest before steeling herself to walk away, she needed to get away from here. To start anew, she maybe alone now and that terrified her, she felt she had no choice.

Mitsuko slammed her fist onto the ground in frustration and fury. She wasn't anything like that fucking asshole Lu Bu. She fucking saved her and yet she can't see it? Why!? Sure it was her dad but surely she could see that he deserved to die didn't he!? As she justified her decision, her mind drifts towards her casualties. Wu Zi and Zang Ba and got upset with tears threatening to escape her eyes. She had to come to terms it was her that killed them…just like what happened with Akari. If she didn't ask for their help while being such a fucking idiot then they would've still been alive. They would've led better lives or something.

'I…I didn't know you guys were going to die that way. I really didn't. Why…why do I goddamn kill everyone I give a shit about!? I don't mean to! I…I suppose I really am just like him aren't I?'

'Is that really such a bad thing though?' Mitsuko looked up to seeAkari appeared in front of her crouching down in her blood drenched uniform, smiling at her.

'Think about it. He was the mightiest warrior in china, you don't get to be that if you're soft like you were before. Look at you now, able to kill anyone you want, for you it feels great doesn't it? So what if you're a murderer, you might aswell embrace it.' Akari explained as Mitsuko down at her arms to see them start to mutate into their snake like arms.

'You don't need things like regret or relationships anyway, you're just a monster. You'll forget about the ones you killed, even if they were your allies over time. To fully embrace your murderous side and prove your strength you must kill the one you care about the most. That woman. If she leaves and lends her assistance to the enemy it will be problematic for you. Though if you kill her now, you'll forget about her. I mean if you killed me, you should be able to kill her just fine right? After all, she just now chose her father over you, despite how you saved her from that disgusting man. How ungrateful is that!? Once you take care of her you don't have to worry about your past mistakes again, then you can finally be called strong!' Akari innocently smiles as her arms were fully transformed into the serpent arms. Akari disappears in a gust of wind as Mitsuko stood up with a demonic grin on her face. Her two snakes hissing as they slither in the air.

'That's exactly what I am isn't it? A monster, a murderer.' Mitsuko stared down at her serpent heads who look at her right back as they hiss quietly before she started to laugh quietly to herself.