Interesting Times - Chapter 2: Shadows from The Past

Asako Shiori opened her eyes and found herself in another unfamiliar place. This time her meditation had taken her to a dark place, a place underground. Alone in this cave Asako Shiori begun to walk aimlessly knowing that the Kami have sent her this vision for a reason. It was almost pitch black, she placed her hand against a wall, it was moist, and resumed her walk. She saw a light ahead, it seemed a like torchlight, so she quickened up her pace. After a few seconds it was bright enough to see her handmaid, Yuriko, lying on the floor with one hand pressed against her face, as if weeping.

Shiori came to her; she knew that she could not talk to Yuriko, however she wanted to find out why was it that Yuriko was crying. When she came close enough she realized it was because of the pain. The skin from her face had been peeled off, all of it, including the eyelids; in shock Shiori gave two steps back and stood there for a moment saw in awe how Yuriko's face lied on the floor next to her. Shiori, horrified, started walking towards the light again and on her way she found that her Yojimbo's corpse lied mutilated on the floor; it seemed as if Shiba Tenkai had been blow apart somehow. Shiori was now running, her heart pounding in fear and disgust, when she heard Bayushi Bijomaru's voice in the distance...

"Monster?! How is it that I am the monster when it was YOU who did this?", there was anger in his voice.
Then a second voice answered in a very relaxed tone "You and your friends did this to yourselves when you first met me 40 years ago". It was a woman speaking
"40 years ago? What is that supposed to mean? First of all I'm not that old and you are barely 20 winters old!"

In that moment Asako Shiori came close enough to see Bijomaru; and saw him standing next to a woman of the Phoenix's Clan Asako family.

"I am much older than that" said the woman as she lunged forward. Her speed was unbelievable and Bijomaru was not able to evade the blow; the woman's hand had pierced his chest.
"I've finally got my vengeance on you, and now it is time for me to go forth and kill again, Seppun Ichihiro" said the woman, removing her hand from Bijomaru's chest and, as he fell to the floor, Shiori could see clearly now the face of that woman.

Her eyes widened, and she let out a scream, when she was found face to face with herself.

Asako Shiori opened her eyes again, and she was inside her room in Kyuden Toketsu.