Haru felt a sudden sharp pain in his stomach, as though someone had put their knee to him rather hard. He shook his head. Where am I? He wondered to himself.

“Hey! I am talking to you!”

Haru felt another hit to the stomach. He somehow managed to keep silent.

“Do you know why you're here?”

Haru still remained silent.

“Are you deaf? I said, 'Do you know why you're here?'”

Haru sighed and finally chose to respond.

“No I am not deaf, I just simply don't like talking to people who inflict pain on others.”

“Oh, you don't like pain, do you?”

Haru felt yet another hit to stomach. This time he let out an audible gasp for air.

“Ah, you felt that one. Now how about you quit being smart with me and answer some questions.”

“...Why...should...I?” Haru could barely get the words out of his mouth because of lack of air.

“You don't want to feel more 'pain,' do you?”

When the man said the word 'pain,' Haru felt one more knee to the stomach.

“Fine...what...do...you...want...to...know?”

Haru heard the rustling of paper near the front of his face.

“Do you know who this is?”

“I...don't...know...”

“I told you to quit being smart with me!”

There was another knee to Haru's stomach.

“I...told...you....I...don't....know....”

“What's wrong with you? Everyone knows who this is.”

“I...don't...”

“So you really don't know, eh? Well, look me in the eyes and say that.”

Haru lifted his head a bit and started looking around the room.

“Come on, quit wasting my time and look me in the eyes.”

“I...would...if...I...could...see...them...”

“What are you, blind? I am right in front of you, now look me in the eyes!”

“You...are...right...sir...I...am...blind...”

“How can I know that this isn't some charade to hide something?”

“Why...did...you...bring...me...here?”

“I AM ASKING THE QUESTIONS HERE! NOW SHUT YOUR MOUTH AND ANSWER ME!”

Haru could tell that this man was indeed under a lot of stress. Just this one-sided discussion was driving the man over the edge. Something had to be wrong...

“If...you...must know...I am...like this....because...of the....group....Shinseiden.”

Haru could hear the man's position shift.

“Shinseiden, you say? What did they do to you?”

“They...poisoned me...I barely...survived...but lost...my eyesight.”

Haru could tell the man had calmed down a bit, albeit a bit quicker than most. It was as though the man had forgotten the questions he had asked earlier.

“Hmm...very well...”

“May I ask...you a question...sir?” Haru could feel his ability to breathe properly returning.

“If you must...”

“Where are we?”

“In the same place where you were sleeping.”

“Where are the...other two? Hikaru and Mika?”

“They're fine, we just have all of you detained for questioning.”

“Questioning? For what?”

“Well, we found an assassin in this household.”

“An assassin? Who?”

“One named Karasu.”

“I think I may have heard of her, but I'm not sure. I am just a wanderer.”

“She is an assassin that goes after both Shinseidan and Seifugun. We are trying to find all the help we can to stop her. I know you're blind, but maybe you can help us in some--”

“I am afraid I cannot. On my master's deathbed, I promised I would not get involved in this war except in dire circumstances.”

“These are dire circumstances...People are dying.”

“Then isn't it always 'dire circumstances' by your definition? People are always dying from the hands of man.” Haru was getting a bit frustrated. “Tell me, can you name me some people who have been killed?”

“Let's see...there was Asano and his family and an attack on Watanabe Minoru...”

“Watanabe...” Haru remembered the man he had encountered the previous day.

“Ah, I see you have met Watanabe Minoru.”

“While I do know him, that doesn't change anything. By the looks of it, these are 'dire circumstances' because your officers and relations are being attacked.”

Haru had a feeling this man was about to lose his temper again.

“DO YOU NOT HAVE ANY FEELING TOWARDS THOSE THAT SERVE YOUR GOVERNMENT?!”

Haru knew what was coming and this time he decided to react. He moved his hands in front of his stomach and blocked another knee to his stomach.

“So, this...was a...lie. You are...not blind.” The man was short on breath from all the strength he exerted on that knee.

“Sir, you apparently have no idea how the body works. When the body loses one of its senses, it strengthens the others. I could hear your knee coming and plus you are becoming predictable.”

Haru could tell that this speech was not making things better for either the man nor him.

“You are apparently a man who does not understand honor. You can call yourself honorable, but to try and force someone to break a promise he made to someone on their deathbed is not an honorable thing at all. Your violent streak that I have been a victim of lately is not exactly honorable. While I do not want special treatment as a blind man, but no one deserves this kind of treatment.”

Suddenly, Haru heard the man spit something and felt his spit on his face. The man got up and left the room, slamming the door behind him. Haru then reached up and wiped the spit off of his face.

“I need to figure out a way to make sure Hikaru and Mika are alright. There doesn't seem to be a race against time, so I should meditate on this for a bit...”

Haru then began meditating on a way to get to Hikaru and Mika to make sure nothing happened to them.