(Muffled voices)

Yoshi !

Yoshi!!

Yoshi!!

殿下 denka

Ryuu shaked the silent man vigorously the men continue fighting blood spilled all over his face but he refused to stand up. Tears spilled he screamed but the prince eyes refused to open with his new found rage he grabbed his sword and began his massacre, reiji noticed ryuu he stared at the battlefield to see his younger brother best friend acting on his madness no sight of yoshi. Something wrong he ran towards the man and saw his brother laying lifeless the rain washed the blood of the men and reiji was victorious but yoshi was gone.

That night the men marched as winners to their kingdom but the sadness that plastered on their faces didn't make the victory pleasant.

King suguru has heard the news he prepared a feast for the many brave men but he had no idea his youngest son has fallen. His wives and servants with the people was excited to welcome their army they lined up to the palace but their troops came in with a wheel dragging corpses. Families wept some smiled the soldiers went to their respective homes the king guards and the crown prince kneel in front of the king to pay their respects. King suguru was expecting hugs and smiles he was sad for a minute he thought for a moment what was happening but his curiosity was fed when he saw tears on his yoshi best friend face.

Ryuu stood devastated he held a sword and his friend helmet the king fell backwards but was caught by the guards who led him into the palace for the rest of the night everywhere remained silent.

They had won but at what cost, they lost one of their prince yoshi was loved by many he was called the happy rascal, the prince so young was destined for greatness he was brave he became a commander and followed them to battles but he lost his life just like many like him.

Two countries hundreds of years they waged war against each other and they finally found their weakness.

*****

The burial rites was prepared for the resting soldiers but the prince was left on the battlefield because of an old rule that states "when royalties die on the battlefield they are laid to rest right there"

The bodies burn kids held on to their mothers every watched bravely and prayed for them.

*****

A year later

Ryuu watched the sunset from afar he reminisces about his memories with yoshi. Both were dreamers they met when they were six and lived like brothers he knew everything about the prince and the prince carried his secrets till he died. He missed him terribly, he wanted to hug him for the last time and tell him how much he loves and cares for him, his wife aimi tapped him on the shoulder they stared at each other for sometime he gave a sad smile before hugging her. They got married six months after yoshi death he was so sad and wept on that day because his best friend wasn't present to see him get blessed. Aimi fixed his robe before walking down the stairs

" (Dinner is ready)" 夕食の準備ができました

He nodded before turning around.

Reiji held his mother hand feeding her soup she slurped slowly it was obvious she wasn't as strong as she used to be ever since yoshi died asuka has been down she became weak and ill. After feeding his mom the crown prince left her chambers he got to the imperial garden to see his fiancee atsumi he kneeled down to kiss her pregnant stomach and whisper sweet words to her.

Her smile warmed his cold heart and they stared at the sunset together.

The palace is awfully quiet, yoshi presence was greatly missed the orphaned kids no longer play at the palace and the beggars stayed away from the place. His father spends his time in his study wallowing on his own the king is only seen when important matters arises he no longer smile like he used to. No one to tell him jokes and make him a little bit happy it was no longer news he was gone forever.

*****

Anya inhaled the soft atmosphere, she danced with the sand under her feet and sing praises for the air she breathes. She paused and started dancing, her late fiance knows how much she loves the water and moving her legs she would run for hours only to have yoshi catch her multiple times, the idea of catching her breath and talking slow makes her feel alive. He lied

He hugged her and promised to be back but here she is standing alone he isn't here, her prince was gone she longed for everything they shared and was going to, she had to remind herself that he wasn't here with her anymore.

In her head it felt like she is going crazy, she talks to herself and sulks till she sleeps.

Anya wanted to see him for the last time even if it's only once, she always thought she could live without him but ever since he left living became harder for her. Like her dead fiance Anya was a dreamer she loves adventure and tried to make every second count, she and yoshi had so much in common they were so compatible that pairing them could never go wrong. She burned her kimono and stopped talking everyone including her family, she referred to it as the greatest loss of her life.

Her dreams were crushed, she was set to be a princess and travel the world with him. As she danced tears fell from her eyes the maiden suddenly stopped moving and sat in the middle of the water. She has become mentally unstable because of her dead lover.

Rita watched her daughter with sorrowful eyes, her husband held her and console her with sweet words. The man is trying to be strong for his family seeing his family this way has to be the most saddest thing that ever happened to him.

His daughter was going crazy and he can't do anything about it, he held back his emotions and pretend to be strong. Rashu suffered in silence his pain eating him inside.

*****

Yoshi walked through the dark forest he hears different voices, he was unaware of his current situation but he remembers everything that happened before he got here.

He slipped back when he was pushed, he groaned before standing up to see the intruders, three masked men their legs not touching the ground, it was hard to be in a forest with shiny little objects now flying assassin's. Yoshi stepped back before doing a martial pose with his fists pushed forward he did the "come over" sign with his index fingers but his determination was crushed when he saw the men bodies burning.

He gasped,

He has never seen anything like this he is a warrior and he has fought many great men but fire on a man's body is a different thing, they attacked with full force yoshi unprepared was knocked down he passed out before falling into a blissful sleep.

******

THE NEXT MORNING

He woke up on a hard floor, the sun shone he sat to see he is in a village with few people going left and right he got on his feet and found a shade he stretched his back before yawning. His prayers was answered when he saw a fountain right in front of him he rushed towards the water and buried his face in it.

How long has he been out there he asked himself

"Thirsty much " yoshinori heard

He turned his back to see two big men one holding an axe

"Yeah" he replied

"I can see that " the shorter man said laughing

"Hi I'm Adam" the other one stretched his hand "this doofus is my brother Sammy" yoshi shook his hand

"Nice to meet you "the prince

"You look like a stranger here haven't seen you around " Adam asked nudging his brother who is busy playing with the animals

"Yeah I suppose " yoshi replied scratching his head "I'm lost I guess "

"No one is ever lost here "

"I don't suppose you know the kingdom of kasula "

"No I don't "

"Right "

"Come along with us let's show you around you don't seem to have it together "

"Yeah I need a place to stay and I'm starving "

The brothers walked towards the other direction and yoshi followed behind silently

"So how long have you lived here"

"Three years" they younger brother replied "it's lovely here once you settle in"

They continued their conversation until they got to a farm. Yoshi stared in wonder he loves beautiful things and this place is beyond beautiful. The small houses provides shelters for the neighbors he saw people working on the farm, humble people they wore different clothes not the expensive silk Royals adorned.

"Come along now " Sammy sprinted towards the people on the farm

Adam shakes his head and facepalm "so dumb"

They approached the workers following younger brother. Adam hugged an old woman and kissed her forehead the woman rubbed his cheeks before noticing yoshi

"And who is this handsome young man " Kali asked

"We found him on our way he said he is lost "

"Oh boy no one is lost around here"

Yoshi became confused when Adam made that statement he thought nothing of it but now this woman also said the same thing. He started to question his reality he has been so lost in thought he didn't realize he wasn't wearing an armor his sword is nowhere to be found the cold, his father soldiers they are all gone.

"What day is it he questioned without thinking"

"Here we do not count days " Kali replied

They knew what he was facing Kali, Adam and Sammy decided to leave him to think for a while

Yoshi touched the clothes he is wearing blue robe similar to the black one's the fire ninjas he encountered wore. Speaking of the ninjas who are they ? Who sent them to kill him ? Why was he here and why is he still here ?

They disappeared when he woke up it must have been a really bad dream he concluded in his mind, maybe he is overthinking things. He believes it's all a dream and he is going to wake up and everything will be back to normal.

******

Yoshi sat opposite the grumpy old man he sips his tea 🍵 slowly he inhaled the atmosphere of the place it doesn't smell like his father kingdom, he is not in myouji anymore. The man stared at him judging him with eyes or so yoshi thought.

His mind wandered for a while he thought about his sibling and his parents "where are they" he Said lowly

Wataru watched the young man with intent he focused intensely on reading his every move, his clouded mind, young and uneasy heart makes it hard to see his story at first. But there wasn't a nut he couldn't crack.

He remembered the first time he arrived here he wanted to run mad his life was so great he had no dreams of dying young and leaving his family. He was a prime minister to a great country he had a beautiful wife and a daughter he cried profusely. A warrior he didn't realize his greatest fear is dying young he started wondering about the kingdom he left behind, his king and his father's wife . He was loved and respected by the people.

Unlike him who was poisoned this young man was stabbed in battle of course he ended up in the dead land to start a new life while carrying the burden of remembering the previous one. They usually have no choice few of them went back but they weren't satisfied with the situation at home so each of them remained here and tried to find happiness.

Wataru has since moved on he remarried in the dead world and became a wise man whom everyone approached for advice, he was gifted as soon as he died he began to see visions of the past and the future. He watched as everything unfolds over the years, he got up and asked yoshi to follow him who reluctantly did what he said.

The got to a sacred place "you came looking for answers prince yoshi here it is all your confusions will be cleared right here and you shall find the answers to the countless questions you have "

Wataru sent him to the dream world with a sway of his fingers earning the blue storm in the process. He waited for the young prince to be back from his trance.

Yoshi saw white clouds covering his city they cleared and he saw his fiance Anya he called out pointing his fingers he didn't hold back but the woman can't hear his voice he saw tears in the corner of her eyes he felt like he was staring at her soul. Gentle Anya soft spoken angel, his princess and his wife to be was miles away from him, he could tell by the look in her eyes she missed him it was obvious.

A woman like Anya is rare he became the happiest man in the world when she said yes to his proposal, he offered her his hand and she took it without a second thought. At the time he was mad, madly in love with her it turns out the feeling was mutual she wanted him as much as he wanted her. She had no choice, she accepted. A single tear fell from his eyes the brave soldier knelt down broken, he could hear the old man voice from the other side and as the seconds past he lost each part of him he cherish the most. Anya he called out again but he got no answer he promised to get back to her, his father told him to never break a promise and he upheld his father's lessons using it in his daily life.

That's it,

He lost everything he saw himself die in the battle, the enemies stabbed him when he wasn't watching. A single mistake cost him his life he saw his best friend run towards him and his brother, he saw pain and agony in his loved ones heart. His mouth went dry it feels like the world is currently against him, he wanted to scream and wake up from this bad dream if it were one but he didn't. Instead, wataru brought him back, yoshi find himself in front of the old man he wanted to say something but suddenly he fell, losing his consciousness.

Wataru called for the brothers to carry the prince to his chambers, Adam lifted the man and walked away like he just lifted a feather.

******

Yoshi shivered in his sleep, his eyes opened and he found a woman holding what seems like a cup, he sat up and collect the cup from her after rubbing his eyes. He had no idea who she is so he assumed she is wataru's wife he bowed a little to show respect before drinking the hot liquid.

Ani got up and walked away from the prince without saying a single word, she left hurriedly after hearing her mistress calling her name.

******

Yoshi limped outside for a weird reason he was comfortable with the atmosphere, he studied his sorroundings he admired the waterfall and trees. Maybe the dead world isn't so bad he thought he still can't believe he died in that battle with kasula he remembered someone stabbing him but his mind has been in a daze ever since. He wondered about the recent events he didn't understand what is going on but he has decided to accept his fate.

"Going back to the living world can bring great pain to your loved ones" wataru words ringed in his head

"Ugh" he groaned slapping his head to stop the daylight nightmares

He would rather live as a dead person than to cause more trouble for his loved ones besides they all believe he is dead, going back means things will never be the same. "What's the point of rubbing salt on permanent wounds" yoshi isn't one to question a man's faith he didn't want to go against his so he went along with it.

Instead of spending all day worrying he went inside and grabbed his sword. He started swinging around fighting with the air around him even without a training opponents his form remain solid.

A masked figured stared at the prince as he trained, like a ninja he flew from the top of the tree and landed on the ground with a silent thud before running. Yoshi so focused on his training heard the sounds of leaves rustling but he decided to pay it no mind. "It's probably a squirrel" he thought before going back to swinging his sword.

*****

Sammy and his older brother watched the young man train

"He is really great at this isn't he" the younger brother said whispering

"i think so" Adam replied

They were surprised when yoshi suddenly

disappeared

"uh where'd he go" sammy asked confused by the prince disappearance from their view

"i Don't know" his brother said checking around to see if he can figure out how yoshi left

"Checking on me, I see" yoshi said scaring the two brothers from the back

They both fell with a thud sammy rubbing his head, "ouch" he exclaimed

Adam got up stretching to stand upright "how'd you do that"

yoshi smirked,

"learned a trick or two from my father"

"right. shall we get tea ?" adam asked

"splendid idea adam" sammy said

"i miss having tea, what kind of tea are we having ?" yoshi asked running after the fast paced brothers

******

They got to an old like cafe.

Few people are present, One woman is at the counter serving people while a man is taking orders. They had seats readily available for everyone.

It felt like another fantasy word the inside is painted, little flowers hung on the wall.

"welcome" The woman taking orders said

"sari hey" the brothers greeted the young woman wearing a blue apron

"hi adam, hi sammy" she responded with a big smile on her face "who's this" she asked pointing at the young prince behind them.

Adam dragged yoshi so he can give sari a proper introduction, the darker shade woman stretched her hands yoshi shook her hands in return surprised by the woman unusual way of greeting. Back in denka, they usually bow to show respect he didn't think much of it and sat down for his cup of coffee.