The city lies quiet as the group pack up their belongings ready for their last leg of the journey. There is an awkward air around as Asahi helps Sakura into a carriage. Zero doesn’t look his way as she and Hiro load a small amount of luggage into the trunk. Sakura holds onto Asahi’s hand and bids him farewell with a tight squeeze.

The air lies tense still as the cart slowly takes off leaving the three once again alone. Hiro stretches as the sky begins clearing above them and the sun is allowed to glimmer against the snow. He tightens his scarf as he turns to Zero and Asahi with a smile.

“Are you guys ready for the last part for your mission?”

Zero and Asahi share a glance before they both nod towards Hiro. He smiles and happily marches onwards.

Sakura looks backwards as her nephew begins to disappear into the distance. She takes a deep breath and closes her eyes. Her grip tightens on her other arm to calm the shaking. As the carriage slowly rolls past the damage she caused she doesn’t even look at it, all she can think about is her brother.

A young woman holds a man in her arms as she cries out to a looming figure. The man is Kaito Yoshida. His frame is large and his long beard covers his heavily scarred face. In the darkness of night his emerald eyes still glow although contrary to the bright glow of Asahi’s they are filled with darkness. The young woman is Sakura crying out to her father for mercy towards the man she loved. It was too late. He was already dead.

“From this day forth… you are no Yoshida”

Tears stream from her eyes as she cradles the corpse tightly. She screams out for her brother who can only watch on from a distance. Kaito scoffs as he walks away slamming the capital doors on her.

The young Sakura is left all alone as the wooden doors crash together. She sniffs as she places her hand on her stomach with the faintest of smiles,

“At least I have you…”

Years later the woman is older cradling the same belly as her tears return. She sits in a small inn alone as a man walks away in disgust. She is left alone once more. That same picture of Sakura holding her empty belly plays over and over in her head as each year that went by didn’t make the pain any easier.

Eventually her pain became anger as she began to give into her power and take her anger out on the people around her. Every time she seen a woman pregnant she wouldn’t feel happiness anymore but instead jealousy. She cries alone in her carriage as she holds her head in her hands.

“I’m so sorry little one… I’m sorry I wasn’t good enough”

Those same sullen green eyes are reflected in the capital as Gou holds Bianca in his arms. Tears stream down her face as she apologises to Gou,

“I’m sorry I can’t give you your child… I’m so sorry”

Gou smiles and holds her tighter.

“Please… Bianca don’t be sorry”

He place her head onto his chest as he looks to the painting of his mother on his wall. His eyes drop in sadness.

Hiro looks around with a curious look which grabs the attention of Asahi.

“This is the most I think I’ve ever seen you think”

Hiro looks closely at his surrounds. There’s something familiar about the small forest they find themselves walking through. As the path opens up to a small clearing Hiro stops and scrunches up his face trying to think of why he’s feeling so nostalgic. Zero and Asahi stop further down the path as they look back confused.

Hiro sighs and jogs to catch up to them.

“Are you alright?”

“What? Oh yeah sorry this place just seems… familiar I guess?”

Asahi brushes it off as just another forest that they’ve seen quite a few times at this point but Zero’s gaze holds on Hiro for just a moment longer as he shakes it off and follows Asahi. The three press on.

The three walk by bridges over frozen rivers, fallen trees and a path completely untouched by foot. The white sheet is only disturbed by small creatures scared by the crunch of the three walking through.

Hiro’s face reflects off the ice as he stands over a small pond just outside the normal path. As he stands there pondering Zero stands beside him.

“You’re still feeling like you’ve seen it all before?”

Hiro nods with a confused face. He slowly places his hand on the sheet of ice staring back at him. A memory flashes by his eyes in just moment of a time that seemed so long ago. In the reflection for just a second he feels he sees someone familiar.

His eyes shoot open in realisation and he jumps upwards. The confused look on his face gives way to an ecstatic smile. Zero is taken aback by his sudden change in attitude as she steps backwards.

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Asahi waltzes past as he stares intently at the hand drawn map.

“Oh, guys she’s right up ahead. What’s got you so excited?”

Hiro runs towards Asahi and smiles wide.

“My mother… My mother was here!”

Asahi and Zero share a look before Hiro storms forward. He can barely keep himself upright as he storms through the snow with his breathing intensifying at the thought of seeing his mother again.

Asahi and Zero chase after him shouting for him to wait. The voice of his mother drowns them out as he dashes towards the small clearing his mother and him spent a short amount of time in. The place that they promised to meet again was slowly coming into view and his eyes and smile were growing wider the closer it got.

Not even Asahi and Zero could keep up as he burst towards it. He finally jumps from the trees and the sight stares him in the face. The small hut stands alone in a small clearing. The snow looks completely untouched surrounding it and a large chunk of snow sits atop the shack.

Asahi breathes heavily as he finally catches up with him. His cheeks blush as he lifts his head and tells Hiro to calm down through his breaths. Zero walks out of the trees as snow trickles down her armour. She doesn’t say anything as she looks forwards at Hiro.

Hiro smiles and swallows nervously. His breathing still hasn’t calmed as he can’t stand still. Asahi looks to the snow outside the hut and squints. The lack of any footprints confuses him slightly,

“Your mother is here? Really?”

Hiro doesn’t say anything he just nods emphatically. He doesn’t care about a lack of footsteps only seeing her face again.

“Aren’t you gonna go?”

As Asahi’s words hit his ear he takes a second. His smile drops slightly as he stares forwards. His eyes lower before they eventually hit the floor. Zero looks on confused. He looks back upwards towards the hut.

“It’s just… I promised I’d bring Kyoko back with me”

Asahi smiles and slowly taps his shoulder.

“You should treasure your moments with you mom… trust me”

Hiro smiles and nods to Asahi. He dusts himself down before beginning the walk towards the door.

Asahi and Zero stand away as he slowly waddles through the snow. Asahi’s mind begins to wander towards the map. He looks around before squinting. Zero just stares forward at Hiro.

His mother’s voice begins to beckon him forwards as he replays his times with her. She was the most important person in his life and he can’t wait to see her again. Her face and her smile loop in his head as he slowly reaches out towards the rickety door. He takes a deep breath before slowly opening it with a creak.

Asahi and Zero watch on as he disappears into the small hut. The moment lingers for longer than they expect as the air grows ominous. Not a single sound comes from within the shack for a few moments too long before Asahi and Zero begin to grow slightly nervous.

The shack lies still as a cold wind blows a small layer of snow by the two and into the forest.

In the distance the door slowly creaks open. The small clearing lies silent. Only the sounds of the crushing of snow below Hiro’s feet can be heard. They can’t make out his face as the door taps against its hinges. Hiro takes slow steps as he walks towards the untouched snow.

Asahi and Zero both stare on unable to tell what happened. All of a sudden Hiro stops dead and is unmoving as Asahi softly calls out to him.

His voice is cracked and doesn’t seem to reach Hiro as he still stands completely still. Zero takes a step forwards and just as she does Hiro drops to the floor. His arms slam into the snow below as he gets on his arms and knees.

“Hiro…?”

Hiro lets out a blood curdling scream as Asahi and Zero take a few steps back. His scream echoes through the forest as the wind begins to push against Zero and Asahi. Hiro doesn’t seem to be able to stop screaming as he scratches at the ground below the snow.

Asahi and Zero don’t know what to do until a strong air bursts their way pushing them backwards.

Hiro’s screaming stops and gives way to a choking sound. His brown eyes grow black as he writhes in pain. He pulls at his hair and slams his head into the snow. He lifts his head high up and stares upwards.

A black mist pours from his mouth and down towards the ground the vapour has an evil sense as Asahi and Zero watch on in horror. They can’t move as the black mist slowly covers Hiro’s face until only his black eyes can be seen through it.

Hiro and Asahi breath heavily as the snow begins to come down harder and the wind becomes stronger. Hiro slowly stands and wobbles in the snow. As he slowly gets himself back up he looks like a monster as his eyes hold on the two standing before him.

The two are unable to even speak as it stares back at them with an intense rage. Its breathing is raspy almost like a growl. Its eyes don’t waver as they pierce through Zero and Asahi.

The clearing lies silent once more as the two stare at the thing that was once Hiro staring back at them. Both unable to move an inch. It takes a step towards them as they take a step backwards by instinct. The snow belts as his feet slam against the ground and with every step the two begin to breathe heavier and more staggered. His presence weighs on them both with every step.

“H-Hiro…”

Just as the words leave her lips he pounces at the slamming both his fists into their faces and sends them both crashing to the ground. Before they can even react, Hiro grabs them both by the throat and lifts them above his head.

The mist continues to swirl around his body as his black and white eyes sharpen against the sight of Asahi and Zero helpless in his grasp.

Asahi smashes his shin against his face allowing them a moment to get themselves free. They both stare off against the beast unable to comprehend what they are seeing. Zero especially is completely unable to function as she stands frozen in place shaking.

“Zero! We have to defend ourselves here! Please stay with me!”

The creature stands tall and stares them down as Asahi focuses his eyes on his target. Zero still stands breathing heavily and unable to move.

Asahi’s eyes glow green as he readies himself for a fight. Hiro’s eyes are a deep black with slight glimmering white as they stare down Asahi and Zero. The creature also readies itself to fight.