Disclaimer: I don't own Rival Schools/Project Justice. Insert smart-ass comment here.

Evergreen

00. Prologue

Darkness. It was so dark. Suddenly, torches ignited and illuminated the area with a sickly, orange glow. Hyo shivered as an icy breeze ripped through him. It grew colder, each passing moment. As much as he tried, he could no longer stand against it. He doubled over, shivering miserably.

"My son..."

A transparant form stood before him.

"You have failed me...but within you, I shall live forever..."

The form then spread over him, engulfing him in one quick motion.

Hyo sat up in a cold sweat. His eyes darted around wildly. A hand gently caressed his face. He whirled around to be looking into the face of a young woman. She placed her other hand on his shoulder. He felt warmth, but there was something familiar about it.

"Welcome back," she greeted.

Hyo stared at her as tears formed in his eyes. He embraced her as he sobbed, burying his face into her body. She stroked the back of his head as she held him.

"There,there," she cooed. "You will be alright now."

Hyo awoke without remembering falling asleep. He rose and saw that he was alone. The lights from the hallway cut into the darkness of his room. Hyo then noticed that a shadow was passing. He looked over to see the same woman from before and rose to follow her.

He was unsure of what to say, so he decided to follow her until he thought of something.

It has seemed like an eternty. Nothing came to his mind. Finally, the woman stopped and turned to him.

"I see you have questions," she stated. "I can understand that."

Hyo looked away searching for words. He then had a question.

"Did I...die?"

"Yes."

Hyo grew sad.

"Then I guess I am in heaven now..."

"No."

Fear crept up in him. "Am I...in hell?"

"No," said the woman. "You are alive."

"Impossible," he breathed. "How were you able to bring me back!"

"It is a technique called Kokoro to Ki Fukkoku. It requires two people. One being alive and the other being dead. The living sacrifices part of their soul to reanimate the dead. The High Master taught me this technique."

"Who is the High Master?"

"You call him father..."

Hyo froze in horror.

"Tell me," he breathed. "Is my father alive?"

"No. I failed in performing it on him. But in my failure you live where he died..."

"I know you..." he began. "But I can barely remember you..."

"My name is Michiko. I was your father's personal servant...and now I shall serve you."

Hyo nodded.

Hyo spent most of his days in a trance. It felt like he was in some sort of horrible dream. His new home was his old one. The Imawano ninja complex had fallen to ruin. It was surprising that anyone could live there. Having Michiko around made things tolerable but it seemed that she had been here, alone for quite sometime. Michiko always reminded him of a looming thundercloud. No matter what mood she was in, it seemed like something heavy hovered over her. A something that would come crashing down at any moment. Time merely seemed like an object that he barely remembered. Before he knew it, it had been four months...

Hyo marched down one of the long halls, occasionally peering in rooms. Michiko was nowhere to be seen today. It almost seemed that she was hiding from him. Finally, he found her in one of the lower rooms. She sat up on her mat, half covered. The kimono she wore looked rather large and seemed to hang off her body.

Michiko was a pale young woman with dark, slitted eyes. Her choppy, blond hair was tied back into a ponytail. Her form was slender and angular making her seem delicate and frail. Hyo assumed that it was because she had condemned herself in a place that had been reduced to a dilapidated graveyard. How she had survived was a mystery to him.

Hyo entered the room.

"Michiko, I need to speak with you."

Michiko stared out the window.

"I know. You wish to leave." Hyo felt guilty as he turned away from her. "Why do you wish to return?"

"I have to let them know that I am alive! It's not fair to go on living when they think that I am dead!"

Michiko stared at him. She then looked down as a sad smile crossed her face.

"I should have expected this...but still..." tears slid down her face. "...still, it is difficult. I can't keep you here—I know this—I just wish that I could..."

Hyo kneeled down in front of her.

"Michiko, this place isn't right for anyone to stay. Why don't you leave too?"

"I can not," she suddenly grew apprehensive. "What will I do with myself if I do!"

"You did it before, when you went to get me," said Hyo. "I am sure that you can do it again."

Michiko remained silent. Hyo fell deep into thought. He then brightened at the conclusion he came to.

"Why don't you come with me?"

Michiko thought about it.

"Fine. But if I fail I will return to this place...and live the rest of my days here, agreed?"

"Agreed."

Hyo walked out of the final gate of the compound pratically dragging Michiko along with him. Michiko kept looking back at the building, nervously. She then gave up on resisting.

"I'm coming, Kyosuke," thought Hyo as he continued on.

At first they were walking, but Hyo then broke out into a run. He had waited long enough.