Complexion so luminous like newly virgin snow…

A slim and slender frame started to figure.

Hair so enthralling like night's obsidian veil…

Locks of lush silky tresses grew.

Lips so sensuous like fresh crimson drops…

Tender rosy flesh forms.

Eyes so mesmerizing like fathomless cerulean enchantment…

A pair of dazzling gems begins to appear.

Voice delicate and sweet…

Soft whimpers fill the air.

Movements balletic and graceful…

Limbs flowed about effortlessly.

Poise elegant and exquisite…

The body stood in a composed manner.

Splendour second to none…

She was beautiful.

Charms of feminine allure…

She was enticing.

Brilliant and cursed…

She will bring forth the end.


Wandering…

The young girl drifted aimlessly in the bleak snowstorm.

Coldness…

Her body had long been numb and trembling from the brisk condition.

Searching…

She knew she was in pursuit of something.

"Brother!" The young Asura cried out to the taller boy nearby.

"What is it?" Indra scoffed impatiently at his younger brother's sudden interruption in the midst of their hunt.

Indra carefully walked towards Asura's direction in the deep snow.

"…" There was silence as the older boy caught sight of the figure lying before Asura's feet.

It was not a wounded animal that lay in the snow.

"Brother, her pulse is faint." Asura spoke as he placed his finger along her exposed slender neck.

Indra stayed his distance from this unknown individual. The mountain was a harsh and cruel terrain where the bitter fury of the snow ruled endlessly. There was no chance of anything surviving here. It was a place where life was not possible.

"Help me carry her, she will surely die if we leave her here!" Asura called out as he struggled to hold the girl in his arms and balance his weight in the deep snow all together.

Raven tresses contrasted vividly against the whiteness of its surrounding. The thin fabric of her white yukata draped over her frail form. This girl's skin was now sickly pale with faint hue of blue which signalled signs of hypothermia.

"Indra!" Asura's cry brought Indra back to reality.

He rushed to his brother's side to aid him.

This girl was defiantly younger than Asura by a few years, but she should be around their age. Her frame was too small and her features were of child-like innocence. Why was a child...a girl wandering through such as treacherous place?

"Brother!" Asura was alarmed as Indra removed his cloak and wrapped it tightly around the unconscious girl.

"Idiot, she will freeze to death before we get to safety." Indra sighed as he explained. Did his younger brother possess any common sense, if not any intelligence?

The younger sibling nodded and continued to carry on. For once Asura followed orders and continued on their path without the distraction and hesitance he would normally display.

"…" A slight whimper was heard by the both of them as it escaped from her frosted lips.

The sound of her voice made young Indra's heart quiver with an unknown sensation. However, unknown to him, Asura shared the same feeling.

"I think she is thanking you for the cloak." Asura called out.

"Hush fool! Keep on moving." Indra's cheeks flushed a rosy hue at Asura's last remark.

Hagoromo stared intensely at his two sons.

Indra was as stoically composed as usual, but the young Asura was nervously fidgety and refused to look his father in the eye.

"It was Asura who insisted that we bring her back." Indra spoke calmly.

Asura glared at his brother as if signalling Indra to remain quiet.

"We came across the girl today during our expedition. She was suffering from severe hypothermia and was unconscious, and we had no choice but to bring her home." Asura pleaded to his strict father.

"You would risk the safety of this entire household to save someone you had just encountered?" Hagoromo asked Asura for a confirmation.

Asura's body stiffened from the direct imposing attention of his father.

Sometimes Hagoromo questioned whether Asura was utterly naive or just too kind for his own good. The child did not think things through before acting upon it. In many ways, he was the exact opposite of his genius older brother.

"Father, I had analyzed her prior to deciding to aid Asura. She is of too feeble of a stature to pose any harm to anyone. No chakra emitted from her body and-"Hagoromo had to stop Indra from continuing on his long speech when a servant's presence interrupted their conversation.

"My Lord, the girl is awake."

"Child, there is no need to fear me. I only wish to know where you hail from so that we may return you to your home." Hagoromo spoke to the young child before him.

She looked away from his gaze.

"Then, do you remember why you were wandering through the mountain?" he continued on with his questions.

She showed signs that she understood his language when she shook her head. So, it was either she doesn't remember or she doesn't want to say anything.

"Do you remember anything at all? Your name perhaps, young one?" Everything proved futile as the girl was still too frightened to properly respond.

Never had he seen such as delicate looking child. Although she was just a child at the moment, Hagoromo could confirm that one day she will blossom into a splendid beauty. He suspects that she must have had a noble upbringing given her erect posture and gentle gestures. The question was, why would anyone abandon such a lovely child in the mountain?

"I say we use other methods to obtain such information, father." Indra spoke from the side.

The girl flinched after hearing the malice in Indra's tone. She stared wide-eyed at the father and sons as her mouth opened to form an "o" shape. Still, no words came out.

"Brother, stop it!" She must be so confused right now." Asura stepped in much to the girl's relief.

"She must explain her motives behind wandering alone in the mountain." Indra demanded.

The girl slid backwards as if to get as far possible from Indra and the dark aura which radiated from his being.

Asura saw the girl's discomfort and quickly positioned himself between the girl and his brother.

"Please don't terrorize her. I am sure she would be more than willing to tell us everything once she recovers." Asura defended the girl behind him to his brother.

"Indra..." Hagoromo sensed the unease in the room as Indra's brow raised up impatiently at his brother's sudden outburst.

"Please allow her to rest for the time being, father." Asura bowed to his father begging for him to reconsider Indra's previous option.

"Very well." Hagoromo nodded as he stood up from his seat and gestured Indra to leave with him.

As the father and the elder brother made their way to the sliding door, Asura turned around to face the girl.

"Nothing is going to happen to you. I promise to protect you from any harm." Asura grinned brightly like the idiot that Indra thinks him to be.

The girl understood his kindness and tenderly returned the affection with the slight upward curve of her own lips.

"And that is a promise forevermore, believe it!" He eyes captured the girl's own shimmering blue pairs as both of their hearts fluttered in unison.

Indra watched his brother and the girl from the shadows.

Evermore...