Chapter CCXXXXIII: Yen Sid's Castle Part III

Quietness... a gentle one. That was the atmosphere that everyone was enshrouded in at that moment, sitting within another section of the Underworld, far from the terrible sea of green souls. They were altogether with a bright bonfire burning warmly before them all, which helped to ease their bodies and previously anxious spirits.

Riku remaining silent as much as Cait sith and Mickey were, stared on at the red and orange flickering warm light of the fire before slowly turning to his right. As he did so, he saw Auron who was still with them. He was sitting upon the floor quietly with Nozomi now asleep resting her head upon his lap. As she continued to slumber, he gently stroked her long dark locks allowing her to sleep more comfortably from the reassuring nostalgic warm touch.

Seeing this, Riku was unsure of what to do. It was clear he was very curious as to how and why Auron came to be Nozomi's Master, but also. What was he doing in the Underworld in the first place? Had he unfinished business there or-?

"Oi? Auron bloke!"

Distracted out of his thought by this sudden call, Riku turned and saw Cait sith sitting on the floor with his right arm up in the air. Getting the attention of the tough warrior, he asked bluntly, "What the heck are ya doin' here? Are ya really that lass's Master?"

With that direct question given to him, the red clad warrior was silent.

Riku though annoyed told him, "Cait sith!?"

Turning to the white haired keyblader, the small crowned cat was quiet. However seeing his expression that practically spelled the word disbelief he told him, "What? C'mon we're all thinkin' the same thing here right? So we might as well get ourselves some answers while we got this quiet moment to ourselves."

As this was said, Mickey then said gently though awkwardly, "True, but you could have asked a little more subtly when you did."

Hearing this little banter, Auron continued to remain silent. However after a little bit, he couldn't help but reveal a small amused smile as he commented, "It seems in my absence that Nozomi has made some quite interesting companions on her journey."

There again came a little more silence, Auron in this moment felt all their eyes were on him expectantly and as they were, he decided on his next course of action, "...I will tell you of my own past," then looking to the young girl who continued to slumber, he added turning back to them, "And my connections to Nozomi, but first you all must tell me how she came to be here again in the Underworld, what made her wish to come to this bleak den of the dead?"

As this question was put to them all, neither of the keybladers nor crowned cat knew who should go first to begin their explanations. However after a little bit, it was then Mickey said, "I'll give ya the whole unaltered truth Auron... but it ain't such an easy tale to tell."

Hearing these words, it was then Auron simply replied, "Well I suggest you begin in earnest, time waits for no-one in this world." For with the life he had led, what they had been through and seen wouldn't disturb him in the slightest, that he was absolutley sure of.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"Urgh, that smarts!" Pete declared. For the power that Maleficent had blasted upon him had knocked him out cold. As it had, he'd been moved to another room in the upper levels with Jona depositing him there, though her back had been aching afterwards despite her enormous amount of physical power that her Fragment bestowed upon her.

As he lay upon the a couch that was inside this darkened room, he couldn't help but say, "I really gotta watch it around Maleficent now... I might not be alive and yappin' next time!"

"That is a strong possibility."

Surprised at hearing this calm and logical tone, Pete turned his eyes in the direction it came from. There he saw standing in the doorway to the room illuminated by a soft green light, he saw it was none other than his accomplice Hari.

Seeing her there, Pete was silent for a moment. However after a little he released a small chuckle as he then said, "Nice to see ya there, Hari."

Hearing him say this, the metallic winged girl remained silent. As she did so, he could guess why she was there and so asked, "...Let me guess, Maleficent wants me to come back down don't she?"

As this was asked of her, Hari responded, "Correct, she wishes for us to convene and discuss what should be our next course of action."

"Why am I not surprised?" He replied, then pulling himself up and off of the couch he said, "I better get goin' before she hits me again or-!" Suddenly though a dizzy spell him and he stumbled! As he fell forwards he clenched his eyes shut awaiting the pain that would come, however-!

Thud!

Stopping his descent in seconds, it was Hari! Holding him up with both hands against his chest he was startled. He was about to ask her what she was doing when-!
"You are not fully recovered," with that she used her strength and pushed him back.

In seconds, Pete sat back on the couch. As he did so, he looked up to Hari questioningly. As he did this, he was curious about what she was doing?

Hari now looking to him with their eyes nearly level to each other then told him, "You need to stay here longer, it will cause my Lady great grief if you are to collapse in her presence."

Silent hearing this, Pete at first didn't know what to say. In the past he would have been outraged at being told what to do, however in that moment he didn't think to complain at all. Instead all that he did was reveal a small smile and replied, "I reckon you're right about that, I think I'll do just that..." with that he sat back into the seat of the couch to relax.

Hari in the meantime remained standing and simply watched Pete, not moving an inch.

Seeing her do this, Pete was unsurprised yet again. However he couldn't help but amuse himself and asked her, "Let me guess, ya can't go down without me, can ya?"

To which the sword to Maleficent answered, "No, my answers were clear to return with you."

"I thought so," Pete responded. As he did so, he then looking to Hari again asked her, "Why don't ya sit yerself next to me then?" With that he smiled more and added, "After all, ya don't wanna go below eighty percent recovery whatever do ya?"

Hari then corrected him, "It is seventy percent I need to be in order to-"

"Okay, okay I get it," Pete responded. Then as he did so, looking to Hari he asked her, "Ya can never just kick back and take it easy can ya?"

As this was asked of her, Hari stared at Pete for a moment. Then looking away from him she answered finally, "I am never given an opportunity to by my Lady, the only times I have ever had in this time of waking have been..." with that looking back to her accomplice who looked to her curiously, she revealed, "When I am with you."

Surprised to hear her say this, Pete was silent before uttering, "Oh?" Then seeing her green eyes were fixed on him, so seriously he felt a little awkward and laughing at this unexpected confession he looked into the distance of the darkened windows. As he did this he then said, "Well, well I'm glad I can give that to ya at least..." then as he said those words he admitted, "I mean I'm useless to Maleficent unlike yaself... so I never know what I can do sometimes."

As this was said to her, Hari was silent. However looking in the same direction he was, she then said, "Just keep being yourself and try your best."

Surprised once more to hear her say something uplifting like this, Pete turned to look at his accomplice. As he did so, he then heard her continue to say, "That's all you need to do and you will always find something that only you as an individual can accomplish." With that saying those words, Hari continuing to stare on into the distance said, "For that was what he told me."

Surprised at hearing a mention of her past, which he never heard of. Pete then decided to ask, "Who's he?"

However all that came to Pete's question was silence. It was clear she was not going to speak more upon this point. So seeing this, Pete felt he had no right to push her to answer, not even with an order. So he simply sat back with her and waited until he was ready to see his mistress of darkness with Hari continuing to stay by his side.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

After all the information was given to Auron about what had happened to Nozomi... and what her true identity was. The aged swordsman was silent, however as he made his considerations he looked down to his sleeping charge and remarked, "So, that's what she really was all along?"

Hearing him say this, Riku then repeated, "All along?" Then as he said this he realised, "You had a suspicion about Nozomi?"

As this was asked of him, Auron was quiet again as he considered his words. Then after a little deliberation he revealed, "...Her circumstances were mysterious at the beginning."

Listening to him say this, Mickey asked him, "What do you mean by mysterious, Auron?"

Hearing him ask this, Auron then replied, "...This concerns Nozomi's beginnings, particularly with her Mother Hikaru and even her Father..Makoto. "

Everyone was in silence hearing this, however Riku intrigued to learn more about Nozomi asked, "What happened in their beginning?"

As this was asked of him, it was then Auron who continued to stroke Nozomi's hair began to tell his story of the past, "When I still lived within the domains of the town of Bamboo, as a young child... my best friends in my youth were both Hikaru and Makoto."

Surprised to hear this, Mickey then asked, "You were best friends with Nozomi's parents?"

Hearing him ask this, Cait sith couldn't help but say, "Kind of cliché don't ya think?"

Releasing a small chuckle as he commented this, Auron responded, "That I suppose it was... but nonetheless, that was my relationship with them both." Then looking up to the darkened caverns of the Underworld as he remembered pleasant childhood memories, he continued on to say, "We did everything together as children... and during that time of play and growth, Hikaru and Makoto fell in love." Then smiling as he remembered them coming together he went on to say, "They really were both the picturesque definition of childhood sweethearts."

Mickey smiled at this, as did Riku who couldn't help himself. While Cait sith remained silent, his arms folded as he waited for Auron to continue with his story.

"I was happy for them both, pleased that they'd come together... however as time went on, conflicts began to break out amongst the borders of our land." Auron then revealed to the group.

"Conflicts?" Riku asked then as he did so, he had to ask, "Were they with other people or-?"

"A mixture of both I would say," Auron answered. Then as he did so, looking to the fire as he remembered the heated days of battle and tragedy he continued his story, "There were ferocious outsiders... wanting to conquer and take our lands." Thinking of the various enemies then he had to battle he went on to say, "They used a variety of methods for combat, magic and swordsmanship combined... along with the use of controlling monstrous entities that decimated great numbers of our warriors."

As the words continued to flow from his lips, everyone couldn't help but imagine fields of fire and chaos, along with monstrous and human shadows laying devastating waste to everything they came into contact with. Auron who had seen those countless battles continued on to say, "Both I and Makoto had been trained in the art of Bushido, so of course both of us were sent to the front lines to counter the horrors that were threatening the peace that was barely then intact."

Learning this, Riku and Mickey were quiet. However Cait sith not expecting this had to ask, "Ya fought with Nozomi's dad by yer side?"

"That I did," Auron replied. Then looking down to Nozomi for a moment, he continued on to say, "He was a great swordsman and almost on par with myself..." however smiling as he remembered his old friend he couldn't help but add, "However he suffered greatly from an uncanny clumsiness and impulsiveness that would often land him in dire situations."

As this was said, everybody couldn't help but chime in unison automatically,

"We've seen it!"

Quiet as he saw this reaction, Auron only continued to smile. Then as he did so, looking from her teammates back to his charge again he said, "So, even those qualities haven't been lost upon you?"

"Mmm..." was all that came from the sleeping girl in reply, as she turned herself over making herself more comfortable upon his knee.

Everyone was quiet again after this brief humorous moment. As they were, Auron continued, "At that time, Hikaru and him had been married for nearly two years and they had only managed to conceive."

"Conceive?" Mickey asked surprised, then quiet as he thought about this... he had a realisation of what Auron was going to state next and asked, "Does that mean? Her Father Makoto, he never got a chance to see his child?"

Auron shook his head, replying, "That he didn't." Then looking up to the darkened cave ceiling he went on to say, "Hikaru was pregnant at the time he had to go into battle..." then as this memory came to him, he couldn't help but remember the bright words of his friend that he spoke to his wife before they left for the battlefields,

"It's alright Hikaru! Don't cry so much! I'll make it back with Auron in tow! You just wait and see! I'll be one of the best heroes this town will ever had heard of!"

Then as he thought of his lost childhood friend, he remembered after he had consoled his beloved and reassured her of his love for her and their unborn child, the words he had then said to him,

"And you'll be there to watch my back won't you Auron?"

To which, he remembered his own dry reply,

"As long as you don't go about breaking my bones when you're up on the stage, hero!"

Seeing their storyteller had become silent for a moment, Riku then gently enquired, "Auron?"

Hearing his name being called, the red clad warrior then was quiet for a moment more as he collected his thoughts before proceeding on to tell the story of the past, "His wife and unborn child were left behind in our hometown while himself and I, his best friend went to conquer the threat."

Everyone remained silent, as Auron then recounted the many trials and tribulations that he and Makoto had to go against. Until finally... it came to the end of the horrible skirmishes, that ended in bitter tragedy, "It was the final battle that dawned upon us, both Makoto and myself were alone... surrounded by a battalion commanding a monstrous band of four Behemoths."

Never hearing of these creatures nor ever seeing them, Riku was silent. However in seconds, Cait sith exclaimed, "Four of 'em!?" For himself knowing of the strength and size of the monsters, the small crowned cat couldn't help but cry out, "You and that lass's Dad took out four of them massive purple beasts!?"

Auron hearing this then replied simply, "We did..."

Mickey knowing of the monsters then had to say, "That must have taken a lot of ya both."

"That it did," Auron answered, then as he did so. He looked back to the fire again and remembered the fires of destruction that were alight upon the battlefield then, "Their Thunder attacks drained our powers tremendously... as well as the strikes from their sharp claws, however Makoto and I were victorious."

Riku though could tell from the tone of his voice that this story wouldn't happily and so he asked, "But it wasn't the end truly, was it?"

Shaking his head, Auron then responded, "That it wasn't... for what I myself had failed to notice in that last moment, was a creature descend from on high," then remembering the enormous monstrous shadow that had come for him, Auron revealed it to be, "It was a massive black Zu bird that came to intercept me... but at that time-"

"AURON!?"

"RRROOOAAARRRGGGHHH!"

SLASH!

"AAAGGGHHH!"

"MAKOTO!"

"Makoto took the blow that was intended for me..." Auron revealed.

As this was said, everyone was horrified. Then Riku asked, "Makoto died... trying to protect you?"

...Auron was silent as these words first come, "He incurred the damage from the blow, but it wasn't then that he died. He was grievously injured but even so, he didn't stop in battle... he kept going but I was unable to assist."

"Why was that?" Mickey asked the red clad warrior.

Auron then answered, "Because another monster was summoned...a king Behemoth."

"The emperor of thunder!? That monstrous kinda thing!?" Cait sith exclaimed.

With a single nod, Auron responded, "Yes, it was the very definition of that terrible title... it swamped the entire field in a blanket of paralysing thunder making it nearly impossible to fight." As he remembered the wounds he'd gained that day from his battle that marked him still then with scars. Auron continued on to say, "But Makoto and I slew the beasts, with every last essence of our beings...but it had proven too much for my friend, who died in my arms, poisoned from the bites of the Zu bird."

With those words said as everyone looked at him solemnly, Auron remembered the words his friend had told him in his last moments.

"I... must look... so horrible now, am I right, Auron?"

"Don't you say anything more! If you use anymore of your strength now you'll-!"

"It's already too late for me..."

"Don't you say that! You promised to come back as a hero for Hikaru! You have to be there for her! She's-!"

"That job I'll have to leave up to you..."

"What?"

"I'm sorry, but please Auron, be there for her... for Hikaru, she'll need you, and my child... she'll-!"

"Makoto!?"

"Please... I want you to let them know, I'll love them both always...please won't you?"

"...I will, don't worry."

"Ha ha...sorry for always causing you so much..."

Auron remembering Makoto's words, looked down to the floor. As the fire continued to burn and flicker away with warmth, they all could feel the weight of Makoto's death in the silence. The sorrow that must have been felt for them then, for the torn group of childhood friends. It must have been terrible beyond any words.

Riku understanding what it was like, being involved in such a close knit of friends remained silent. Gripping his fingers against the fabric of his trousers, he couldn't help but imagine himself being in Auron's position. For if Sora had died like that with Kairi left along with a child... what could he do for her to-?

"When I arrived home," Riku was distracted out of his own thoughts by Auron again. As he was, he heard the aged swordsman continue on with his story, "It was up to me, to break the news to Hikaru... she became horribly heartbroken from the information."

With a solemn nod, Mickey then replied, "Well that's understandable."

"Of course," Auron replied, however he had to relay one piece of information that shocked them all in seconds, "However this distress complicated her pregnancy."

Troubled immediately by this, Riku asked, "Complicated her pregnancy? How?"

Auron then quiet for a moment explained, "Hikaru before her pregnancy had quite poor health, but with the death of Makoto... her condition worsened with her sorrow, also the town itself didn't help with its superstitions."

"Superstitions? What superstitions would relate to a morning mother?" Cait sith asked, for he was quietly becoming infuriated at the idea of a lone pregnant woman being harassed by useless old fashioned folk tales.

Auron hearing this question then answered, "Since I informed them that Makoto had been poisoned by a rare toxic Zuu bird, the bird itself is seen to be as an ill omen... those who were bitten in the past had ill fortune brought upon not only them, but those were connected to the individual who had been originally poisoned, since it was believed that the spectre of the bird would come to bring them all into the embrace of death."
Hearing this, everyone was silent. However thinking of Nozomi and what she had mentioned of her past, Mickey asked, "So? Hikaru was rejected by the townsfolk because of this superstition?"

As this was said, Auron then responded, "Correct."

"Why do that!?" Cait sith cried out mad, "What the bloomin' heck did that damned dead bird have to do with Nozomi and her Ma!? How can they think somethin' that even connected to-!"

"Superstitions are superstitions... people will not let go of their beliefs so easily," Auron responded simply. Then as he did so, he continued on to say, "It didn't matter for my protests nor Hikaru's, she was shunned as was I to an extent... for no-one wanted to be marked by the curse of death from a toxic Zuu bird."

Riku gripping his trouser legs hard, then uttered out bitterly, "It's still horrible though."

Auron, seeing the way that the white haired young man react then replied, "Indeed it is... and more so it was at that time." For looking down to Nozomi who had a lot of her mother's qualities in her then continued on to say, "For Hikaru alone and with her failing health did her best to carry her child to term... then it came to the day of Nozomi's birth."

Everyone was silent as they heard the red robed man describe what had transpired that day so long ago, "During that time, the sun was setting and Hikaru had been in labour for almost three hours with a healer by her side along with myself..." everyone hearing this listened on even more intently all of them anxious to know what had occurred. As they did so, they heard the next tragedy that had occurred to the poor mother, "Finally the baby had arrived...however, she was still and had no colour to her skin... she was stillborn."

Horrified hearing this everyone nearly gasped, turning to look to the sleeping girl no-one could believe it! Riku then had to ask, "Nozomi...was dead?"

A simple nod came from Auron. As it did, he then revealed, "Hikaru was heartbroken... she was absolutely inconsolable."

Quiet hearing this, no one was surprised at all. But still it hurt to think that what should have been a great source of joy, was instead was one of deep sorrow.

Auron thinking of that time, remembered Hikaru shaking and in tears as she screamed at the saddened healer who'd begun to carry away the deceased child,

"NO! DON'T TAKE HER! PLEASE DON'T TAKE HER! NOZOMI! NOZOMI!"

As he remembered her tears and his own that were threatening to pour as he held her back. He had hated his powerlessness at being able to live up to Makoto's promise and wish to help his child and wife. He couldn't do anything at all then... nothing, even though he was the strongest of all swordsman in the town.

Thinking of his powerless state, he then recounted the last part of his tale, "It was at least an hour later... when the healer had come back, with Nozomi's small body wrapped in the black cloths of mourning."

Everyone was silent hearing this, however all of them were desperate to know. What had happened to bring the baby girl back to life!?

"Nozomi was left a little way's behind both I and the healer, he had begun to explain the procedures and the rights that needed to be performed on her... as he did, I happened to look over his right shoulder and there I saw, I know for sure now at that moment was a shine of bright blue light over her black wrapped body."

Riku hearing this then asked, "That must have been-!?"

"When the Fragment you described entered her body... yes, I believe so," Auron replied. Then as he did so, he recalled the miraculous moment that had next occurred,

"WWWAAAGGGGHHH!"

"That sound it can't be!?"

"It's her! It's-!"

"NOZOMI!?"

"In that moment when Nozomi had released her cries of life for the first time, Hikaru had come bursting out from her room... she held her baby girl close, crying with her... and at last mother and daughter were together, defying the very odds of a cursed fate," Auron then revealed.

Imagining that moment himself, as the others were, everyone couldn't help but be moved. Riku feeling tears brimming along his eyes as he imagined the relief and immense happiness that Hikaru must have felt at that time. Mickey was the same way and was doing his best to maintain his composure and even Cait sith who would usually be so sarcastic couldn't help but say, "Darn it... it's a miracle come true for that darn lass to have made it through all that!"

Then as Nozomi continued to sleep away, she revealed a small smile as though she could hear the comment within the realms of her unconsciousness...

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

After a short of time of recovery from the emotional weight of Nozomi's cursed beginnings, everyone was ready to listen more of what Auron had to say. So Riku taking a deep breath, looked to the red clad warrior again and as he did so, he had to ask, "So...so, after Nozomi's birth did anything become better for her mother, Hikaru?"

As this was asked of him, Auron looking to Riku for a moment turned away from him. As he looked into the distance that was as far reaching as his memories, he continued on to say, "...There was some slight weight of suspicion lifted off of her, for no-one could detest her for giving birth to a child, least of all one who was born from a miracle."

Listening to his words though, Mickey could sense there was something underlying Auron's words. Something disconcerting and as he felt this, he decided to ask, "But it wasn't the end of the suspicions was it, Auron?"

Spying that the mouse king was sharper than he appeared, Auron then looking at him replied, "Not entirely no," with that looking down to his charge again. With a sad light in his eyes as he stroked her hair again, he continued on to say, "For though Nozomi survived, because she had been born dead and even dressed in black mourning cloths... there were whisperings that the curse had centred within her being."

Cait sith hearing this, becoming annoyed at the idiocy of people had to ask, "How can those nit twits come to such a ridiculous conclusion like that!?"

"Fear drives people," Auron then answered solemnly. Then as he did so and he looked to the warriors who were seated around them, he continued on to say, "They will speculate and be compounded to rationalise, to make sense of something so unheard of... especially when one has such tragic circumstances, so they will prepare for the unfavourable lest that fate may come to affect themselves."

As this was said, no-one could argue against Auron's words, they all knew it to be true. Even Riku wasn't innocent of this, for he still remembered the ill will he had against the Nobodies before Nozomi had changed his thinking about them...

With this moment of silence created, Auron continued his story as the others listened on intently, "Despite those whispers and Hikaru's weakening health after giving birth, she did her best to raise Nozomi... and I assisted to best of my abilities as well," then as he thought of the awkwardness that the first time mother had to go through and his own uncertainty in raising a child, he in turn remembered the very happy times the three of them had shared together, "But I can guarantee this, the three short years that Hiakru got to spend with her child...were some of the happiest I had ever known her."

With this said, everyone was honestly very pleased to know this. Their small smiles at imagining those days couldn't be hidden, however that moment seemed to be as brief as those short years as Auron then continued on to say, "But sadly, Hikaru just five months after Nozomi's third birthday passed away... this was the proof to those whispered rumours that the curse was still alive and had indeed been centred within her daughter's being."

Everyone was tense with silence hearing this, it was clear they were silently upset. However Auron continued nonetheless as he said, "None of the town cared nor dared to nurture and raise a cursed child." Then as he looked to Nozomi's face again and saw her sleeping away, he then said, "But I was compelled to look after her... for the sake of my friends who had passed, I would raise their child in their place as her Guardian."

Everyone was silent hearing this, but it was clear they were relieved to hear Auron had taken Nozomi in with no underlying grudges or grievances.

Auron then had to say, "So that's how she came to know you as her Master?"

Hearing her title for him being spoken from Riku's mouth, Auron then nodded, "That is correct, I raised her as best as I was enabled to..." then looking down to his charge again, he continued on to say, "She certainly didn't make it easy as a little trouble maker, however... no matter what, she would always greet me with a bright smile and no matter the obstacle she came against in life, she never gave up." Then with a truly warm smile of his own, he finally revealed, "This I found enriching and no matter what difficult the task I had to overcome, just knowing Nozomi was waiting for me... would always be the inner encouragement I would need to make it back to her."

It was clear from these words that Auron truly loved Nozomi, he was the father that she had never known and in return, she was the child he had been not been tasked with to care for but instead became a precious gift to treasure.

Sensing this warm affection for her, there was just one thing however that hadn't been answered about. So Cait sith decided to give voice to these thoughts, "Okay, that's sussed but why was it ya didn't make it back to her that one time?" With that crossing his arms he asked further, "Why did ya leave her alone for over seven darn years and make an appearance now of all bloomin' times!?"

Immediately hearing this, Riku and Mickey were outraged and they both almost simultaneously cried out, "Cait sith!?"

"What?" The crowned cat uttered casually.

With those words asked, flabbergasted at his reaction Riku demanded, "Do you even have an inch of tact in you?"

Mickey then couldn't help but ask, "Exactly! I mean, you don't ask about something like this so bluntly!?"

"Why not?" Cait sith asked, for he had to add, "I mean ain't ya guys curious how this guy happened to make it here in the nick of time to save that lass and only chooses to turn up now after all that lost time?"

Sighing with aggravation, Riku then told him, "Just because you have those thoughts doesn't mean you just come out and ask them..." then seeing that he didn't seem to get it still, the white haired keyblader then went on to say, "And doesn't it occur to you that it might be something not that easy to talk about or-?"

"You are correct."

Stopped in his tracks as this sentence was said, Riku immediately fell silent. As he did, once again everyone's eyes were fixed upon Auron. Feeling them all gazing at him, it was then the red clad warrior went on to say, "The reasons for my departure from Nozomi... and the absence that came in its wake cannot be said so casually."

Cait sith hearing this only had one thing to say to him, "Try me mate, I've had me share of horrors."

Smirking as he heard the crowned cats confidence, Auron was quiet for a moment as he replied, "Very well..." then doing this, he began to describe what led to his departure, "The reason Nozomi and I were separated all this time... is because of my own incompetence."

"Incompetence?" Riku repeated, for looking at Auron he was the last person in the world he ever expected to be described as incompetent.

Auron was silent for a moment more as he searched for the right words to use, then at last he finally found them as he started to speak again, "During Nozomi's youth, I would leave her for short periods of time, these were for missions that our respective country had assigned for me... since I was the best warrior in the art of Bushido."

Everyone quiet only bowed their heads a little in reply to his words, revealing their understanding. As they did so the red clad warrior continued, "The pattern would always be the same, I would take out our enemies along the borders or any monsters they summoned... I would be paid greatly for my services and I would always return home to Nozomi, but one day however-"

"There came a different mission?" Mickey asked with a serious look in his eyes.

"That is correct," Auron replied. Then doing so, he informed the group, "I was told where the remainder of our enemies was located and that I was to hunt down the last dregs... these numbers though included the man who had summoned the Behemouths and the Zu that had killed Makoto."

Riku silent then asked as he realised the true agenda of the mission, "So it was a mission of revenge?"

Auron then replied, "It turned into that, yes when I had found the identity of that individual," but looking to the fire he then continued on to say, "But regardless even if he was a part of the numbers... I was still assigned to a mission that required the extermination of a great numbers of lives."

Everyone hearing this was silent... for they all could feel the terrible weight that had burdened Auron's shoulders then. As they did so, all they could do was stare on at him as he continued on to sat, "But the saving grace, I was told was that it would be the last I would ever have to undertake... that would mean afterwards that I would no longer be required to carry out any exterminations," then looking to Nozomi again he said, "I could live in peace and raise Nozomi with no further grief."

Mickey listening to this, then hearing this description was quiet. However as he took in this information and remembered where they were, he realised what the terrible conclusion must be to the story... but also, Auron's current state was-!
"What happened on your mission?" Riku asked him, feeling uneasy at what would be revealed next.

Auron became silent again as this was asked of him. As he did so, everyone quietly in moments became just as uncomfortable... but finally, the aged warrior continued and began to reveal the last tragedy that had occurred, "...I had managed to find them all, they were upon the mountains and there I defeated them all, the enemies that we had would no longer pose a threat to the country, peace was finally ours."

"So ya had a happy ending right?" Cait sith asked, with a hopeful tone of voice.

"That I did not..." Auron responded. Then as he did so, he continued on to say, "After the last foe had fallen...the one who had killed Makoto, he was silent and unmoving, lying within the white depths of the snow and I was left alone." Then after another moment as he remembered the silence that had surrounded him he added, "Or I believed that I was..."

"MURDERER!"

"What-!?"

STAB!

"Ggh!?"

In that moment, everyone was horrified as Auron revealed what had occurred next. In that moment of peace, someone had run at him from behind and as they did... they had stabbed him, square in the back and as Auron had turned-!

SLASH!

"Agh!?"

He had slashed into the attacker with his katana but as he had, and he turned to see his attacker. He saw that there before him was a young teenage boy before him. He was struggling to breathe, bleeding from his shoulder that had been struck and as he had, he was kneeling in front of the body of the man who had killed Makoto.

Seeing this, Auron didn't know where the boy had come from, but he didn't need to ask for then he shouted,

"YOU MURDER! YOU KILLED MY FATHER!"

Shocked hearing this, Auron couldn't believe what he was hearing. Clearly none of the other heroes did either. All they could do was listen on to Auron as he continued his retelling, "As the young man had told me this, before the body of his fallen father, I should have acted then and there upon what the mission had required of me... however, I couldn't take his life."

Mickey hearing this realised the reason why as he said, "Because you didn't see him as an enemy?"

Shaking his head, Auron then replied, "No I didn't...what I saw was an image of Nozomi in that boy," with those words he added, "For if circumstances had been different... she could have been in his position." With those words he went on to say, "... with those thoughts in my mind, he tried to come at me again with the knife but despite my injury, I stunned him and ultimately spared his life leaving a potion for him to use to recover himself."
"So after that ya just gave up?" Cait sith asked him, then as he did he continued on to say, "Ya didn't try to go back home?"

Shaking his head, Auron replied, "...I did try," then gripping his right hand tightly he went on to say, "I tried very hard," then remembering as he battled against the cold and snow that had came against him, he went o to say, "I fought against a terrible blizzard that had come upon the mountains, the ice and snow froze me to my very core... then due to the weakness of my wound which continued to bleed badly, my body finally succumbed to the cold and fell." Then looking to everyone who were chilled by his words as they realised his true status, he added, "And there my story in the living world met it's end."

The silence was overwhelming as this was said... everyone couldn't believe it! That right now, the red clad warrior before them was actually-!

"Mmm...?"

It was then everyone silent with the seriousness of the shock and weight of the revelation then saw that awakening finally was Nozomi, as she did so looking to her master and her friends, she asked drowsily, "Everyone?"

With this revelation given to them and knowing of Auron's true existence and fate, everyone couldn't help but wonder about one thing. How would things progress now...?