Hiro bursts towards Asahi at a speed he’s never seen before. His power just barely gives him the vision to dodge the incredibly fast blow Hiro swings at him. Asahi’s eyes dart around Hiro as his movements are followed by that dark mist. Asahi can barely see where Hiro is coming from as he panics while trying to get away from the flurry of attacks flying his way.

Without even being able to see Hiro, Asahi can sense his darkness coming from the clouds of evil surrounding him. Zero still can’t move as she watches the two slam against one another in a constant struggle. She can barely keep up with Hiro’s movement as he darts around Asahi before changing direction and landing a strong blow to his jaw.

Asahi’s ability to see movements before they happen can’t even keep up with the speed as Hiro sprints around him and the constant blows to his face are making him lose concentration.

The only thing that is clear within the darkness is the piercing white of Hiro’s eye as it follows its prey. Asahi stands helpless in the middle of the clearing as blood starts to drip from his head and down onto the disturbed snow below.

Hiro pounces on his moment of weakness and grabs onto his collar like a wild animal. He crashes his head into Asahi’s knocking him out for a second. Asahi comes back to and send him a headbutt straight back.

As blood pours from Asahi’s head he spits to the side and stares down Hiro. He realises he’ll die if he doesn’t fight back. As his blood seeps into the white underneath a second of silence sits before they both pounce towards one another again.

In a flurry of attacks Asahi’s eyes glow brighter than ever before. The speed of his reflexes aren’t human and he gets out of Hiro’s ferocious swinging. Zero still stands completely still watching as a cloud of white powder begins blowing around the two fighters.

Through the white flashes of black and green clashing against one another causes Zero’s breath to stagger. She slams her fist into her own face and she plants her hand on her chest. She shakes unable to calm herself as she forms a small blunt sword. Her breathing intensifies as she grips the handle tighter. The shaking doesn’t stop no matter how hard she tries.

But as the damage Asahi intensifies and the spiralling state of Hiro not showing any signs of slowing, she forces herself into action.

As the cloud of snow settles Hiro is left standing holding a bloody Asahi by the neck. The beast that stands before Zero isn’t Hiro. The black vapour still pours from his mouth and swirls around his face as if holding him in a trance. His eyes aren’t the kind brown they once were but a dark void with speckles of white within.

Those black eyes slowly turn towards Zero. With no hesitation he throws Asahi towards her and in a burst of speed is directly in front of her. His foot comes crashing into her helmet as she cant even react and the suit of armour comes down towards the snow.

Before Hiro can slam his fist into her she rolls to safety and gets back to her feet. Her helmet cracks as she takes one deep breath. A fiery red glow burns from within the white and gold helmet and stares directly at the monster ahead of her.

“I’m sorry Hiro… I’ll save you. I promise”

Zero flies towards Hiro and swings her sword straight down towards his neck. Hiro drops below the blunt blade and grabs her arm. Before he can snap it over his shoulder she grabs him around the neck and gets onto his back. He squirms around like a cornered animal trying to get away from her grasp. She tightens her hold on his neck trying to get him to calm down.

Asahi gets to his feet slowly and stumbles towards them. He grits his teeth and clenches his fist. He pummels the beasts’ chest with quickfire blows each one causing it to writhe in pain. Asahi can no longer think of it as Hiro as he strikes him.

The writhing stops and the shouting ceases. Asahi’s fists ache as he takes a few steps back and breathes in the cold air.

Just as Zero and Asahi lower their guard a blood curdling scream comes through the black mist surrounding Hiro. Hiro manages to smash his elbow into Zero and get free. He drops to the floor and begins punching the ground once more.

Zero and Asahi can’t even react as he screams into the snow.

Asahi slowly walks over to Zero and stands by her side. He can barely stand as he holds his head and winces in pain. Zero can’t move as she stares down at the ball of rage screaming out for help.

The two stand over Hiro helpless until his crying out becomes silence. He slowly stands still covered in an evil black aura. He turns to the two and readies himself once more.

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Asahi gives up trying to hold back for him.

“I’m sorry Zero but if we don’t work together and take him down we’re both going to die”

Zero looks down at her hands as they shudder. She gives Asahi a nod and forms two small hammers.

Hiro erupts into a ball of rage once more as he pounces towards the two. The snow doesn’t even slow him down as he races across the ruined patch of white.

Hiro leaps into the air and slams his leg down. Asahi just manages to get out of the way as it comes crashing down into the snow. Zero grabs onto his leg and lifts him high above her but before she can bring him down he slams his other knee into her already damaged helmet.

She stumbles as he pounces on her weak moment. Just as he almost grabs her Asahi spears him onto the white sheet below and brings his fists down upon his face each one causing him to shout into the cold air.

Hiro grabs hold of snow and dirt from underneath him and throws it into Asahi’s face. He then grabs Asahi’s collar and rears his head back for an almighty blow. Their heads almost collide before Asahi’s glowing eyes get him out of harms way.

Hiro shouts before throwing the boy straight into a charging Zero. The two quickly get to their feet as Hiro comes after them not giving them a moment to breathe.

The three go at it as Hiro’s speed proves to be too much for the two. He manages to grow faster and faster with every second that goes by whereas the other two slow. His punches grow

stronger as they slam against the armour of Zero and against the hardened body of Asahi. His attacks aren’t of a natural fighter but a cornered beast. A beast that has been let out its cage.

As Zero and Asahi try their best to fight back nothing seems to phase the barrelling beast as he flies towards them again and again no matter how many times he is smacked down. The fury slowly starts to get too much for the two as they are whittled down to their knees.

Zero’s armour is cracked once more and the glow in Asahi’s eyes begin to fade and his head drops. Hiro’s breathing is heavy and uncontrolled much like each of his footsteps as he slowly walks towards them. The pressure of the air around Hiro grows tighter the closer he steps.

Asahi’s chest tightens as he fears this may be as far as he goes. Zero tries to stand through the pain. She can’t give up on Hiro just yet. She slowly raises her shaking arms ready to defend herself once more. The show of strength doesn’t even phase Hiro as he quickens his pace.

Asahi closes his eyes

“I’m sorry mother…”

Hiro takes one more step towards them and just as the two prepare for the worst Hiro collapses to the ground as the swirling mist dissipates as he crashes against the dug-up dirt below. Zero and Asahi stare in silence as Hiro lies there unmoving.

Asahi almost cries with relief as he wipes the blood from his face. Zero can barely pull herself over to Hiro’s body. She drops to the floor beside him and cradles his body.

The cold air blows through the wrecked clearing. The shack still stands alone beside the trees. The ground is destroyed and in the centre snow begins to slowly hide the aftermath of the fight. Asahi sits against a tree reeling from his wounds. He’s lucky he was a gifted one or he may be walking towards death’s door instead and he knows it.

Zero stands watching Hiro as snow lands among the cracks of her armour. The white and gold is covered in scratches and dents and parts of her face harsh the cold air as one of her glistening blue eyes lay their gaze one Hiro.

Hiro sits silently over a recently dug patch beside the small shack. A small rock sits atop the grave as he silently sits over it. His mother who he had promised to come back to was gone. The smile that was so prevalent on his face at all times was gone as he fights the tears.

Her laughter and her smile play in Hiro’s head but those memories can’t make him smile right now. Every single one just leaves him in a pit so dark he can’t see the exit.

He places his hand on the dirt and closes his eyes.

Asahi slowly limps towards Zero and he sighs.

“Why would sh-“

The sight of Hiro standing shuts him up as he slowly walks towards them.

Asahi braces for what might be coming.

Hiro raises his head and smiles.

“Should we get going?”

Asahi and Zero are taken aback by his unexpected smile as they look at one another.

“Are you ok?”

A serious amount of concern is behind the question from Asahi not only has his mother died but he has taken on a serious bout with two from the chosen families.

Neither Zero nor Asahi knew what to say when it came to the monster Hiro had become. They didn’t even know if he remembered it.

He smiles and nods as he walks off leading them towards their way home. Asahi and Zero both stare stunned. His smile is fake. His demeanour is fake. As he shouts in the distance it’s all fake and he’s hurting.

Maybe Asahi doesn’t realise but it hurts Zero to even look upon it. It stings her chest as they reluctantly follow him.

As Hiro walks in front of the other two happily his mothers’ words ring in his head

Wont you smile for me Hiro?

It takes all his will to keep the façade going as tears begin to breach the wall. The weak smile paints his face a colour of grief as he walks on ahead back towards the capital.

Zero, just a few strides behind, looks on through a broken helmet. A tear slowly rolls down her cut cheek.

A young Hatsuho swings her son around. Her laugh harmonises with his as they play together in the sun. She lifts him high into the sky and they smile to one another.

An older Hiro closes his eyes softly as his head rests against his mother’s shoulder. Rain taps against their cloaks as they hide behind a tree. She carefully places her hand on his face and pulls him closer to hers. They press their cheeks against each other’s and once again smile.

A black Hand pulls Hiro in tight as a swirling evil consumes his body. He can’t fight against it and is accepting of the warmth it brings. A woman shaped mist holds him tight and refuses to let him go.

Hiro walks on as his brown eyes darken ever so slightly.

As the dirt freezes over and snow begins to cover up the battlefield, the grave of Hatsuho sits silently amongst the swirling snow. A small rock sits atop a layer of snow with a childlike carving etched into the face of two smiling faces sitting side to side. A mother and a son.