A/N: Hey, me again! Just wanted to thank Minerva Andromeda for leaving kind reviews! I'm grateful, truly, because, even though I intend to finish this piece regardless of the support, seeing someone cheer me on is really nice. So thanks!

Moving on, next chapter! This time, I'm getting more into Liv's past and also revealing a bit more of her character. I hope you like it!

Cursed Love

~ Mindless ~

March 21st, 1997. / 00:00 / Tokyo, Japan

A single cupcake and a match, both of which she stole from a supermarket.

Squatting down and hugging her knees, Liv closes her eyes and wishes real hard, so hard that she thinks her brain might explode from all the wishing. Please, please, please, she pleads before opening her eyes. She imagines the match light up and pretends to blow it like a candle. A single tear trails down her left cheek as she brushes it away. She smiles and takes the cupcake, savoring it like it's the last thing she'll ever eat.

She is hiding in an alleyway, one of many in Tokyo. She can't pinpoint where she is exactly but the neighborhood she found herself in smells of garbage and piss, mixed with spilled alcohol and vomit. It is a narrow passage she hides in, two people can hardly pass through and there are chips on the walls, indicating that the buildings around are very old and neglected. She found a somewhat clean crate to sit on but it's in a miserable condition so she figures it won't hold her weight for much longer.

It is her sixth or seventh week of being cut off. Her mother's words were explicit - you are on your own. No money privileges, no protection from the spies, no reaching out to the relatives. You want to defy destiny? she recalls the words that sent chills down her spine. Go ahead, if you think you can.

I can, Liv thinks bitterly and hugs her knees closer. I know I can.

November 25th, 2016. / 09:28/ Nikko, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan

A single orange and an incense stick, both of which she 'borrowed' from a supermarket.

Kneeling, Liv's breaths are even as she looks at the stone grave, the name of her mother etched into the material and glazed with golden paint. Sumiye Shuuin wanted to be buried like normal people, among the honored dead. It is not a Shuuin custom and for a woman who held to the traditions, her last wish was surprisingly selfish. Liv honored her wish nevertheless, despite their broken relationship.

There are no tears in Liv's eyes as she lights up the incense with a 'borrowed' lighter, watching the scented smoke twirl upward.

In a twisted way, Liv finds satisfaction in knowing she showed kindness to her mother despite everything. She revels in the fact that she can move on from the pain her mother inflicted whereas Sumiye herself never could - so much so that she had to make Masamichi take on her responsibility instead, be it out of shame or guilt. Maybe both.

For a long time, she despised her mother. She despised her for being so gentle and caring with Mathias. She despised her for being so cold and callous with her. Never had Liv experienced pain and degradation from anyone in the same manner as from her mother.

Year after year, Liv had hoped that her mother - the woman who gave birth to her - would come around, invite her back into her life, and hug her again. Instead, all Liv received from her mother was disappointment.

Even as she pierced her own heart with a cursed dagger, Sumiye could not tell her daughter that she loved her. She simply ended her life, like a coward. In the wake of her suicide, Sumiye's body was found by Mathias, lying contorted on the floor in her room, blood everywhere.

Liv thought she'd cry at her demise - she was her mother, after all. Instead, she felt relief. It was short-lived however as guilt burned at her heart for feeling such way. She tried to carve out the guilt from her heart. She wanted to be rid of it because Sumiye Shuuin's suicide warranted no guilt on Liv's behalf.

Yet, the guilt persisted for years. It is partially the reason why she left Japan soon after her death. She thought it made no sense to linger where her mother used to dwell. With Satoru delaying the nuptials, Suguru gone, and Shoko going after her medical license - Liv was alone. She had no other choice but to search for happiness outside of Japan.

Now that she's back, she realizes that has been deluding herself.

"No matter how far I go," she mutters, "that guilt will remain."

No more.

Today, Liv decides to feel no guilt.

Today, she allows herself to feel relief.

"Happy birthday, Okaasan," Liv says softly, tracing the inscribed name on the tombstone with a gentle touch.

Offering a final and quick prayer, Liv stands up and leaves the cemetery, her hands shoved into the pockets of her sweatpants. She descends the staircase that leads to the gate and then into the small parking lot.

The cemetery is not far from Nikko. It is old and rugged, littered with stones old enough to be considered ancient. It is quiet, like most places where the dead sleep but the quaint atmosphere is somewhat comforting. Fitting, Liv agrees given that comfort is what those who live on need the most. She chose to spot out of convenience rather than for some special meaning. After all, the Shuuin are taught that death is not the end so the resting place of the body is symbolic, not pragmatic. What matters is the memory, Liv surmises.

"She was a force to be reckoned with," Rei comments from her side. "Maybe not in terms of raw strength but in terms of natural genius, no modern-day sorcerer can rival her."

Not even me? Liv wonders briefly.

Rei scoffs. "Fine, except you. So sensitive - "

Liv chuckles. "Are those your thoughts or is this the projection of my beliefs?"

Rei shrugs. "Whichever makes you sleep at night."

Her choice of words gives Liv the answer. It is not what she hoped to get but at least she's not left wondering. In the end, she has come to gloat over Sumiye's corpse one final time, regardless of anyone's opinions, including her own.

November 26th, 2016. / 19:12 / Tokyo Metropolitan Jujutsu High School, Tokyo, Japan

Mathias sighs.

He's been doing a lot of that, sighing. Whether because of something concrete or simply out of habit, he figures if people have to describe him with one word, it would be 'sigh'. Today is especially hard as everyone seems to gang up on him.

The Shuuin are demanding answers, most of them having to do with the current predicament they find themselves in. Mathias understands they're panicking as most of the Shuuin keep to the old ways, rejecting the postulates of modern sorcery. They prefer to practice their skills freely and without interference from the jujutsu higher-ups and their regulations. Many would like to unveil their secret world of curses now that the silence is broken, believing it to be the true path toward a better future.

No wonder jujutsu sorcerers are short on manpower, he thought to himself at some point. Seems like everyone wants to be a curse user these days.

On the other side of the issue, there are the higher-ups. His position as the Councilman gives him access to their thoughts and in exchange, he has to sit through Council meetings and suffer their gut-wrenching presence. With the Inner Eye, he can predict the possible course of action they will take in case the Shuuin clan does something the HQ doesn't approve of. In theory, it is a fair exchange and it's the reason why he's sitting in the Council chamber right now.

"Councilman Drakon," the presiding Councilman suddenly says. "There are rumors about your sister circulating. Something about her being out of the country for unspecified reasons."

Took them long enough, Mathias thinks to himself.

"We gave you a fair warning, Councilman Drakon," another Councilman says sternly.

Mathias blinks. "Yes, I remember."

"Then where is she?" the same Councilman asks rudely.

The older Drakon sibling takes a deep breath. "My sister is a free spirit. She's not the type to wait around for her spouse to grace her with his presence."

The astute statement still gives the higher-ups a sense of dishonesty. The Shuuin have been cooperative and Mathias tries to do his job properly but the higher-ups are stubborn and set in their ways, not to mention they're nosy. Their need for control over the jujutsu society is so strong, that they're trying to subjugate the Shuuin by enslaving both him and his sister within their system.

"Liv Drakon is a member of jujutsu society now," the presiding Councilman points out erroneously. "She has duties - "

"Such as?"

His question throws them off. It is direct and on point.

"What's that supposed to mean?" one of the other councilmen asks in return.

Mathias quirks a brow. "Out of the entire Shuuin clan, only I have duties to the jujutsu society. My sister and the rest of our clan are still outside this world."

The presiding Councilman takes a moment to comment, "Explain yourself."

There is a short pause and the tension in the headquarters is almost palpable. Play your cards right, Mathias, he reminds himself.

"It is not a lie when we say we want to foster a better relationship between the Shuuin and the rest of the jujutsu world," he explains.

"I'm hearing a 'but' in there somewhere," one of the Councilmen comments.

"We're not fools, esteemed elders," Mathias continues softly. "Our history taught us not to trust blindly."

"Then you're not fostering trust," the presiding Councilman points out. "You're simply testing the waters."

"Aren't you doing the same?"

All heads turn to the entrance where Satoru Gojo stands almost comically, dressed in a slightly casual outfit with his hands stuck into his pockets. There is a grin on his lips as if he's satisfied with himself for breaking (or fueling) the tension in the air.

"Don't tell me you expected them to yield just like that," Satoru says as he leisurely walks up to the center of the room. "We're talking about a clan that's comprised of people who call themselves sorcerers for the sake of simplicity, not because they see themselves as such."

Mathias' brows rise in surprise. While Satoru's words are correct, he finds it baffling that the one to realize it is his brother-in-law of all people.

"Your report is overdue, Satoru Gojo," the presiding Councilman says. "By twenty-one days, no less."

"My apologies," Satoru mocks the man. "I've been detained by inexplicable circumstances."

Such as searching for my wife who's cannibalized her own ancestor, he thinks sarcastically while glancing at Mathias because he knows Mathias hears him. Further evidence of his belief is the fact Mathias frowns in response.

"Have you finished the job?" the other Councilman asks.

"Of course," Satoru chirps. "That's why you sent me, right?"

"What have you discovered in Fukushima?" Mathias cuts in.

Satoru hums while pouting. "Nothing impressive. It seems the curse user was just an unlucky bastard."

"Did he have contact with foreign sorcerers?" the presiding Councilman asks.

Satoru shakes his head in response. "The man had been a shut-in. He hardly communicated with anyone."

"Which means this was all a string of coincidences," Mathias concludes.

The rest of the Council agrees.

"We will revise the case once you submit the report," the presiding Councilman says. "Now, in regards to your wife - "

"Your questions are intrusive and inappropriate," Satoru says evenly, a wicked smile on his lips. "I respect my wife far too much to entertain whatever this is."

Silence falls upon the Council. In retrospect, Mathias thinks Satoru was merely playing the husband role to buy them some time but his tone and overall performance were substantially believable. Even the Council is taken aback by the straightforwardness of the white-haired sorcerer.

"Next time you get the idea of running your mouth about my wife," he threatens as he turns on his heel and heads outside, "I won't turn a blind eye like I did today."

As the shogi door shuts behind the man, the Council room is silent. Mathias resists the urge to smirk in satisfaction as he takes a subtle look around the Council room. Self-serving bastards, he thinks spitefully.

The Council meeting is concluded shortly thereafter, with Mathias being reminded to report to the Council the moment his sister returns. He nods in acknowledgment and simply leaves the HQ with a certain heaviness present in his stomach.

Once outside, he realizes it's still daytime. However, the sun is approaching the horizon, indicating late afternoon. He looks at his watch and true enough, it is 20:00. Sighing once more, Mathias cracks his neck and decides to call it a day.

"Oi!"

Or not.

"Fuck my life," Mathias mutters as he looks over his shoulder, noticing Satoru standing not that far away. "What do you want, Gojo?"

A simple smile cracks on the man's face as he beckons the older Drakon sibling. "Let's go for a drink."

Mathias blinks, is silent for a second, and then walks away from the sorcerer. Disappointed, Satoru catches up to the man in a few long strides.

"Come on," Satoru whines. "We're family, we're supposed to do stuff like this."

"Except we never did stuff like that," Mathias retorts evenly.

Satoru grins. "Maybe we should start."

"No thanks," Mathias answers curtly and starts walking faster, hoping to get away from Satoru.

He feels a firm grip on his shoulder and halts his step. He closes his eyes and frowns.

"It wasn't a question," Satoru says almost sweetly though his grip is getting tighter around Mathias' shoulder.

There it is. That's what Mathias disapproves about Satoru. It is not his flippant nature or egotistical tendencies - most sorcerers have those same traits. Even the Shuuin display the same characteristics - they survived this long because of those traits. Satoru's one flaw (in Mathias' view) is his bullying tendency. Near-infinite power and strength are what ensure Satoru's advantage over everyone around him and he knows this. His thought and problem-solving process revolve around the same principle - might equal right.

Ironically, it is the reality of their positions of strength that forces Mathias to go for a drink with his brother-in-law.

November 26th, 2016. / 20:31 / Tokyo, Japan

The two men find themselves sitting in a random cafe (it wasn't random, Satoru picked, but to Mathias, it might as well have been random since it's a themed cafe).

"You know," Satoru begins jokingly, sipping on his Virgin Margarita, "I think this was bound to happen sooner or later."

Mathias sighs. "Careful, Gojo. I'm starting to believe you like my company."

The white-haired sorcerer gasps. "Preposterous!"

Mathias chuckles, despite himself.

"She popped up yet?" Satoru asks, keeping his gaze on his mocktail.

Mathias shakes his head. "No. She's still off the radar."

Satoru hums, tracing the lid of his glass with his thumb. "She doesn't want to be found, huh?"

"You know her, Gojo," Mathias comments, sipping his Sazarac. "Liv Drakon does as she pleases, no questions asked."

Satoru sighs. "She has no sense for propriety, does she?"

Mathias smirks. "Isn't that why you married her in the first place?"

"Well, it's an attractive feature, I admit," Satoru jests before a soft smile stretches his lips, "Though, that's not the reason why I married her."

The older Drakon sibling quirks a brow. "What is it, then?"

Satoru sniggers. "That's for me to know and you to dot, dot, dot."

"You're so alike, you almost have the same speech pattern," Mathias mutters under his breath, shaking his head.

Another laugh escapes the Gojo clan head's throat as he shakes his head as well. They sit in silence for a while, listening to the soft tunes coming out of the speaker and enjoying their beverages for what seems to be a moment of peace.

"Why did she leave, though?" Satoru asks suddenly. "I know it's because of what happened but that can't be the only reason."

The tone in the man's voice speaks volumes and Mathias wonders if he's perhaps more worried than he leads on. "We don't know what happens when one becomes the Shuuin master but I guess there's an adaptation process or something similar to it."

"Adaptation?" Satoru wonders. "To what?"

Mathias takes another sip of his drink. "She just ingested thousands of years worth of knowledge and experience. It'll take a while for her to sort it out in her head."

"You think she's struggling with it?" Satoru frowns. "She didn't look like it."

"She was probably coping with the trauma," Mathias says solemnly. "What she went through is not something you just do and move on from. Chances are she just needs some time with herself to come to terms with it."

Satoru hums and then nods. "Could be."

Mathias looks at the man sitting next to him. He never understood what his sister saw in the sorcerer. Satoru's mind is like a constant strategy game, always analyzing, always planning. There is no rest for him because that is what he is - the strongest, a living weapon. He is the poster boy of the same system that he wants to bring down.

Yet, Liv can see beyond that; beyond the god-like powers and simplistic mindscape of Satoru Gojo. Mathias remains baffled by that fact to this day.

What do you see that the rest of us don't?

November 26th, 2016. / 14:22 / Tokyo Metropolitan Jujutsu High School, Tokyo, Japan

Nanami winces as Shoko puts antiseptic on his stitch and tries to avoid her touch. She doesn't acknowledge his protests and grips his arm before pulling him back.

"Don't move," she says sternly.

He grumbles but complies nonetheless. He then watches as she puts the cotton ball into a kidney tray before putting a sterile patch over the injured part of his arm. The curse he's been fighting had slender pincers that it could detach from its body and use it in long-range combat. Nanami's injuries are a miscalculation on his part.

"It's not a deep one so it should heal soon," she says, reaching for a bottle she previously prepared. "Take one a day if you're in pain."

Nanami nods as he takes the bottle. "Thanks, Ieiri-san."

She gives him a sad smile as he leaves her office. He has noticed she's been more glum as of recently. The medic has a certain melancholic air about her though it's to be expected as she's surrounded by corpses all the time.

Yet, he thinks her current somber disposition may be due to another reason entirely.

Liv Drakon goes missing and it's been barely a month since her unexpected return to Tokyo. Her disappearance puts the Shuuin clan in a delicate predicament as they are left with no orders from their mistress. The news is only known to a select few Satoru thought should know. That includes Shoko, Nanami, and Utahime. The latter two are asked to keep an eye out for the Shuuin mistress. Given their respective friendships, chances are that she will reach out to them at some point. The former is told solely because she knows everything at this point. She made it clear to Satoru that she doesn't want to be kept in the dark when it comes to the Shuuin mistress.

Whereas Shoko reacted somewhat calmly to the news, Nanami was angry with Satoru when the man asked him for help. He was furious that Liv's husband was back at work instead of actively looking for his wife who's been missing for over a week. Utahime's reaction was also in the range of anger and anxiety. Eventually, they realized that it was not a matter of 'responsibility' but 'capability'.

"She leaves no residuals," Satoru said at one point. "I can't find her even if I try."

Satoru didn't go into much detail but from what Nanami understood, Liv can manipulate her cursed energy in a way that she loses none of it - something he's never heard of before. Hearing it from the bearer of Six Eyes gives the entire statement more validity but also incredulity. How is that possible? Nanami thought when he first heard of it. Following the same logic, it seems Liv is more adept at cursed energy manipulation than Satoru which should be impossible.

If the strongest sorcerer alive can't find her, how can the rest of us hope to do any better?

Nanami has no answer.

November 27th, 2016. / 10:11 / Kyoto Metropolitan Jujutsu High School, Kyoto, Japan

Kyoto Jujutsu High has a long history much like its sister school in Tokyo. For generations, they have prepared and trained young potentials into capable sorcerers.

But, it's been known to happen every generation or so that they're stuck with one extraordinary potential with an equally extraordinary personality.

Aoi Todo.

This sixteen-year-old boy looks nothing like how a sixteen-year-old boy should look like. Instead, picture a guerilla with no hair on his body save for the head and possibly the groin (no one cares to even imagine the latter part). He's built like a guerilla, towering over most adults, and whose biceps are the size of a toddler's head. His mentality is slightly more on the sophisticated side though once in combat, again - guerilla.

His peers agree when it comes to the possibly strongest sorcerer in their year. He's loud, eccentric, maybe even slightly insane and rumors are circulating that he's a student of another monster, just as potent, just as insane. Little do they know that the beast in question is a special-grade sorcerer named Yuki Tsukumo and it just so happens that she's in Kyoto.

Her reason for visiting? She's on her way to Tokyo but she's making a quick stop to say hello to her former student.

As she strolls around the Kyoto Jujutsu High, Yuki takes a moment to take in the surroundings. While she graduated from the Tokyo branch herself, she didn't much care where Aoi got his education. Get good at being a sorcerer, she had told him before he enrolled. Then, we'll talk about the future. Except, the talking bit is the hard part. Yuki knows the kid better than most and she knows that the values and knowledge she hammered into that thick skull were worth the effort. On the other hand, there are many nuances in today's society, both within and without the jujutsu world.

"But that is a topic for another day," she says out loud, sighing as she does so.

Her rose-colored eyes finally catch sight of a young man she took under her wing so many years ago. A soft smile appears on her glossy lips as she realizes he's no longer a boy. Chuckling the woman calls out his name and waves, getting his attention.

Aoi lifts his gaze and searches for the person calling out to him. It doesn't take him long to recognize the stunning beauty that is Yuki Tsukumo. Seeing her smile makes him smile in return. He spares no thought as he rushes to close the gap between them.

"Look at you," she says cheerfully as he comes closer. "Uniform looks good!"

He laughs as he lifts her, twirling them around. There is much joy in their reunion, even though he's seen her just six months ago. This is what many fail to notice about Aoi Todo. He's loud, eccentric, maybe even slightly insane but like his mentor, he understands that the life of a jujutsu sorcerer is more than just looking into death's eyes.

It is remembering that life is beautiful and worth living.

"What are you doing here?" he asks as he puts her down. "You didn't even let me know you were coming."

"Surprise," she says, waving her hands like she's holding a pair of pom-poms. "I'm not sticking around for long so we'll have to be brief."

He pouts. "Well, that's no fun."

"Cheer up, Aoi-kun," she says and taps his nose with her finger. "You know goodbyes aren't forever."

Aoi sighs. "I know, I know."

Yuki hums. "Good. So, how's school? Up to your expectations?"

The dramatic scoff pretty much answers her question. She listens as he goes on and on about his expectations being let down, and how none of his classmates have any passion in their life.

"This one guy talks only about honor and being the perfect heir," he rambles disapprovingly, crossing his arms. "And the girl? Don't get me started on her. She looks like a little witch - just float around on her little broom."

Yuki shakes her head. She doesn't even want to know about the 'broom' part but she continues to listen to the boy/man.

"Worse still," he stresses, "none of them have good taste in women."

"That won't do," Yuki gasps but smiles nonetheless.

Aoi shakes his head furiously. "It certainly won't!"

He then feels her hand against his shoulder. She aimed for his head but the boy experienced some kind of ridiculous growth spurt in the past few months. He's towering over her. His black eyes meet her rose orbs as she gives him a reassuring squeeze.

"This is just the beginning, Aoi-kun," she says softly. "The jujutsu world is small but it will be a sufficient start for you to sharpen your skills."

Aoi frowns. "It doesn't seem like it. These people are boring."

Yuki chuckles. "You still got time to meet more people. Not everyone will be boring, trust me."

He doesn't trust her but he doesn't need to, not yet. Time will prove him otherwise.

"Will I see you again?" he asks instead.

Yuki hums as she crosses her arms. "I'll try to visit but things are getting interesting out there."

Aoi quirks a brow. "How so?"

She shakes her head. "Doesn't matter. Focus on your studies."

"Master - " he argues but she cuts in with a forced cough.

"Focus, Aoi-kun," she says sternly this time. "Don't waste this opportunity."

He hesitates before nodding in agreement.

She smiles in return. "Good boy."

They chat some more, with Yuki mostly hyping Aoi to look forward to what's coming. As the time comes for her to leave, she opens her arms and without any restrictions, Aoi embraces her, savoring the moment. The teacher-student duo harbors deep respect and affection for each other yet Yuki hopes he'll learn to care for others in the same manner as he cares for her. Breaking the embrace, she smiles at her former student and cradles his cheek before waving him goodbye. He watches as she walks away, saddened as this isn't the first time he sees her back as she leaves him behind. It is a silent promise, a word given before the next time they meet.

He sincerely hopes he'll see her again.

November 26th, 2016. / 21:13 / Tokyo, Japan

Liv blows and watches as her breath turns into a swirly fog. Winter is coming, she thinks to herself as she stuffs her hands inside the sleeves of her kimono. With the night fast approaching, she thinks of where to go next. Her mind is still somewhat over-encumbered as her memories and memories of her ancestors twist and entwine. She's having difficulties distinguishing her trauma and their trauma.

"You have to come to terms with your past first," Rei says from behind her. "That is how you will distance from the trauma of your predecessors."

"Yeah, I heard you the first time," Liv scoffs as she wraps the kimono tighter around her frame. "Easier said than done."

Rei sighs as she leans against Liv's back, her head facing the heavens. "It's rather easy to do it once you decide to do it."

"You can't just decide to move on from the past," Liv says evenly. "You either do it or you don't."

"You moved on rather easily from your master and mother," Rei points out.

"One threw me to the streets despite giving birth to me," Liv counters evenly, "and the other was a man-child that was an overgrown bully as well. It is rather easy to move on from the people who you've detached from emotionally."

A smirk appears on the Great Mother's lips as she stares at the night sky thoughtfully. "What about your father?"

An image of Liv's father flashes before her eyes and her heart clenches painfully. "I think I reached my limit with that one."

Rei's next words stunt her and she swivels around. For a moment, she wonders if she could wring the woman's neck off her torso. Alas, she's just a mirage, a figment of her imagination. All of her words are Liv's words to herself.

"Come again?" Liv asks slowly, venom dripping from her lips.

Rei chuckles. "What? Did I touch a nerve?"

Liv raises her arm and brings it down just as quickly, shattering the concrete. The crack expands far from where she's standing and while she knows it'll draw attention, she doesn't much care at this point. Instead, she focuses on the smug apparition that seems to taunt her still.

"I am not weak."

Rei cocks her head to the side, humming. "Could've fooled me."

Liv seethes. "I am not weak!"

"Quiet down," Rei says nonchalantly, shushing her. "You look like a mindless lunatic."

"Why don't you just go away?" Liv growls, ignoring her as she stomps over to where the ghost is sitting comfortably. "I don't need you anymore, I can handle this on my own."

Rei takes a deep breath and rolls her eyes. "That's not true. Otherwise, I would've wooshed away by now."

"There's nothing you can help me with," Liv says and brings her face too close to Rei's. "You're making it worse."

A short silence follows before Rei finally says, "You're the one making it worse, pup."

Liv frowns in confusion. "What?"

The Great Mother sits up straight as she looks at her square in the eye. "You haven't let go of your father's demise."

Liv's eyes widen and she shakes her head. "You're wrong. I've let go, at the cemetery - "

"You laid him to rest," Rei corrects her. "That's not the same as letting go."

Silence. She covers her ears and closes her eyes. Don't listen to her, don't listen to her. She's lying, she's lying.

Shut your ears, close your eyes but I will break through.

One breath. Two breaths. Three breaths. She tries to calm her raging thoughts to no avail. Run, run, run.

It's too late to run now, pup. I will catch you still.

The instincts are kicking in and she almost relents, but then she stops and opens her eyes. Run where? She can't answer the question; she's got nowhere to hide anymore.

You can't run anymore.

Slowly, she lowers her hands, letting them fall freely to her sides. The instinct subsides almost instantly as Liv accepts defeat. I can't run anymore, she agrees with Rei solemnly, the weight on her soul somewhat lighter after the sudden realization.

She turns back around and looks at Rei who's still as calm as she has been all along.

"Want to know why you can't let him go?" Rei asks solemnly.

Liv swallows the lumps in her throat before nodding.

"You don't know what happened to him," the Great Mother says. "You know what happened to your mother. You know what happened to your master. That is why you're able to move on from them so easily."

Liv looks down, acknowledging that what the phantom speaks is true.

"How do I find out, then?" Liv asks, her eyes pleading as they meet Rei's crimson orbs. "It's been seven years. There's no body, no evidence - nothing that can serve as a clue."

"Are you certain?" Rei asks with a grin. "Are you absolutely sure you know nothing in regard to his death?"

Liv frowns. "Yes, I'm sure."

The Great Mother cocks her head to the side, a familiar Cheshire grin plastered on her face. "Didn't he go for a little trip?"

Her choice of words is deliberate. Liv indeed recalls her father telling her about going somewhere.

"It was my birthday," she mutters in thought. "He called me and we talked."

Rei remains silent but the sly smile is still present on her lips.

"He said he was going - "

Liv's eyes widen and she stares at her predecessor who merely stares at the glistening lights of Tokyo.

"You already have the answers, pup," Liv hears her say. "All you have to do is ask yourself the right questions."

Rei's visage dissipates and Liv is left alone in the small park.