Back to the present as

  Tetsu gets done reminiscing,

  I think of my emotions.

  How do I feel about this?

  About how him and I are

  dead.

  We are in some sort of

  tragic dimension only

  for Ronin's sick game.

  We are puppets to

  his amusement,

  or probably even

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  special toys in his

  treasure chest.

  His charming smile

  comes to mind until

  it distorts into a smile

  of madness.

  For some reason, I can

  feel my lips forming…..

  THAT SAME SMILE.

  “Tsukino!” Tetsu shouts

  in a panic.

  He suddenly pulls me into

  his warm embrace, bringing

  back to me my sanity.

  My whole body becomes light

  as I hear Tetsu speak in a

  strange dialect.

  “You can't give in, Tsukino.”

  Tetsu whispers.

  “I know….” I whisper back.

  “I'm trying not to but

  it's so hard.”