I felt the sudden rush of water from above as the void divulged.

Pitter, patter. Pitter, patter.

Rain.

"So you've come."

I slowly lifted my eyes to meet hers, violent green against shimmering maroon."Yes."

"Watanuki," she called. The pale young man next to her seemed to snap out of his daze. Something tugged at me about him.

"Ye-yes?"

She beckoned him to lean over and started to whisper in his ear. I let my attention wander, before settling on a spot right next to me. There was a dense conversion of magic lingering on that spot, a strange yet familiar sensation.

The boy nodded slowly, and with another concerned glance in my direction, went inside.

"Do you know where you are?" I turned my attention back on the woman.

"The shop that grants wishes."

"Do you know who I am?"

"The Dimensional Witch."

"Then tell me, stranger, what are you here for? What is your request?

My mouth tightened. I opened my mouth to speak, but dread overwhelmed me. This is it, but then, the time to turn back was long since past. I cleared my throat, ran a hand through my wet hair...and stared. It was pooled down to my feet.

Blinding White. Luna. Sorrow-

I steeled myself. With a glare at the sky, an invisible dome spread to cover the shop, pushing the rain out. Again, I ran my hand through my hair, this time, taking the water with it.

Once more, I opened my mouth to speak.

"I…" I paused. "...We are here to protect those which hold dear to us. For they once protected us, and now we return our debt." I began, solemnly. "We aim to help these children end this cycle of paradoxed existence. We aim to return what was freely given."

The Witch gave me a strange expression, a mixture of a deep sadness and quiet resignation. She looked up into the sky, and said, "Those children are strong, for their fates require them to be." She made eye contact with me, a smile with little joy. "However, a little help never hurts."

Watanuki came back from the inside, carrying a black box. As he stepped towards Yuuko, he blinked, and peered up at sky curiously. His mouth opened in surprise.

"The box, Watanuki."

That seemed to snap him back into focus. "Ah, yes..."

She languidly took the box from him. "What you seek is something not exactly tangible. Repayment, and at the same time, you seek to directly affect the course that a certain, extremely strong force has determined for those children. For such a request, the price paid, equal as to the request, will be very steep."

"But it is a price that must be paid."

"You are determined." A statement, rather than a question. "Very well. In order to repay your debt, you must travel to a completely different world. There you must obtain certain object of power." She paused.

"...Which is?" I prompted.

The Witch gave another smile, but this time, one filled with mirth. "That, you'll have to find out for yourself."

Inwardly, I groaned. Great, another quest for an unknown object of unknown power.

"Well, what do I do-" She lifted a palm, cutting me off.

"To fulfill your mission, a single person would not be able to pay the price.

"The price paid," she began, "The price paid, as I've said, is steep. It is your life, and the life of your other half."

I fingered the band around my ring finger.

"Not just their magic, which I sense emanating from from you, but also, like what you said before, that which was freely given. It is their very existence that I will need to take away from you."

I looked at her, stricken.

"I will take away the entire 176 years of your life, and the 175 years of hers.

"Is there no other way?" I asked, pained.

"There is not."

"What will happen to us?"

"You will be reborn, into a world different from your own, different from even this one, with no memories of your previous life, including this meeting."

"Then how will I know what I need to do?"

"Because if your Hitsuzen is strong enough, then whatever needs to happen, will."

Trembling, I took the Elder Wand out of my pocket. I grabbed the length of my hair where it met the nape of my neck, and in one smooth motion, cut it, taking the overwhelming magic of my other half with it. Next I pointed the wand to my temple. I closed my eyes, clenched my teeth, and before I lost courage, pulled all that was dear to me.

And, again, darkness.

Ha...At least it hasn't been an entire year...right? Admittedly, I wrote this up in less than two hours, and haven't gone over it much, so I hope the quality isn't too horrendous. More frequent updates? No promises, :[ but I'll try harder.

A spot of inspiration hit me like the rain outside, and I couldn't help but write something to get it out.

R&R, even if it's short~~