He picked up the basket with her in and left the modelling building, his strides long as he avoided contact with the moving bodies in the city. Most were already dressed up and drunk, their smiles wide and their words slurred as they enjoyed themselves under the dark night sky. Winter was relieved that she had not requested visiting the park tonight; even that seemed to have people walking in the deep snow here and there. It wasn't long until they reached the beach and Winter was almost afraid to speak. She shivered as a gust of wind crashed against her body and even Jihae shivered.

Although the sea had mostly washed away the snow that had settled there throughout the day it hadn't washed away the snow on the bench nearby. Jihae wiped it off, sitting himself down and setting the basket beside him. Winter immediately got out of the basket, looking straight up at him with a worried but determined expression. She heavily breathed in, preparing herself.
"There is a lot I have to explain to you and I wish I had the time and words to do so" she started off, closing her eyes for a moment to gather her thoughts.
"I don't really understand why I'm going to do this, I am at a point where I can survive alone and it is probably safer to keep silent and forget the past" she went on and looked up at him again.
"But you have done so much I… I feel the need to explain myself to you, to show you who I truly am. I- I do not want to lie to someone who has helped me" she slowly said and she jumped down off of the bench, wincing as she landed oddly. Jihae leant forward to grasp her but she signalled him not to, shuffling back a few steps.
"I'll understand if you cannot accept me for who I am… was" she went on and she could see the confusion welling up in his eyes. Even she was confused on what she was saying at this point but she knew showing him was better than any words she could produce. She loudly sighed in defeat, tilting her head to the ground for a moment before looking him dead in the eye.
"When I came to this world I thought that was my ending, it was what I deserved… but fate had other plans it seems" she told him.
"Winter I-" Jihae interjected, his voice low.
"No, don't stop me" Winter demanded, no… she begged.
"I… thank you for everything you have done for me; I truly do not deserve the kindness I have received. Before I show you I want you to know that you truly are someone special… meeting you has made my endless pain worthwhile, my life feels complete" she said, her voice now low and soft. She stepped back several more steps, her body almost lost in the darkness that surrounded the only lamp shining down on them. One moment there stood a small black rabbit and the next sat a shaking, torn up woman.

A woman around five foot two sat in a defeated form in front of him. Her black clothing with red symbols had several slashes and holes in it, the areas that showed her skin revealed healing wounds and fading bruises. Even her left leg, or what was left of it, had little clothing remaining there; it was as if someone had ripped her leather leggings away to see to the missing leg. Jihae noticed the clothing instantly, the white and red mask covering her face and the two daggers at her hips confirming his suspicions. Her black ears were still flopped down; her fur blending in with her black hair that ran like a river down her body to the tip of her elbows, hiding parts of the straps where a bag sat on her back. Winter shivered under his gaze, unable to move or speak.
"You're an assassin" he gasped and Winter shuddered at those words, her eyes cast downwards.
"I was not an assassin to be exact but I was a spy among them" she murmured, correcting him.
"I was forced into the organisation since a young age and trained until my early teens. I was assigned to assassinate someone at thirteen, it was to be my first kill…" she started to explain in a timid voice, her eyes never leaving her hands that intertwined awkwardly.
"That was what I refused to do… I refused to take another one's life, especially an innocent one. The clan was not happy with my refusal, especially my father…" she continued on and she paused, sighing.
"After a few months of… 'education' I was assigned as a spy. I was the best they had" she spoke, a harsh painful laugh escaping her body.
"I had to be the best to live. I swear half of my missions were traps set by my father for me to fail" Winter bitterly said, shaking her head. She kept silent for a moment, her hands never pausing as she tried to think her words through.
"The woman we saw, I know that woman" she continued on for a moment.
"Who is she?" Jihae quietly asked and Winter flinched at his voice, there was no softness in it… it was dead, blank. Winter closed her eyes as she thought of the woman; greying hair, dull brown eyes and sickly pale skin to match her fragile form.
"She was the reason I never left, never ran away. S-she is my mother… was my mother. I did it to protect her… to save her from those monsters…" she answered him. Winter heard shuffling in front of her and she placed her hands on her mask, bowing her head down as she bit back her emotions. Winter remained very still, her emotions overrunning her senses as she assumed he had left her, walked away like any sane living being would.

She had expected too much from him; was it too soon or would the timing never be right to tell someone this..? She decided it was probably both, her heart panging in pain. How could anyone receive information like this and simply laugh it off with a big smile and accept them with wide, open arms. She was doomed from the day she was born, a simple pawn to be played with. A light sigh was heard in front of her and something touched her hands… someone…
"Do-don't touch me…" Winter instantly whispered, pulling her hands away from her mask. Her hands were shaking, her whole body was shaking… she had experienced fear many times but this seemed the worst. She always knew how they would react to her but Jihae… she had no clue how Jihae would respond.
"Winter" Jihae's voice softly spoke in front of her and she shook her head, as if trying to remove the slimmer of hope that he was still before her. Jihae spoke her name again, braving to place his hands on her shaking ones. She fought his touch for a moment but stopped when his firm grip never left. He softly rubbed her small hands, trying to comfort her.
"W..why are you still here? Aren't you meant to be disgusted… afraid of me?" Winter weakly whispered, knowing tears were starting to fall from her eyes. She was disgusted by herself and by her past… if she could she would run away from herself. Why hadn't Jihae gone? Without a word one of Jihae's hands left hers, Winter feeling his touch again when he lightly grasped onto the bottom of her mask. Winter didn't stop him as he slowly pushed the mask upwards, the item disguising her features sitting on the top of her head as he gazed at her face. Winter knew he could see the tears falling down her round, pale face and she made no attempt to wipe them away. She felt his hand cup her face, lifting it up. Reluctantly Winter found herself raising her eyes, her ocean blue eyes falling into his. He kept his gaze with her; it was as if he was searching her soul, putting together the pieces to a broken puzzle that still missed pieces.
"From the small time we've got to know one another I know you have a good heart… you've overlooked my flaws so why shouldn't I do the same in return for you?" Jihae quietly said and Winter's eyes closed for a second before looking him back in the eye.
"It's different though…" Winter protested but she was silenced by Jihae placing a finger on her lips, his touch grazing over the scar on her upper lip to the right.
"How did your mother end up here? She is not like us" Jihae asked and Winter parted her lips for a moment, surprised in the change of subject.
"I… she… she got here a similar way we did, the wizard" she told him.
"I don't remember exactly what the deal was between him and I but it worked and I managed to get her here safely" she continued on but she fell silent.
"Why did you not approach her?" Jihae pressed, his brow rising for a moment.
"She does not remember me or her past life… I asked for her animal features to be removed and her memories to be changed. I've watched her from afar, she seems happier now" Winter quietly said, her lips trembling at the reminder. She knew it was cruel of her to take away her memories and throw her into a different world with little clue to what had happened to her but after watching her for a while she was confident she had done the right thing.
"I don't want to ruin that for her" she added onto it. Jihae glanced at her leg and her torn up clothing, trying to put more pieces together.
"Is this the price you paid for doing that?" he quietly asked and Winter awkwardly looked away, giving no response.

Gently Jihae pulled her into an embrace and although Winter was tense at first she embraced him back, comfortable showing her vulnerability in front of him.
"How did you end up here?" Jihae softly asked and Winter sighed.
"It's a long story…" she warned him and she felt Jihae nod his head.
"We can speak of it another time, come let us get home. You're freezing" Jihae said and Winter was relieved. They parted from one another, Jihae standing himself up as Winter transformed back into a rabbit.
"Will you tell the others?" Jihae quietly asked as he picked up Winter, stepping back to grab the basket. Instead of placing Winter back in the basket he kept a hold of her in one hand, keeping her close to his chest.
"I do not think so, I want to start anew… plus I do not want to panic them, they will certainly know who I am based on my clothing. I am strong enough to use my human form now, I will be able to move on and live my own life soon" Winter replied after a moment of thinking.
"That is probably wise" Jihae hummed to her answer, a tiny smile on his face but it seemed forced, as if parts of her words had made him wonder something. Winter relaxed into him as she ignored it, thankful for once in her life someone accepted her for who she truly was and not for someone she was supposed to be.