Second Reflection

[ Two Years Ago ]

Azuma lost count of how many times he had let that burning warmth seep out. But it has been enough times.

Enough times for Azuma to forget why he used to fear this inexplicable emotion.

It no longer frightened him.

And he knew that this heat had always writhed beneath his soul.

It was a part of him.

For as far as Azuma could remember.

But as he looked at his reflection in the large mirror, a dishevelled boy with gleaming red eyes, Azuma found himself entranced again.

What exactly was it?

The lady pinned beneath his sword choked on blood, a moment later, she stopped moving.

And then, it happened again.

'Kill her.'

His own voice spoke to him, voicing out the sudden dreary emotion he felt.

Azuma dragged his sword aside, severing her abdomen. Blood splurted on his face and clothes, and as Azuma moved back, he saw her limply collapsing down.

Her fingers were upon the trigger.