Seasons went one after the other, merely the time to notice it than snow had already covered the land. It didn't make Yasuo's life easier but it also reminded him that time went. Always. With snow it would be a bit more difficult for him to avoid his pursuers.

By now it would almost make a full year since he and Yi met, since he joined the fights to prove his worth. All seemed to go fast but each day was a victory for him, he was still alive and standing. So far his enemies had failed to bring him down and cheered for it with strong alcohol when he could find some.

The run was difficult, unknown lands that sometimes were quite dangerous for someone not used to it. He was still ionian so he wouldn't ever be completely lost. Sometimes he met a few people that helped him, even though he tended to avoid that just in case. No need to cause any harm or bad luck to folks being decent with a traveler. Plus the war was still going on and people had given a lot to protect the land, they couldn't offer more to some exiled guy.

It's alright.

He could go on, no matter what. Sometimes he relied on hospitality but otherwise he would be just fine. Winter was harsh though. It was a lot easier to spot someone running in the hills, especially because of what he wore. Not that he was cold but he might be seen from afar. On the other side, he could see them coming.

As result, there were some fights in the snow, white stained with red by the end. So to say it wasn't helping his case to leave someone in a pool of blood in a valley. Several times he simply chose to run as fast as he could, to put as much distance as possible.

They always found him. After all this time he had started to be less pissed off when it happened, more bored for being sloppy. The issue wasn't important since he would survive but it was still quite bothering to be found by another one of the sword school, so ready to bring 'justice'. It always ended the same way, another corpse left behind and the same amount of no guilt. By now Yasuo didn't feel bad about it, they deserved it. Even in the view of what they could blame on him, he couldn't care less. His mission wasn't over yet.

This was the down side of all these months spent in his own company. He hadn't found the culprit yet. If on rare occasions he had small clues, it quickly became a dead end. Literally chasing a ghost. It became difficult sometimes because he ran into noxian forces without knowing it. When it was the case, he could just get out as soon as possible. He wasn't dumb, if he was to try and fight them, he would be crushed by the number. No amount of arrogance could lead him to this. Instead he focused on his duty and that damned murderer.

Sometimes he wondered if he was going mad. No one knew what happened, no one ever saw this person and everything pointed to him as culprit. Not mad, not mad… He feared the day it would bring him down. He hadn't committed this crime, he respected Elder Souma like no one else in this school. Solitude wasn't very nice to him, questionning his goal.

Still, he couldn't give up. Many warriors had died for this, he wouldn't let this go to waste. The culprit would be found and brought to be judged rightfully. He would recover his honor as well. He would find his soulmate at last.

With all this time fleeing, Yasuo still could think about the latter. It was his salvation, the reason to keep going. If he succeeded, he would see Yi again and they would finally be able to stay together. Now wasn't the right time, he was considered a criminal and he would just bring troubles to someone that bore enough.

At night he thought about him, trying to face Yi's direction for the small comfort given. He swore sometimes they were truly facing each other and his heart skipped a beat. Happiness of a mere move. Maybe it was fake but he wanted to believe. A soulmate bond could hide many secrets and they hadn't been able to discover everything in their short time together.

Anyway, his soulmate seemed to be alright, at least emotionally. The link didn't betray much about his feelings, calm as always. Only a few spikes of sadness or fight fury but it remained quite low, barely rippling in the bond. Good. He was glad to know Yi was alright. This heart beated only for him and sometimes Yasuo came to daydream about finding him again. Contact, touch and soft words.

A few times his thoughts slipped a little and it brought him to a more pleasant side of their love. He could still dream, this was all he had till they met again. No regrets for indulging so shortly. Plus a man had needs, time couldn't eraze that. So a few times he let go, only when he was sure he had found a safe enough place. Give a few thoughts to his lover, for the sweetness of a moment.

Oh really he yearned to find Yi again. In their short time before, probably it wouldn't have been so good to rush and share this kind of things but right now, after such time apart, it seemed amazing. Just another reason to wish for this mess to end. No more war and no more injustice.

Sadly, it wasn't so easy. Days still went one after the other and without feeling it winter went. There was literally nothing to mark this passing except his unlucky encounters with people really eager to slay him. Another month, another body, another day ruined.

There was still something that he noticed. One day, Yi was hurt. Not physically because he had no way to know that. Could pain even be shared through their link ? Unless it was death, he doubted they could know. Anyway, one day, he could feel Yi's pain. It was enough to bubble up at the surface yet not too strong. Like a small jab that hurt on the instant.

As soon Yasuo wondered what happened. It quickly meddled with sadness and that made him panick all alone, scared for his soulmate. Something happened ?

It stayed for the whole day, like a sour taste. It didn't go away before a few days and even then it could be felt. It was so strange, unlike Yi's sadness for their separation and solitude. Then what was that ? It didn't seem too severe, maybe he witnessed something horrible.

Yi ? What's wrong ?