The sun rises over a small village, it peers through the forests and over the mountains hiding the village from the rest of the world, the village is lively, it feels alive even from afar. Overlooking this homely village are a boy and a girl, they sit atop a large hill, their legs dangling down at the people. The young boy sits staring out in awe of the sight before him, the sun casts itself upon his home and catches his eye, his grin becomes a full smile and his eyes sparkle in amazement, the young girl looks at the light in the boys’ eyes and begins to smile herself, her blonde hair flutters in the wind forcing her to shelter her blue eyes, the boy stares on as his brown short hair flies backwards and his eyes only seem to shine brighter, the young girl resets herself before looking back at the boy from the corner of her eye clearly stealing a look. Her hand slowly glides across the grass towards the boys’ it slowly grazes over his fingers before she firmly grasps his palm. The boy slowly cocks his head towards her not giving even the hint of a reaction, she stares back at him leaving a silence to linger… In one swift movement the boy jumps to his feet and his face becomes red, he points at the girl but can’t muster any words, she places her hand over her mouth trying not to completely burst out laughing, he can barely get any words out until she falls backwards laughing, she rolls around unable to contain it any longer, the boy’s face falls deeper into red before he can finally get out any semblance of words “OI Y-YOU SHE-DEVIL!” he shouts at her trying his ever hardest to hide his embarrassment through volume, he jerks and points at her but it doesn’t stop her from continuing to roll around on the ground holding her stomach. Eventually the young boy has enough and turns his back on her, she wipes the tears from her eyes as she slowly gets up, “your reactions are too good Hiro you can’t expect me not to annoy you?” The young boy named Hiro turns as she gets closer to him, she tries to follow his head around, but he just keeps turning, his cheeks puff as he pouts. The girl sighs as she pats down her dress, the boy watches her from the corner of his eye clearly infatuated with her, she catches his glimpse with a smug grin as he tries to avert his eyes in time, she jumps on his back and laughs as he tries to shake her off, they begin to play fight, rolling around on the grass until the young girl pushes the boy backwards straight into a man. Hiro slowly gets himself up, he winces as she shakes the pain off, he quickly realizes what happened as he turns panicking “I-“ as he turns the young girl already has her head down bowing to the man, she profusely apologises, continually bowing at the man’s feet, “I’m so sorry, we didn’t mean it… P-please don’t tell my mother” Hiro looks at the young girl with slightly widened eyes before joining her in apologizing to the man. The man stands over the two silently for an awkward amount of time, Hiro and the young girl look at one another confused as they expected the man to say anything, something to them, they both look up to the man as he smiles, they both stare at him slightly taken aback, the man slowly places his hands on each of their heads, the young girl winces until she realizes, he pats them while smiling with complete purity at the two children. “Take care of one another… ok?” the two children look at one another once again with a confused expression before the man chuckles slightly, he says to them softly “wouldn’t you say it’s time for some food? I think you mother will be waiting for you.” The man continues smiling softly before Hiro begins to smile back, he nods and grabs the young girl’s hand before taking off down the hill, they leave the man in their dust as the young girl struggles to keep up, Hiro laughs as the wind hits the two and they run at full speed. The Village breathes around them, people smile, chatter, barter and laugh together, Hiro and the young girl run through the small dirt streets of the village, people wave as they run by “wait Hiro!” The young girl begs Hiro to stop running, she falls to her knees unable to breathe, she points at Hiro angrily as he stands confused, they stand in silence until she can eventually get her breath back, she stares at him angrily before shouting “ARE YOU TRYING TO KILL ME?” The best he can muster in response is to tilt his head ever so slightly in confusion. The young girl huffs and puffs her way onto his shoulders and eventually sighs “now you can go”.
A woman stands awaiting someone’s arrival, she taps her foot in excitement, her long black hair wouldn’t stand out if not for the long white streaks, her eyes are a deep black with tints of white glistening in the void, her eyes sparkle much like Hiro’s as she smiles. She watches as Hiro flies through the village at top speed carrying the young girl on his back, her smile grows wider as she sees them sprinting towards her, Hiro’s face lights up as he waves to her. He comes to a stop directly in front of the woman as the young girl slowly gets off his shoulders, before either of them can say anything the woman grabs them and holds them tight, her cheeks flutter as she squeezes them, Hiro tries his hardest to break free whereas the young girl embraces it and buries her head into the woman’s chest. Eventually she lets go as Hiro jumps backwards completely red in the face with embarrassment “m-mom what are you doing!?” she looks at him slightly annoyed “what am I doing?” she slowly theatrically shifts to despair as she gasps “My son no longer loves me” he sighs as he walks by into the house, her face goes blank as the young girl awkwardly chuckles at the sight, the woman’s eyes soften as she looks upon the girl, she smiles with great care “will you be joining us again Kyoko?” their eyes meet, the blue of Kyoko’s almost clash against the dark blackness of the woman’s yet her eyes are kind as they look at Kyoko “I… no I think my mother will be waiting for me” the woman steps back with a strange disappointment “well that’s too bad” just before Kyoko begins to head off, the woman places both of her hands on her shoulders “you don’t want to spend some time with your future mommy?” Kyoko’s face grows redder and redder until she steams from the head, the woman jumps back squealing “SO CUTE!” as she wriggles around unable to take the cuteness of Kyoko’s reaction she opens her eyes to see Kyoko completely gone “she escaped… but no-“ a man places his hand on her shoulder “you’re being weird again Hatsuho” she sighs and is guided back into the house by the blonde man, he has very short hair, and stubble across his face, he smiles as they both enter to see Hiro eating at the table, they join him. Hatsuho watches Hiro eating as she smiles, he slowly stops chewing before looking up at his mother, his face is one of awkwardness, she smiles at him… silence sits for a few seconds before he slowly begins chewing again, she sits back and stares at him “y’know you used to let me hug you all the time…” he looks at her confused “eh?” he speaks with his mouth full of food, she replies while also stuffing her face, the man sits between them completely unamused at the two’s muffled conversation through their breakfast filled mouths, he grows agitated until he coughs, they both completely ignore him until he coughs louder, as he gets ignored again he eventually shouts “chew first, speak second!”, they both turn to him in shock and sallow “did you even chew at all?” the woman slouches back, her face grows soft once again as she locks eyes with her son “all I’m saying is that it sucks that you’re growing… but you know what?” Hiro’s face looks at her in curiosity “what?” she smiles “you could be the worst man on earth… the evilest, the angriest or I don’t know the laziest… but you will always be loved…. By me.” “What?” his face turns completely blank in confusion as she jumps up out of her chair “I just professed my motherly love to you and I receive a… what?” she mimics him as he continues to stare confused, she sighs and sits back down, she pats his head “but I need you to promise me something…” she stares at him with a serious look in her eye “what is it?” she looks towards the window, a house sits nearby almost isolated from everything, she looks back at Hiro “can you protect that girl…?” he looks at his mother with a perplexed look, however he nods “of course I will” her serious expression becomes softer once again as she hugs him “I love you Hiro…” he scrunches up his face “yeah-yeah… I know already” she hums as he struggles to break free once more “I don’t care if you’re 25 I will always cuddle you” he groans as he just accepts his fate, she smiles satisfied as she has won this battle.
Kyoko stands at the door to her home, the air around it seems darker, her breathing is slightly heavier as she slowly opens the door, the door creaks open revealing a dimly lit living room, the table sits empty, its dark, its dead, a woman with long blonde hair and the same blue eyes as Kyoko sits on the stairs silently, she doesn’t even look at Kyoko as she slowly walks in. Kyoko sighs as she walks past her before stopping dead as she hears a harsh but quiet voice “I told you to stop being around those people…” Kyoko swallows in her anxious state, the stair creaks as the woman slowly stands, the harsh voice once again makes itself heard “well? Aren’t you going to listen to your mother?” the air seems heavy as Kyoko slowly looks to her feet, the woman stands behind her staring over the young girl, she firmly grabs her shoulder and pulls her face closer to hers “why aren’t you answering me?” Kyoko has a short intake of breath before quietly murmuring “I’m sorry.” As Kyoko begins to slowly turn her head towards her mothers’, she feels a strong push to her head twisting her face to keep staring forward, her mother forces her face away from her eyeline as she grows angry “what have I told you?” the harshness in her words are more piercing, they have more venom “I-“ the woman bites down on her lip in anger before she slaps the young girl in the face. Kyoko falls to the floor, she continues to stare at the floor as she slowly gets up, tears drop from her eyes but she doesn’t dare look away from the floor, the woman puts her hands out seemingly on instinct to comfort her daughter but pulls back, she leaves Kyoko to lie on the floor in the dim room, her tears hitting the wooden floors is the only noise left in the room.
Stalls are being set up all around the centre of the village, the quiet small village takes on the form of a bustling centre if only for a while, Hiro stands smiling alongside Hatsuho and his father, the three look around as if waiting on someone “shouldn’t she be here by now?” Hatsuho taps her foot unable to wait, Hiro groans while slumped back “c’mon Kyoko! Hurr- “they are interrupted by the light tugging of Hiro’s shirt. The blistering joy that was Kyoko stands with her head firmly staring down, Hiro looks at her confused and worried, she mutters “I can’t come with you today… I’m sorry” Hiro looks down at her with soft eyes, Hatsuho crouches down and smiles “can I see your face?” Kyoko slowly shakes her head, Hatsuho’s voice and smile only soften as she places her hand gently against Kyoko’s cheek, she slowly raises it to reveal tears slowly streaming down her face, a large bruise sits on her cheek, Kyoko sniffs as the tears begin to fall from her face, Hiro is taken aback and slowly steps back before his father places his hand on his shoulder firmly sticking him in place. She tries to hold back the tears, but her attempts only lead to more, Hatsuho slowly plants a kiss on the bruise, she softly caresses the lump with her thumb while looking into Kyoko’s eyes “is that better?” Kyoko swallows and slightly nods, Hatsuho stands up before looking back at Rean, Hiro’s father with an angered look in her eye, Rean sighs deeply with a saddened tone, Hatsuho slowly grasps Kyoko’s hand before guiding it into Hiro’s, she looks at him in the eyes as she slowly gets closer to his ear and gently whispers “remember our promise?” Hiro’s expression slowly turns from one of sadness to a large glowing smile, he looks at Kyoko with his beaming eyes, she stares back unable to smile, “I’ll smile for the both of us today… ok?” Kyoko nods as Hiro slowly walks away holding her hand. Hatsuho watches them leave, her expression grows tougher, the softness in her eyes is replaced with anger, Rean places his hand on her shoulder before giving her a look of worry “I’m fine…” Hatsuho brushes off his hand before turning towards Kyoko’s home “I won’t do anything stupid… I promise” Rean smiles at her “I know you won’t…” she marches off as Rean turns to see Hiro trying his hardest to get Kyoko’s spirits up, he chuckles slightly as he walks with them.
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Hatsuho stares down at Kyoko’s mother as she sits on the wooden steps of the house, her face is one of anger and hate, the woman stands to lock eyes with Hatsuho “there she is… the monster” Hatsuho steps back, trying her best to hold in her feelings “you hurt her again…” the woman clenches her teeth in frustration “I’m not going to take parental advice from a mu-“ Hatsuho takes a step closer clearly scaring the woman slightly “You aren’t fit to be a mother… your child should be everything to you” the woman scoffs “you and your idiot son make m-“ Hatsuho grows angry, her gaze becomes piercing, she stares straight through Kyoko’s mother completely unnerving her “Don’t talk about our son…” The woman takes a step back before swallowing in nervousness “our? You and that monster? Or you and the man they fo-“Hatsuho grabs her dress and pulls her close, she clearly holds back her anger before slowly releasing her, the woman breathes heavily in pure fear “you really haven’t changed have you?” Hatsuho takes a deep breath before holding her head, the woman takes a step backwards catching her breath before Hatsuho turns away “Just… don’t do it again” she slowly walks away as the woman wipes the sweat from her forehead. The woman slams the door behind her, she slides down the door with her face in her hands, the darkness surrounds her, the slight glimmers of light from the covered windows peer in to see the woman crawled up in a ball against the cold door, she lets out muffled crying.
Hiro pulls Kyoko around the stalls, her face slowly begins to brighten, her smile slowly returning to her face, he doesn’t give her a second to remember the large bruise on her face. Rean slowly strolls alongside them grinning, they continue walking around until the sparkle of a stall catches Kyoko’s eye, they widen as she stares down at a necklace, Rean slowly puts his arm around Hiro’s shoulder, he pulls him in until they are cheek to cheek, he whispers through his grin “Don’t you think she’d appreciate a necklace?” Hiro turns to his father with one eyebrow raised, he scoffs before taking his father’s hand off his shoulder “I’m 14 I don’t have any g-“ he freezes as a bag of gold slumps in front of him, his mouth widens in shock, just as he goes to grab at it, it slips away, Rean chuckles before once again pulling him in “I’d be happy to give you some gold…” Hiro swallows as his eagerness for the next words out of his father’s mouth reach a tipping point, but his excitement is dimmed as he hears “but…” his face drops as his father plants the gold bag on his head “you’ve got to make me a promise too…” Hiro’s face scrunches up “another one?” He is taken aback by the serious look on his father’s face as he looks straight at him “I want you to promise me that you won’t ever make your mother upset… that you’ll always be there for her…” Hiro chuckles slightly “isn’t that your job?” Rean sighs slightly as he stands, the bag of gold is placed into Hiro’s hand as Rean pats his head, he smiles as he looks down at his son with compassion “I know I can trust you Hiro…” he walks off towards Kyoko leaving Hiro looking down at the bag of money unsure of what his next actions should be, he slowly turns his head to see Kyoko’s face as she looks down at the necklace, her joy is back, her smile almost masks the large scar left by her mother’s hand, Hiro smiles slightly as he walks towards the stand.
Hatsuho has staggered breathing as she slowly walks towards the bustling centre of the village, the serious and angered look on her face dissipates into a soft smile as she sees Hiro and Kyoko together walking out of the centre and towards their hill, she feels a hand caress her shoulder she jumps forward in fright before freezing, what follows is a bubbly laugh coming from Rean, her scared expression softens once again as she slowly embraces Rean, he grows embarrassed as she stays silent, only tightening her grip “uh Hatsuho?” Hatsuho slowly steps away and stares up at him with grateful eyes “thank you…” Rean pulls her in once again “I should be thanking you…”
Hiro and Hatsuho once again sit atop the hill, they look down on the lights of the once quiet village as the sky starts to become dark, the grass sways with the wind as they both stare out, Kyoko wipes the hair from her face as Hiro turns to her, she is slightly shocked as he stares at her… there is silence as they both stare at one another, Kyoko’s face gradually flushes of red the longer he stares “A-are you just going to sit there?” Hiro swallows as he pulls out the necklace, he can’t face her, he flicks his head away from her as he thrusts out his clenched hand, Kyoko flinches slightly until a necklace drops from between Hiro’s fingers. Kyoko is enamored as the necklace spins, the moonlight glinting off it as it dances in the wind, “H-have you taken it yet?” Hiro musters up the courage to ask as Kyoko just stares, as he slowly turns his head forcing his eyes shut, he tentatively opens one before both shoot open. A tear drops from Kyoko’s bruised eye dropping onto the grass below, Hiro stutters his way to try and calm her down before she jumps on him in one swift movement, she cuddles into him as she cries into his chest “thank you…” Hiro can’t reply through his shock, all he can do is just let her hug into him. She sits up sniffling and wiping her tears, she smiles as she plays with the necklace, Hiro sits awkwardly once again staring out as the lightly of the village become all the brighter as the sky darkens, Kyoko places her head on his shoulder, she shuffles herself closer to him, their silhouettes become one as the moon rises on the small village “I want to marry you here…” The two sit silently as those words slowly float to the moon, a wish, a promise.
The two saunter through the village towards their homes, the smile well and truly returned to Kyoko’s face as Hiro carries her back on his back, she smiles softly into his shoulder, Hatsuho stands by the door once again ready to welcome them back, she runs over to the two as she fails to contain her excitement shouting “cute!” Hatsuho sees the necklace drooping from Kyoko’s neck, her cheeks bloom of red as she spins around to Hiro’s annoyance. Hatsuho and Hiro wave ff Kyoko as she near enough skips home, her happiness brightens the dim streets, Hatsuho hugs Hiro “m-mom…” she smiles calmly as he accepts his fate “I love you more than anything… I would never let anything happen to you” Hiro looks up at her in slight concern before growing serious “mom…” Hatsuho is slightly surprised as she looks down at his serious face “I promise I’ll always protect your smile” Hatsuho is completely taken aback by her son, she stutters slightly trying to respond “H-“ just as she goes to say something they are interrupted by a screeching scream.
The two look over in the direction of the scream, both of their faces are the sight of deathly horror as Kyoko is pulled out of her house, men clad in black with a large red crest painted on the back of their armour drag her out of her home, she screams and wriggles trying to get away, Hatsuho and Hiro stand in fear as they can’t understand what’s happening, Kyoko’s mother stands at the doorframe crying as her daughter is rushed away, all she can do is slump to the floor in despair, Rean sprints out of the house before coming to a halt at the sight “Ha-“ just as he tries to pull his family together he looks deep into the eyes of Hatsuho, they shake in fear, the black and white of her eyes can’t stay still as the anguish pours out of her, Hiro goes to run after Kyoko before Hatsuho pulls him back. He tries everything to get away from her, but she forces him back into her arms, Kyoko screams for help, villagers are unable to move as they watch the child be dragged out, “what the hell are you doing mom get off!” Hiro tries to get away with every ounce of effort and grit he can give but Hatsuho just firmly pulls on his arm, her face gives the impression that the last thing she’d ever do is let go, upon seeing the fear in his parents eyes he whips his head back and stares on helplessly as Kyoko reaches out for him, she clutches at nothing as tears pour out of her eyes, “HIRO! HIRO! Please…” Desperation seeps into her words as she calls for Hiro, for anyone to help her, no one answers the call, Hiro watches as she disappears into the darkness of the woods, silence hangs as Hatsuho begins to breathe heavily, her breath releases a slight black tint to the usual mist of warm breath in cold air, Rean grabs her arm and shouts at her “get him out! They’ve fo-“ he can’t even finish his sentence before a sword is rammed into his back, his hands shake as he looks down and the lethal wound, stuttering is all that can be released from his mouth as he slowly looks up at Hatsuho and Hiro who stare in horror, they are unable to move as they watch Rean drop limp to the floor, another man clad in black wipes the blood from the sword as he raises bis head away from Rean and towards Hatsuho.
Hatsuho’s breaths become more staggered, they become heavier, that black tint to her breath becomes darker, a slight blackish mist falls from her mouth, the white in her eyes glow all the brighter, Rean slowly raises his hand, it shakes as he looks at his family “run…” Hatsuho turns to Hiro and grabs him, she whips him onto her shoulder in a panic and with all her strength runs, she runs and runs, through the screams of pain, the calls for help Hatsuho runs, Hiro can only watch as the body that was once his father gets further and further away, he can’t even manage to let out a word, nothing but silence as trees hide the horrors from him, Hatsuho slams into trees, branches and all sorts as she tries everything to get away, as the moon starts to light to the way to a clearing she collapses, the two roll into a small parting in the trees. As the two slowly get up their already horror filled faces become just that bit more frightened as they look upon a massive cloud of smoke covering the village, the screams of terror travel through the fire, they flow with the smoke, but to Hiro, it’s all the same, all the pain and the suffering is just a wave of noise. Just as the two start to comprehend the terror, through the smoke crashes a massive blue light, as the smoke is blown away by its mere presence the nature of the glow becomes clear to Hiro and Hatsuho, a dragon envelopes the sky, it swings around the fire, the smoke almost answers to its will, the dragon glows a dark blue, the colour of the night sky. The dragon isn’t solid, it’s made up of a misty blue, an aura, much like the mist that was slowly releasing from Hatsuho as she ran but much clearer, much stronger, its eyes pierce the bodies of Hiro and Hatsuho, Hatsuho goes limp, her arms fall to her side as if she knows what is about to happen “no…” , it slowly rises to the sky whisking through and around the clouds it covers the moon casting a large shadow over all below, as it hangs high above both Hiro and Hatsuho they look up to see it come crashing down on the village, It slams down into the ground and all the two can do is watch, they look tiny compared to this massive power in front of them as it slams into the ground.
The once bustling and joyful village is silent, not even rubble to remind them of what once was, the dragon is no more, and neither is the village, Hiro sits completely still as Hatsuho slowly manages to get to her feet, the crashing waves of noise that once were are replaced with the silence of a pond, the only thing making noise is the stuttering breath of Hiro, His mother’s voice is but a muffle, she places her hand on his shoulder, he slowly turns to her, she smiles brightly to him, a smile contrasting with the bleak and hopeless look in her eyes, Hiro looks up at his mother as she softly says “let’s go…” her hand shakes as Hiro slowly grasps it.