[center][h3][b][u]The Imperial Palace, Bushu, Musashi System, The Musashi Empire[/u][/b][/h3][/center] The Emperor of Musashi looked down from atop his throne, his face hidden from view by a mask made of various precious metals and stones. Those he looked at, his daughter, niece, nephew all had their own faces revealed as they eyed each other before one addressed the Emperor. “Heika” Shoichi said, “Our forces are almost in position for the invasion. We will be ready to move the moment you declare war.” “Excellent” The Emperor said. He turned his gaze on his daughter. “And are you ready to fulfil your role in this?” “I will leave the moment you dismiss me” Yuki said. “I shall ensure that we have no conflict with Uther. “For now” The Emperor stated. “We shall see what the future holds.” He shifted his head an almost imperceptible amount towards Shoichi. A smile flashed across the young man’s face for a fraction of a second. “Once we are done with the Second Imperium” Shoichi said, “Uther will either have to form an alliance with us or be crushed between us and the Dominion. Either way we win, though to be honest I would prefer to have him as an ally for when we fight the Dominion. Better that Faust and Uther grind each other’s armies into dust for us.” “And what honor is there in stabbing our allies in the back?” Yuki asked. “Open your eyes to reality. War with the Dominion is inevitable” Shoichi shot back. “Better that we position ourselves to benefit from it then be caught flat footed. Or do you wish for a repeat of our war with the Confederation?” “There are two types of allies” Yuki said. “Those that you have as allies because of a shared objective and those that naturally become your ally because they love the same things as you do. I believe we will find that the Dominion loves the same things as us.” “They are barbarians!” Shoichi spat. “They most certainly do not, as you so eloquently stated, love the same things as us.” “But perhaps in time they will come to” Saeko placed a restraining hand on Yuki’s shoulder. “Those I have spoken to from the Dominion were keen to adopt our etiquette.” “Ha! That’s just because they need something from us” Shoichi said, his eyes narrowed as he looked at his sister. “They respect us” Saeko said. “And that respect, in time, will manifest into a desire to be like us. It is inevitable.” “Don’t be so quick to mistake respect for manipulation” Shoichi said quietly. “Enough” The Emperor said in a calm, but commanding voice. Saeko snapped her mouth shut as she, and her peers, all turned to look at the Emperor. “Saeko how were your negotiations with the Confederation?” “I believe they went well heika” Saeko said. “But we won’t know for certain until their government decides whether to accept our mutual defense pact or not.” “They won’t” Shoichi said. “They hate us too much for that.” Saeko frowned for a moment before nodding in agreement. “I fear that they most certainly don’t love the same things as we do and probably never will. I must admit I feel that I made a mistake in following your advise Yuki-nee.” “W-well I feel confident that they will accept.” Yuki said, a hurt expression on her face. “We shall have to wait and see then” The Emperor summarized. “Very well then. Saeko you shall stay here on Bushu until you complete negotiations with the Confederation.” He turned to Yuki as he said “You must meet success in the Imperial Remnant. It would be unacceptable for them to intervene in this conflict.” “I understand” Yuki said with a low bow. “I hope you do.” The Emperor said. “Failure will not be tolerated. You all are dismissed.” He finished with a simple gesture. The three potential heirs to the Empire of Musashi quickly made their exit. Each one had duties to see to. But what probably motivated them more to be gone was a desire to leave the Emperor’s presence. Once the three had left the Emperor removed his mask with a long sigh. “Was that amusing? He asked as the previously unseen figure of a woman stepped out from the shadows. “I agree” He said as the woman slowly shook her head. He flashed her a warm, if not weary smile, not disturbed in the least to let her view his actual face. It was an honor not even granted to his daughter as of late. “I’m… so tired.” He said with feeling. “And those three aren’t making things easier on me.” “Yuki-hime is trying to do what she thinks is right.” The woman said after a moment. “And you think that Shoichi and Saeko aren’t?” The Emperor asked with a raised eyebrow. “I would have killed them by now if they weren’t” The woman answered, eliciting a laugh from the Emperor. “You most certainly would have” The Emperor agreed. He was clearly not distressed about the thought of this woman killing his niece or nephew. “And that is why I need you to stop playing around. I need you by my side again.” “I’m amazed that you can say that.” The woman said. “After all my hands have been drenched in the blood of Kasatsume-denka and Kusume-denka.” “Don’t address my brother and his wife as strangers.” The Emperor’s tone was harsh, but quickly softened as he continued. “You were close to them. Certainly closer than I. I know that’s why the past pains you so.” “As it should” The woman closed her eyes. “I…” The Emperor struggled to find the words to say. “I need the support you once gave me. Please, I don’t know how much longer I’ll be able to stand by myself.” The woman slowly shook her head as she vanished from view. Her disembodied voice said “That strength you seek, I no longer possess.” “Damn it Kau Rong!” The Emperor screamed at the now apparently empty room, his hands clenching into fists. “Don’t you dare abandon me!” “You should know that’s what I do best” Kau Rong’s voice drifted to him from somewhere to his left. “After all it was I who abandoned your wife.” The Emperor grabbed the nearest object he could find, which turned out to be his mask, and threw it in the direction of Kau Rong’s voice. The mask clattered to the ground after colliding with a pillar. The Emperor took a few deep breaths to calm himself down. “How long will you torture yourself?” No one answered his question.