What if: In the photo of yuri as a child, Karin was NOT the mother but she recognized the woman. There IS a way to get rid of the curse, unknown to the Sapientes Gladio. The hint lies in the power of three books scattered across the world. The three books are 1) Inijin manual which dictates the balance of life 2) The Hygen tome which controls the soul and 3) The Koein diary which tells the tale of the heart. These three are all over the world and are also strangely related to three of the characters.

Karin sighed as the birds flew by the window. Its been three months since the last battle with Kato. With his last dying breathe, Kato had told Yuri that there was a way to get rid of the mistletoe but that would that a long time of preperations, or so Roger had told them when they arrived back. Although Yuri had decided that he would be true to himself, Karin had managed to plead him to go through it, for her sake. Now she sat quietly in Roger's summer house, wondering when those two are going to be done with discussing about 'stuff' that they apparently did not want her to know. Karin sat uncomfortably, readjusting her shirt. She did not discard the hand-me-downs, but kept them, as fond memories of their adveture. Now she wore a simple men's white shirt with pants she borrowed from yuri.
"Argh! i can't take this any longer!" Karin grumbled out finally "When are they going to be done?" At this point the door swung open and Yuri stepped in. The look on Karin's face turned almost immediately as she shot to her feet, from irritated and impatient, to a smiling one.
"Yuri! So how is it?" She asked.
Yuri smiled weakly.
"Roger said that the whole process would take three weeks after we collect all three books"
The smile on Karin's face disappeared slightly but she held onto it with sheer determination.
"But... There would be enough time, right? To find all three books before your soul is devoured?" She pressed.
Yuri's eyes did not meet hers. "Yeah..." he said softly.
Karin knew that Yuri was lying but she also knew that he would tell her when it was time. Now was most likely NOT the best time.
"Oh, don't look so down, Joachim is coming over after he finds Anatasia and Kurando. Lucia is still in Florence and Blanca... well, blanca's still in japan"
Karin forced him down on the bed and sat next to him. "We must show them a happy face, right?" She asked, placing her hand on his.
Yuri's face grew red at her touch. Some how, it felt almost like Alice's.
"RIGHT?" Karin suddenly squeezed his hand tightly, causing Yuri to cry out in pain.
Karin laughed as she released his hand and let him soothe his hand. It was one of these times when Karin felt herself drawn to him. Why she liked him. The way he is. That will never change in him... never. Secret tears wept inside of her heart. Never.