The doors were slowly opened. Time seemed to trickle to a stop. The heavy doors moaned and groaned, heavy on their hinges.

Harsh light seeped through the expanding crack. Aiko gripped the armrests so hard that her nails almost ripped off. The Emperor's cold eyes noticed. He slowly relaxed her fingers one by one, before taking her hand and clasping it in between his hands, squeezing it once before letting it go.

The Eunuch that had announced the dreaded arrival slowly backed away towards the side of the room. He gulped nervously. His Adam's apple trembled, causing a sweat bead to roll down the side of his cheeks. He had seen how the Soon-To-Become-Empress reacted. He hoped that the Emperor wouldn't kill him for that. But he was just doing his job. The Eunuch sighed in dismay, praying he wouldn't be harmed.

Aiko exhaled loudly. She tried pushing all the air out of her lungs, trying to make her face look less pale, and more relaxed.

Like a nightmare slowly turning real, churning, and spat out by the deepest shadows of pure terror and paranoia, Aiko's "family" stood in the doorway. The intense light behind them made them look faded at the edges, flickering like an illusion.

Aiko slowly relaxed and smiled. Fear had just lashed tricks on her. They looked so minuscule. So easy to squish. Just like bugs. Terror slowly ebbed away, leaving her calmer than she was ever before. They had no power over here. They couldn't do anything to her anymore.

Uncle Shin Sa stepped forward first. He wore a green kimono with blue decorations representing a pond glimmering in autumn. He elegantly made his way to the front of the room, bowing down. Chiho, Miho and Siho followed close by, almost stumbling in his shadow. Their eyes wandered from one decoration to another. Their faces seemed to sparkle at the idea of so much richness.

Finally, their eyes dared to lay on Aiko. They almost cowered back.

She was sitting straight, no longer quaking. Her head was held high. Her eyes were predatory, terrifying to say the least. A small smile was playing on the corners of her mouth. She knew she was better than them. And she didn't hide it.

The girls instantly bowed down, following their uncle.

Aiko placed her elbow on her left armrest. She leaned her face on her hand, smirking gracefully. "Hello family. I haven't seen you in a while."