The sky tinted in a dark shade of gray loomed over the dead grassless patch of land. The air was filled with the smell of smoke and blood. Sounds of firing bullets and tearing flesh filled the place along with the scream of soldiers.

Kiku watched as one by one his men dropped dead before his eyes. His horror‐striken orbs took in the devastating scene unfolding before him while he stood there, helpless.

A Japanese soldier came running towards his direction. His agonized face made Kiku feel a small pain in his own chest. He took a step forward, intending to provide him with some aid. However, he stopped when he heard a gunshot and the man before him dropped to the ground right in front of him.

Kiku looked at him with a terrified expression. A pool of crimson blood oozed out of the dead soldier's body and stained the soil.

"No...please don't die..." he whispered.

Tears welled up in the young man's eyes. He silently cried as his countrymen fell to their miserable fate one after another.

All of a sudden, he looked up with tear‐filled eyes.

A single Cherry Blossom petal somehow made its way to the treeless land, fluttering across the barren battlefield and landing onto the pool of blood before him.

Kiku watched in horror as the petal soaked in the blood and turned crimson.

Suddenly, a laughter that Kiku recognized very well, echoed in the place. Kiku slowly turned around and saw the very person whom he didn't want to see ever again.

"Kuro..."

His evil look‐alike stood before him wearing his black military suit and a purple cape with the symbol of Imperial Japanese Army on the back. A sinister smile was plastered on his face.

The young male didn't know what to do. He knew that he wasn't strong enough to stop him. To stop Kuro from entering this world. But he had to do something to defeat him.

Kiku was about to take out his katana when someone interrupted him.

A young Japanese soldier clinged onto Kuro's leg and cried. "Please save me. I don't want to die here!"

Kuro looked down at him with his emotionless red eyes. He clicked his tongue, making a 'tsk' sound. "You are a dishonour to our country," he said in annoyance and pulled out his katana.

Before Kiku could do anything, his counterpart slashed his katana across the man's body within a split second. Warm blood gushed out everywhere and a few drops fell on Kiku's face.

The man's lifeless body fell on the ground.

Kiku couldn't hold in his emotions any longer. His body shook with anger and he finally cried out. "Why?! Why are you doing this?!"

Kuro looked at him and gave a wicked smirk. "This is who you are. Accept it," he said.

"No! This is not me!! This is not ‐"

Kiku's eyes went wide open as he stared at the wooden ceiling above him. He sat up straight and realized he was drenched in sweat and panting.

"Another dream...?" he wondered.

The door bell rang, bringing Kiku back from his thoughts. He let out a deep breath and stood up to get the door. Opening the sliding front door, he was met with a silver‐haired woman standing before him.

"M‐Miss (Y/n)?"