Kyushu hot springs was not doing well these days. Like all the Empire, it too became a victim of corruption. The elderly owner despised the Empire in his heart for this and many other things he deemed the fault of the Empire. At least, that's how he saw things.

Until that day.

A young man and a young girl arrived, looking worn out. They were holding hands, something he didn't fail to notice. He watched as the girl approached him with a bag of money.

"Me and my boyfriend came all the way out here so I could heal." she explained, handing the bag over to him "Excuse us now."

He watched as the couple entered the building which accommodated the guests. He overheard them talking as they went.

"I wouldn't trust that man, Kurome." the young man said "He hates the Empire with his whole heart. Who knows what he might do to us?"

"We defected from the Empire, remember?" Kurome nudged him playfully "It'll be all right, Wave."

He remained rooted to the spot. Their sincerity and the sadness in their eyes kept him that way. And another thing was added to his list of Empire's crimes.

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Wave and Kurome sat at the table, ready for their meal. The owner came and placed their orders.

"What you got wasn't the mistake." the owner leaned towards Kurome conspiratorially "This meal was passed down through generations of my family as a great natural remedy. It purges the body system of any lingering opiates."

Kurome's eyes widened

"But why?"

"Because you remind me of my family." the owner said with a melancholy in his voice "I had a son and a daughter. They would have been your ages had they survived, but they were slaughtered in front of my eyes as punishment."

Wave and Kurome winced at this.

"Bon apetit." the owner said cheerfully before walking away.

Wave and Kurome dug in. Kurome flinched at the slightly bitter taste, but endured it. After all, this was for the future.

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"You feeling better?"

Kurome smiled at the old man and nodded

"It's effective. I feel we'll be done soon."

What neither of them were aware of was that the storm was coming. A clerk arrived and informed the owner that a new guest wanted to check in. Wave and Kurome saw someone familiar.

"Hello." Tatsumi greeted "I came here to warn you. There is someone who still lives and has a grudge for you both. I don't know how he survived, but..."

He was still in his dragon form, and unable to revert back.

"You don't mean, him?" Wave spoke slowly, his hands bailing into fists.

"Yes. And that's why we're here. To protect the love which shines as strong as ours. Come out, my darling." Tatsumi called over his shoulder.

"The most deadly and accurate sniper in the Empire, at your service." a short pink-haired girl spoke, stepping out of the shadows "As well as Mecha-killer."

She patted Tatsumi's dragon-like headed as she spoke.

"Well, a girl and a dragon, in love. Never thought I'd see the day." Wave joked