The air slowly ebbed and flowed, it was warm and gentle. It was something Izuku had nearly forgotten as he lay in an open field. He slowly opened his eyes and felt the sun touch his skin. He rubbed his eyes and sat up with pure energy rising inside him. He felt the gentle brush of the white reeds against his arms and cheeks and he sneezed in response. He sniffled and stood up, noticing that the reeds were almost as tall as he was. As he started walking he felt the reeds come up to his chest, they felt like hands reaching out for a sign. What were they looking for? Life? A connection with someone else? Izuku caressed the soft white reeds, and strangely, he felt safe.
He continued walking through this field, one so tranquil and smooth, and nearly forgot about the battle that ensued only moments ago. The winter air felt like it was biting into his skin, like it was freezing his very soul as he walked. He could feel the Yuki Onna's battle with Dabi, the clash of heat and cold, fire and ice, as the energies splashed all over the street. However, those feelings, those sensations, they were all replaced by the harmony of the sun, and the reeds.
He continued walking for an eternity through the endless reeds. The white buds continued to rub against his clothes and body. Izuku felt tickled by the plants, and giggled slightly. He felt so peaceful and whole, it was beyond words. He pressed on however, he knew he had a goal, he needed to find that woman, the one behind the mask of the demon…
The sun was beginning to set, the evening had arrived. Izuku panted and took several breaths out of exhaustion, and before he knew it, he dropped to his knees. He closed his eyes as his energy drained from his body. His vision was distorted, his breath was infrequent, and his thirst was unquenchable. Before he knew it, Izuku passed out from thirst, and as he lay on the ground, the wind blew once more, and the reeds caressed his body with grace…
He woke up in a bed much to his surprise, and he suddenly licked his lips. He still felt the undeniable thirst inside his body. When he looked around, he noticed the type of room he was in. It was a small, traditional bedroom, and he found himself sleeping on the floor of this room. He found a small gourd of water next to him, along with a cup. Without hesitation, Izuku grabbed the gourd and poured the water directly into his mouth. He drank every last drop in a matter of seconds and let out a large grunt afterward. When he rose off the ground, he was shocked to learn he was suddenly wearing a navy blue kimono, and his winter clothes had vanished without a trace. He felt fear rise inside of him, and he immediately opened his kimono and looked at his chest. He sighed with relief when he saw his Contract still adorned on his skin.
Suddenly, he heard a clacking sound from outside, and followed it swiftly. He closed his kimono, and ventured outside to find the source of this sound. There it was, the sound of two wooden swords clashing against each other. Izuku gazed at a large training circle made of wood, and overhead was a large red maple tree. The leaves slowly fell to the ground with a small gust of the wind, and as one leaf touched the dirt, the wind shifted. Izuku felt the piercing strike of a blade fly past him, and he gasped. As he looked back at the training circle, he saw two people fighting each other with the wooden swords. A man, and a woman. The man had snow white hair and gray eyes, and he wore a gray kimono which showed a slender body. The woman however had long, flowing blonde hair that was tied into a bun, and she wore a white kimono tied by a red obi belt.
Together, they trained under this great tree. The man stabbed towards the woman who evaded the strike with ease. She pivoted on her feet and slashed towards the man, hitting him in the side. The man cried out and moved into a defensive position, and once the woman went for a slow and heavy attack, the man jabbed her in the foot and struck her in the chin with the blunt end of his sword. She felt the immediate pain in her jaw, and she spit out blood while she recovered. Together, they locked eyes once more until the woman moved so fast that she became a blur. Before the man could react, she swept him off balance and the man tumbled to the ground. He retaliated with another strike, but the woman locked blades and eventually knocked it from his hands. When he tried to stand, the woman raised the blade right over his face, forcing him to remain still. Izuku simply watched as this duel concluded, unable to move due to pure wonder in his eyes. Suddenly, the man smiled and sighed.
"I yield!" He laughed. The woman offered her hand, and the man took it with appreciation. She helped him to his feet, and without warning, she flicked him on the nose.
"Ow! Hey!" The man cried.
"You always need to be prepared for an attack, right?" The woman laughed.
"Yes, that's true…" The man replied.
Suddenly, the woman crashed to the ground and the wind knocked from her lungs. She looked upward in shock as the man suddenly held a wire in his hand.
"What?! What are you-"
"Hey, you were the one who said be prepared for any attack, right? Maybe you should take your own advice!"
The man laughed in triumph, and Izuku finally stepped forward to confront such a dishonorable tactic.
"Hey!" He shouted.
However, neither of them responded or even acknowledged Izuku's presence. He shouted once more, but the duo heeded no words. Izuku tried to say something, anything to get their attention; however, he stopped short when he noticed something. The woman was laughing with the man, and the man helped her to her feet the same way she did for him.
"What is going on here?" An older voice shouted.
The laughter halted, and the two duelists immediately dropped to their knees in respect. An old man had appeared from the abode, and stood over them with a tower figure.
"So this is how the new generation of samurai train? Using parlor tricks and petty humor to defeat an enemy?"
The two students remained silent.
"Disgraceful…" The old man scolded. "Michi, your attacks were filled with anger and pride. A true samurai strikes with discipline and respect. You clearly need more training and meditation."
The woman sighed quietly, and Izuku simply stared with worry.
"Himura, this is no time for petty games, we are at war, or have you forgotten what happened to your sister?"
"I will never forget, Sensei." Kyohei said grimly.
"Forgive us grandfather, we were just trying to lighten our spirits." Michi said. The old man watched and listened. "I meant no disrespect toward the Akiyama name, we know about the war and we are prepared to fight! It's just-"
"I will hear no more of your excuses." The old man chided.
"But grandfather! You've seen how the war is affecting our men! WE should encourage them and show them what they are fighting for. Surely father would have done the same."
But as she spoke, Michi felt a great anger exuding from her grandfather, the energy was so strong that it paralyzed her. She was caught in a spider's web, and no matter how hard she struggled to break free from the spider's grip, it was useless. The spider loomed over her with its venomous fangs ready to strike, and she was powerless to stop it.
"YOUR FATHER DIED BECAUSE HE WAS WEAK! HE NEGLECTED OUR TRADITIONS AND WALKED DOWN THE PATH BLIND. HE WALKED STRAIGHT INTO HIS OWN DEATH!"
Neither Michi nor Kyohei could move; fear had dominated their souls. The old man coughed and hacked; it was a sound riddled with disease and sickness. He stood for a moment trying to catch his breath, but Izuku could feel the frailty of this man. His time was nearing, but how long would he last?
"Enough of this…" The man muttered. "Michi, go and clean the stables… Himura, I want you back in the dojo. Continue your training with Yamamoto…"
"Yes, Sensei." The two students muttered.
The old man struggled to move, and Kyohei rushed to his side. The old man slowly walked back inside this grand abode, leaning on Kyohei's shoulder to do so. As for Michi, she sighed with anger growing in her heart, and she threw her practice sword to the ground. Izuku felt powerless to stop this; nonetheless, he ran in, trying to reach out to the woman.
"Hey wait just a sec!" He cried.
Yet the moment he reached for her, his hand phased right through her shoulder. He gasped, and when he called out again, she simply walked on, and disappeared.
"What's going on? Why the hell can't anyone hear me?" Izuku asked angrily.
"Because those are nothing but memories."
Izuku snapped around and saw the Yuki Onna approach him. She appeared from the tree itself, and the world grew dark. Izuku summoned his Blessing and the gold wires wrapped around his fingers, and formed a web around the Yokai.
"I'm not here to fight… you've already killed me…" She said with sorrow.
"I can't take that chance, you tried to kill Dabi and Jiro, you tried to kill me when I wanted to help you!"
She said nothing as Izuku tightened his Blessing around her. With a single pull of his fingers, the wire wrapped around the Yokai and squeezed her with great strength. She gasped in pain and Izuku approached her slowly.
"What else do I have? I have nothing, you've beaten me, so finish it!"
Izuku watched her closely. She made no attempt to resist and she had no weapons. He scowled at her, yet the face she had was one of sorrow and loneliness.
"Please, end it! There's nothing left for me! I'm alone and dead! Kyohei left me to die on the Mountain! My clan has been dissolved!"
He stopped, and he simply looked her in the eye. He watched her struggle and weep, and something changed. He felt his anger subside, and it was replaced with something else.
"STOP LOOKING AT ME LIKE THAT!" The Yokai screamed, and that's when Izuku saw it. She was starting to cry. "DON'T GIVE ME YOUR PITY! YOU WON! YOU SHOULD BE CELEBRATING IN TRIUMPH!"
Izuku… loosened his Blessing, and the threads slowly faded away. The Yokai looked up with shock as the boy looked at her with a scowl, however, part of it seemed… sad. She didn't know what to make of this mixed emotion that appeared on Izuku's face. What did it mean?
"I don't believe that. Why would I mock someone who needs help?" He asked.
Izuku looked away and saw the memory replay itself. He watched once more as the two students laughed, and how the mentor berated them profusely.
"That's you, isn't it?" Izuku asked as he watched the memory play out. He felt the icy soul of the Yuki approach him, and together, they watched the memory unfold.
"Yes, but that was long ago…" She replied quietly. Izuku looked at her and saw her blue eyes fixated on who she used to be. She was filled with longing and desire.
"Nice to meet you, Akiyama." Izuku said, greeting the woman. He bowed much to the Yuki's surprise. "I'm Izuku Midoriya."
She couldn't believe her eyes, an enemy was showing her respect, but why. Why would he do such a thing when he was the one who finished her in that great battle? Why show mercy now?
"Aren't you going to tell me your name?" Izuku asked.
"I-" The Yuki muttered.
She reached out kindly. She wanted to hold his hand, however, she ripped it away, and turned to leave.
"I'm no one. I was left behind, remember?" She stated.
"How do you know for sure?" Izuku asked confidently.
The Yokai stared at him and bit her lip, she simply could not understand this boy.
"You are annoyingly persistent…" She chided.
Izuku gulped, but he stayed the course.
"Come on, I want to help you move on." He said strongly. "There's still something keeping you attached to Fukuoka, right? I can't just abandon someone in need."
" Abandon? Well listen to you!"
The scenery changed to a bitter cold, and Izuku found himself on a snowy mountain. He shivered immensely and grabbed his arms as the cold once again chilled him to the bone.
"How quaint! You who have never been abandoned dare lecture me on strength?! When was the last time you froze to death in the snow?!"
Izuku clenched his teeth and felt a horrifying bite, and when he looked down, he saw that ice was slowly freezing him solid. He tried to move and struggle, trying to break the ice with his hands, but the more he resisted, the faster the ice spread. Before he knew it, the ice had spread to his neck, and he was paralyzed from head to toe. The Yokai appeared in front of him again, her face wrought with rage.
"Why should I suffer so much? Why is it that so many try to tell me how to live, yet put me in chains the moment I try to be free?!"
Izuku shook in fear and couldn't focus, her spiritual prowess was too much to overcome.
"Because-"
"What, human? What do you have to say to me? Will you tell me to be calm, tell me that I need to 'move on' as you have said before?"
Izuku gulped.
"Because you still have something to fight for! Telling yourself that you're nothing and that you're alone? That can destroy you before you've even started!"
The Yokai froze, and the ice melted. Izuku dropped to the ground and coughed terribly. He quickly stood up and saw the Yokai simply stared aimlessly. He approached her once again and looked up at her confused face.
"Earlier when we fought, you called yourself 'Michi of Clan Akiyama,' that's who you are, right?" He asked. "Doesn't that mean you still hold something of value in this world? You're still attached to us, you're still attached to whoever Kyohei was."
The Yokai's hair blocked her face, she grew silent, and her breath turned into winter mist. Izuku wasn't convinced, and much to the woman's surprise, he suddenly grabbed her hand. She felt a warmth she hadn't felt in a millennia, and she felt something take root in her soul. When she looked at the boy, her eyes became soft, and docile.
"Help me understand what's keeping you here, and maybe I can help you find the peace you're begging for." Izuku said softly. "I know what it's like to feel helpless, to feel like you can't be as good as everyone else you care about, but that doesn't mean you're alone. No one's perfect."
"Even monkeys fall from trees!"
She felt the warmth grow throughout her soul, it felt like a light had appeared in the dark. Izuku could sense this feeling, and he reached out and held her hand. The Yokai looked upward, and when she did, Izuku smiled. She didn't know how to react, for the first time in centuries, her hand felt warm, and she let out a breath with an anxious look.
"It began ages ago, when the Mongols invaded our country…"
The atmosphere turned dim, and Izuku soon realized that they were transported to a small town. It was night time, but the sky was glowing a foul orange. Together, Izuku and the Yokai watched as civilians everywhere were running for their lives. Bodies were burning. Others laid dead and forgotten on the dirt roads in this small town. Men on horses charged through the streets screaming and attacking anyone they saw, and samurai of days past retaliated with great strength and swords. Izuku was perplexed and amazed as the armies clashed, but he could also feel an iota of fear and anguish. The soldiers killed and maimed each other in ways he had never seen, and it shook him to his core. The fires raged onward, buildings collapsed to the ground, and women and children's screams reached into the sky in ways unheard of. It was all so graphic… So real…
"The Mongols first attacked the town of Hakata Bay. I was a fisherman at the time." The Yuki explained. "All I could remember were the Mongols killing everything in their path. They surrounded us and had weaponry I had never seen."
Izuku watched as a structure in the distance suddenly shot something in the air.
"Is that a catapult?" He asked in shock.
"Yes, that is what they would eventually be named…" she responded. "They unleashed these… 'bombs' made from an explosive substance none of us had seen. They slaughtered hundreds in mere minutes."
Suddenly, a blonde haired woman ran for all she could from the bay, she forced her way through a crowd as the galloping horses marched towards them. She ran and cried, she was looking for a way out in all this chaos.
"This is when I met him. We had no idea we even existed until that moment."
She was pulled away by a man with white hair. She struggled and defended herself with fear in her eyes. When she saw the man, however, he shushed her, trying to calm her down. His eyes brought comfort in this endless night, and she found herself relaxing as much as she could. He took her through a secret passageway underground, but before they continued, they heard muffled screams behind them. The woman gasped and teared up as someone banged on the walls before they were butchered by an unseen warrior.
"That's Kyohei Himura: the man who saved my life and the man who I would eventually fall in love with." The Yuki said. "We managed to escape the attack, and we headed for my abode in Kawabaru."
The environment changed, and suddenly they returned to the abode they were in earlier. The red maple tree appeared again. The training swords clashed, and the argument with the old man repeated itself.
"After the massacre at Hakata Bay, I went to my grandfather and demanded him to teach me the arts and disciplines of the samurai." The Yuki continued. "I hated seeing so many suffer, but even more than that… I hated how weak and frail I was."
"And I'm guessing Himura wanted in." Izuku commented.
"If that's how you modern citizens say it, yes, Kyohei 'wanted in' on the training. He wanted to fight the Mongols and protect our country."
The room lit up and together they watched the old man sitting in front of samurai armor. He sat quietly on soft tatami pards, and the blonde woman stood behind him, facing his back.
"Why should I teach an outsider the ways of our family?" The old man asked rudely. His voice reverberated off the walls of the room.
"He saved my life grandfather! I owe him for that, don't you understand?!"
"I understand that he saved you, yes, but how can you be certain he did so with compassion? Young men these days only see you and the other women as whores, nothing else."
"How could you say such a thing?!" The girl chastised. "So much for honor, right Shuji ?"
The old man went quiet, and meditated in front of a suit of armor.
"What? Afraid to speak to me now? Am I suddenly too much for the greatest general Lord Minamoto has ever conscripted?!"
He said nothing.
"Perhaps I am too much for you! You're nothing but a bitter, hateful old man, you know that?! Always questioning everyone around you, always belittling the good deeds of others and reacting with cynicism and doubt! Why would I want to learn from you ?!"
The woman squeezed her eyes shut in anger.
"Well forget it! I'll find someone else to teach us, all you ever do is sit here and rot away while clinging to the past. I'm done…"
The woman stood up and headed for the door. She slid it open, and the moon shone down on the land with a soothing white glow. Izuku simply watched it all transpire, like the old videos he watched online.
"So he's your grandfather… you didn't really mean what you said, did you?"
"I did," The Yuki replied. "My grandfather was the great Shuji Akiyama, he was called 'The Unbreakable' due to his service under Lord Minamoto. He ended wars before they started, he aided the Shogun in diplomatic affairs, and always had a level head. No matter how grim the situation had become, Shuji was the one who remained steadfast, and encouraged everyone around him to stand strong."
The Yuki turned her head away.
"I wanted to be just like him…"
"Then why did you lash out at him like that?" Izuku asked. The Yuki sighed.
"My father was killed on Komoda Beach when the Mongol invasion began, grandfather was… different, after he received the news…" The Yuki explained. Izuku felt sadness seep from her soul. "He became distant, bitter, all the things I said right there."
The woman took a single step out the door, and right when she was about to leave, she felt something in the air.
"We will begin at sunrise…"
She turned around in shock as Shuji muttered that sentence. Her eyes widened with excitement, but she was also at a loss of words.
"Bring the boy with you, if he is what you say he is, I want him to prove it."
The world turned black once again, and Izuku faced the Yuki, who was lost in her soul.
"So this is when you started your training, and that memory from earlier is after you started?"
"Correct, when I was training under the tree with Kyohei, it was about three months after I berated my grandfather."
"Sounds like it started to work out in the end, I bet you became a great swordswoman after that!" Izuku cheered.
The woman widened her eyes and felt a strange feeling erupt from her soul. She turned her face away quickly and remained silent. She took a breath and Izuku was slightly caught off guard by the notion.
"Everything okay?" He asked. He heard the woman chuckle, much to his surprise.
"It's strange, that positive energy of yours reminds me of him…" She said in a sincere voice.
The room changed again, it was nighttime and the full moon glowed in the sky. Under its gaze was a small hillside, where Michi was meditating. She sat under a small Ginko tree, and its golden leaves slowly showered the woman as she sat in deep concentration. Izuku sat there with the Yuki, and together, they waited for something to happen. It was so quiet and peaceful. The sound of the tree leaves and bushes blowing in the wind calmed Izuku to the point that he felt no danger whatsoever.
Then, a branch appeared, and it poked Michi as she tried to meditate under the moon. It poked her in the arm, then on the hip, and finally on her cheek. She grew irritated and grabbed the branch, yanking it forward. Kyohei was suddenly pulled out from the bushes and he fell flat on his face right next to the woman. She laughed and slapped him on the back.
"You need to do better than that if you want to catch me off guard." She said, she giggled slightly as the man sat on the ground.
Then, a mass of leaves fell right on top of her, and Kyohei laughed with a dry cough. He wheezed as Michi shook the leaves off her body, and he took the chance to stand up straight.
"You fall for it every time you know that?!" Kyohei asked boisterously.
"No I don't!" Michi retorted.
"Yes, you do." Kyohei replied playfully, his white hair glimmered in the moonlight. Michi sunk her face in her hand and groaned in frustration.
"Why are you like this? Acting like some child?" She asked.
"Call it my shining personality. It runs in Clan Himura after all," Kyohei joked. "You'd love my sister. Now, she was the one that had our mother on the floor. Always joking around about her friends down in the valley…"
Kyohei stopped talking and went quiet: something that Michi noticed and observed.
"Well…" he muttered. "I miss those days… so much for the family personality right?"
"I… understand how you feel." Michi replied. She glanced at him for a moment, and he did the same with her.
They stared at each other's eyes for a few moments. Michi saw the gray eyes Kyohei had, they were a strange sight. They looked like smoke from a fire, yet ones that had taken the form of beautiful gemstones. It was something Michi couldn't take her eyes off. On the other hand, Kyohei was mesmerized by the golden strands of Michi's hair. It was as smooth as silk and as polished as the finest gold he had ever seen. It almost blended with the leaves of the tree, and together, they studied each other once more.
"You have… nice hair…"
"E-Excuse me?!" Michi cried.
Kyohei widened his eyes and immediately looked away in embarrassment. Izuku blushed and felt his heartbeat increase. He suddenly felt warmer, like he could feel Kyohei's very thoughts.
"Nothing! Nothing… I uh…" Kyohei muttered. Michi also looked away from him and stared at the trees. She could hear Kyohei curse at himself, he muttered the same words over and over, and she heard more.
"What the hell am I doing?" Kyohei whispered.
Michi shook her head and crossed her arms in an attempt to temper her emotions.
"R-Right." She muttered. "Anyway uhm…"
The two sat under the moon and the wind continued to blow. The two heard something move in the bushes, soon a fawn crawled out and ran down the hill. Its mother followed suit, and the two glanced at each other again, but the moment they locked eyes they immediately looked away.
"Is something the matter?" Michi asked nervously, she looked at the ground avoiding Kyohei's eyes. "Was there word from town about the Mongols?"
"Oh, that." Kyohei replied, he had a startled aura, and shook in place. He took a deep breath and sighed. "Some of the scouts have returned with news about a trading route the Mongols established."
"What trading route?"
"It spans from Itoshima back into Hakata Bay, and if our information is right, the Mongols may have established a base of operations on Nokonoshima Island." Kyohei explained. "Lord Namikaze plans to attack the route at Tokunaga, once we can secure any civilians."
"Tokunaga? That's on the main road. The Mongols will notice an attack on that scale."
"And that's the plan. We will show the bastards that we are not defeated." Kyohei said with bitterness.
However, Kyohei smiled and looked up at the moon.
"Well that's really all I had to say so I'm gonna head back to the dojo. You have fun doing your meditation, bye!"
Before Michi could react, Kyohei disappeared down the hill and out of sight. She was stunned and dumbstruck. She growled in frustration and sat down to meditate once again. She breathed, blinked, even felt the tree next to her, and yet, she couldn't shake that image.
"That was a night I'll never forget." The Yuki said. "It's… hard to explain, but I believe this was when I began to have feelings for Kyohei."
"Oh, that's really sweet." Izuku complimented.
"Yes… thank you…"
For the first time since Izuku entered this strange realm, the woman smiled. Her energy was sincere, and Izuku could feel a faint sense of joy emanating from her Niwa. She started to walk, and she waved for Izuku to follow her. He did so at a brisk pace, and as they journeyed through this dark Niwa, memories suddenly surrounded them on the walls. Izuku looked back and forth at all the different images and stories, infatuated by them all. He smiled at some, and gazed with childish curiosity at others.
"Over the next few months Kyohei and I continued to train. Each day was unique, and well, I was starting to enjoy myself." The woman explained.
A memory appeared of Michi and Kyohei dueling each other once more. Kyohei this time caught Michi off guard by slicing upward and quickly following with a stab. Michi narrowly avoided the strike and locked blades with her fellow pupil. Each attack was perfectly parried, and the two fought each other in an elegant dance. Not a single blow landed on either student as the battle went on, and eventually, Kyohei tripped on a rock, and Michi stood victorious in the duel. However, Kyohei tripped her with his feet, and she collapsed with a large thud. They laid next to each other as dirt peppered onto their faces, and Kyohei cackled in his victory. Michi threw dirt in his face, causing the man to squint his eyes shut and spit the dirt from his mouth. Michi laughed in response, and Kyohei laughed with her.
The next memory appeared, and the two dueled once more with their katanas. Kyohei dodged Michi's strikes, and after a quick jab, he struck Michi in the leg.
"Good!" She cried. She dodged another strike and slashed Kyohei in the side. "The key is letting your energy guide you. Think of your sword as an extension of your arm!"
"An extension of my arm, okay let's try it!"
Kyohei breathed with every strike, he allowed Michi to attack first, and he let his energy flow through his body. He took a hit to the arm, then to the knee. He felt the sting in every hit biting into his body like fire ants, and he felt his irritation rise; however, he breathed again, and as Michi attacked once more, he dodged and weaved as if he were walking on water itself. He jabbed Michi on the back of her head and smirked. Michi smiled as well, and Kyohei made the next strike. Together they deflected every swipe – every attack – once again, and when they locked swords, they jumped back from the recoil. They each panted and gasped for air, exhausted from the battle.
"I felt it! I felt like I became water, like I could just… move whenever I wanted to!" Kyohei cried.
"That's the energy in your body guiding your actions." Michi explained. "You did well, but you still need to refine that skill."
Michi bowed respectfully, and Kyohei did the same.
"Thank you Akiyama." He said.
When he looked up, Michi smiled, and together they returned to the dojo.
Another memory soon arrived: Michi was practicing her archery as the sunset on the hillside. She drew the bow and squinted her eyes. Her dummy target was fixed on a stand wearing armor from a fallen Mongol, and in a matter of seconds, she released the bow and the arrow seared toward its target. Despite her best efforts, the arrow flew past the dummy and struck a tree. She scoffed in anger and readied another shot. She shot the bow with ferocity, and once again, the arrow missed.
"Damnit!" She yelled.
Kyohei joined her side and grabbed his own bow. Michi watched as he reached for an arrow from his quiver. With sheer focus in his eyes, he inhaled deeply and waited for the perfect moment. His aim was true, and he didn't flinch one bit. He exhaled, and released the bow. The arrow shot right through the dummy's head with so much force that the helmet flew off. Michi widened her eyes in awe, and she was at a loss of words. Kyohei glanced at her before lowering his bow, and he smiled. He signaled her to raise her bow, and when she did, he guided her hands into a different position.
"The key to precision is the breath, and patience." He explained, he moved his hands over Michi's and helped her fortify her fingers. "When the enemy is at a distance, accuracy is your most important asset."
He helped her aim at the dummy.
"When you're ready to aim, inhale deeply and hold your breath. You must steady your arm as much as you can."
Michi did as she was told, and inhaled. She felt her heartbeat slow to a crawl, and she noticed that her arm became still.
"Exhale and release!"
Michi let go of the arrow and it shot straight and true. It impaled the dummy straight through the chest, penetrating its armor with ease. Michi's shock turned to happiness as she looked at Kyohei with excitement and a grateful smile.
"It worked! That was incredible wasn't it?!" She cried. Kyohei chuckled.
"It was wonderful, well done." He said happily. "Let's try it again!"
All the while, Shuji watched them, and as Kyohei and Michi glanced at him, he only saw Shuji's contempt. His scowl evoked disapproval and disappointment, and before long, he left.
The memory disappeared, and Izuku smiled seeing the joy in Michi's eyes. He looked over at the Yuki, who was softly smiling as well. He approached her and nodded with confidence.
"It really looks like you two cared about each other! Seriously, that's.. Beautiful!"
"These were some of the happiest moments of my life, and one night we finally revealed how we felt."
The memories flickered, and once again, Michi was meditating under the golden Ginko tree; however, this time Kyohei joined her, and they contemplated their thoughts in a deep silence. They both opened their eyes and watched as several foxes galloped nearby. The crescent moon hung low in the sky, and the stars were faintly visible behind the moon's incandescent glow.
"I remember this day." The Yuki said. "A few years had passed, and Kublai Khan once again demanded that we pay tribute and surrender to his army, but we refused yet again."
The memory played out in front of their eyes, and Izuku felt himself becoming absorbed by what unfolded before him.
"Akiyama, I've been meaning to tell you something." Kyohei started. "We don't quite understand why, but the Mongols have maintained their ground at Hakata Bay. They haven't mobilized any further into Japan."
"What?" Michi said. She suddenly snickered. "I guess they have finally realized that we're stronger than they thought."
"Well… that's just it…" Kyohei muttered with a defeated tone. Michi became concerned, and she moved closer to the white haired man. "Tsushima was invaded again, and if the reports are true, the Mongols have tripled their numbers since the last invasion. Our defensive line didn't stand a chance."
"That's… I can't imagine…!" Michi exclaimed in disbelief. She felt her soul wilt in despair. "All of those people, what about the daimyo? Or the shogun?"
Kyohei lowered his head, and looked Michi in the eye.
"Lord Namikaze personally asked me to accompany him to Tsushima."
Michi felt her heart sink, and she looked at him with fear in her heart.
"I-I don't understand. Lord Namikaze has never signaled you like this before, we-"
She could barely let the words leave her lips.
"We have yet to learn the final set! Grandfather hasn't approved for us to leave! Why now?!"
"It's urgent Akiyama. Tsushima is in dire need and we are running low on men and especially on currency. This invasion has cost our economy greatly. You know this!" Kyohei stated.
"You don't say!" Michi argued. "You've seen how expensive food at the market is."
"And families everywhere are in disarray, I know. Most of the current samurai are demoralized thanks to this damn war…"
Kyohei looked Michi in the eye.
"I have to do this Akiyama."
He started shaking, and Michi saw as the hairs on Kyohei's arm stood up.
"What is it?" She asked.
Kyohei shot off the ground and paced back and forth, and his breath became frantic.
"I don't know if this is the right decision. We've been training for years, yeah we've taken out a few Mongol camps sure, but this is a siege. I'd be defending an entire island from the invaders!"
"Himura you'd be defending our people! There's no shame in that!"
"But if I leave then you'll be here by yourself and the only other person by your side will be your grandfather."
Michi noticed the unenthused tone of Kyohei's voice. His eyes turned to disappointment and anger, like the smoke in his eyes turned to ash. Michi sighed and approached the man cautiously.
"My grandfather isn't perfect but I still respect him as a great general." She said strongly.
"Well, he's better than nothing at all…" Kyohei replied coldly.
"What is that supposed to imply?" Michi asked, she stepped back in offense. "What are you not telling me, Himura? You're acting strangely.
Kyohei snapped around and scowled.
"If I leave then who will be here for you? I know I need to leave and save our country, but if I do then we'll be separated. You'll be alone… what if the Mongols raid the abode when I'm gone."
"Wha-" Michi stuttered. "So now you think of me as defenseless? Remind me, who was it again who showed you to better handle a sword. Who was it that kicked your ass all over our training ground."
"No I didn't-"
"Who was it who covered for you when my grandfather refused to show you our ways? Who was it that convinced him to allow you to stay?"
Kyohei didn't say a word, and all the while, the leaves fell from the trees as the wind blew.
"Why?! Why are you suddenly acting this way: acting like some confused child who can't stand on his own two feet?"
"I-" Kyohei said as he clenched a fist.
"We've known each other for years! You saved my life when the Mongols first attacked. You can talk to me!"
"I don't know what to say, I don't want-"
"Want what?"
"I don't want to-"
"If you don't want to go to Tsushima, then don't! But what will Lord Namikaze say?"
"That's what I want."
"Then what?"
Izuku felt something change, the air felt dry and scorched, and the Yuki simply watched.
"I DON'T WANT TO LOSE YOU THE WAY I LOST SAYURI!"
The man's scream caused everything to go quiet, like a loud explosion had deafened the area. Michi felt fear strike her heart, and her face was terrified of Kyohei's newfound rage.
"Sayuri was the only family I had left, and the Mongols took her from me. She was my younger sister. It was my duty to protect her, and I failed! Do you understand?!
"And now Lord Namikaze expects me to just... leave you and join him on Tsushima. I HATE having to make that choice!"
"Kyohei… I-"
"You're strong. I know that, but I don't want to leave. I don't want to leave your side!"
Michi felt her heart race, it started beating faster than it had her entire life.
What is this feeling…?
"I don't want to leave because… you're important to me Akiyama!" Kyohei cried as he approached the woman. His breath became erratic, and his eyes began to water. "You're so… determined, smart, passionate-"
Kyohei sucked the air through his nose, and he began shaking.
"And well, I've been trying to say this for some time now but…"
Before he knew it, Michi slapped him across the face. The impact was so painful that it felt like several bees had stung him at once.
"Ow! What was that for?!"
And then, Izuku blushed profusely, and the Yuki covered her mouth in flattery.
Michi swiftly approached Kyohei, and kissed him. The man was shocked, perplexed by the sudden motion. He could feel her lips on his own, and he closed his eyes embracing her. Tears fell down his cheeks as they engaged with each other and continued to kiss under the moon, and before long, Michi stopped, and looked Kyohei in his ash gray eyes.
"You're a damn fool… but I'm a bigger one." She said with a soft smile.
The memory faded away and the darkness returned, Izuku felt his heart racing in the breeze that entered the small space. He breathed frantically and held his chest from what he just saw, he felt a rush of deep passion and love fill his soul in ways he had never felt before. He tried to control his breathing, tried to pace around, but he couldn't stop this strange sensation. The Yuki approached him, and simply breathed a small gust of snow. Izuku had calmed down instantly, and he felt his senses return to normal.
"Is that better?" The Yuki asked.
"Yeah… thanks, what was that about?" Izuku asked in a chilled voice.
"I believe you're falling into my memories, they are having an effect on you. You're still alive, and human after all." The Yuki explained. "That was our first kiss, and after that well…"
She suddenly turned away.
"We… let our passion thrive that night."
Izuku squinted his eyes, and then it hit him. His eyes felt like they were about to explode from his skull and he covered his mouth while blushing once more.
"Oh… ohh !" He muttered. "Wow t-that's a pretty uh… wow it sure is hot in here don't you think?" He said nervously. "Uh… say have you ever heard about Heroes in our time? People like All Might or Hawks? Endeavor? Oh! Maybe Mount Lady or Kamui Woods?!"
The Yuki sighed and faced Izuku with a look of annoyance and disappointment.
"Relax human, we're skipping that section. That's private… very private."
"Oh… o-okay." Izuku whimpered. He hid his face in his hands. "How did we even get to this topic?" He muttered.
"Look at you, you're an adolescent, I can tell you're approaching that age where you may also start to have those… feelings for someone you will come to love!" The Yuki cried in laughter. "How old are you?"
"Oh, uh... I just turned 15 a few months ago." Izuku answered.
"Fifteen, you're so young to be challenging someone like me then." The Yuki replied. "In truth, back when the Mongols invaded, short lives were common. When Kyohei and I kissed, and when we... 'embraced' each other... we were both 17 years of age."
"Oh, wow that's... uh..."
"You really lack a spine, boy!" The Yuki chuckled. "We weren't thinking that far ahead, we still needed to survive the war! But to be honest, that night was the first time I had felt truly happy and free from everything. The war, my grandfather, all the duties of being a samurai... Kyohei felt the same way. We were alive, much like you. But now... now I'm dead..."
However, that joy was short lived, the Yokai sighed and looked at the ground.
"You're still alive and filled with feelings I can't have anymore…"
Izuku looked up from his hands and cleared his throat. He turned his attention back to the matter at hand and focused his mind.
"That's not true, if you didn't have feelings, you wouldn't have felt all that anger, right?" He asked. The Yuki scoffed, and turned away.
"The next memory… the last one… is the last thing I remember before my death. I don't want to relive it again…"
" Akiyama -" Izuku said.
"Don't call me that! Michi Akiyama died centuries ago!"
Izuku remained steadfast, and approached the Yokai with caution.
"If you want the pain to stop, we have to see it to the end. I trust you." Izuku said, he raised his head, and his emerald eyes met the Yokai's. In that moment, the Yuki saw it, the same compassionate smoke that ran in Kyohei's eyes.
"Do you trust yourself to do the right thing?"
Those words, they were so much like his, the young samurai. She felt something rush through her body, a sensation she thought had died with her body. She looked at her hands, her fingers remained chipped and black from the frostbite she endured for all those nights, and in that moment, she snapped them shut. The room had changed again, the moon hung in the sky, and all that was visible… was a snow covered mountain. Izuku felt a ravenous animosity sprinkle down like snow in a winter storm. The clouds spiraled at the mountain's peak, the woods waved around viciously, and Izuku heard the harrowing cries of foxes and wolves. He shook in fear. His blood ran fast through his veins, and yet, he formed a fist.
"It's okay, because I'm here to see it with you. You're not alone anymore." Izuku reassured.
The Yuki looked at the boy, and frozen tears lined her face. Blood seeped from her lips and lined her sleeves, her blue eyes had contorted to a twisted crimson, and her face had become tarnished. Izuku gulped, as the fear had returned yet again, but he stood his ground, and was ready.
"Very well, Izuku Midoriya…" The Yuki whispered, blood dripped on the ground as she spoke. "Promise me… that you won't leave…"
Izuku smirked, and lifted his fist in front of him.
"I promise!" He shouted. The Yuki wheezed, and soon, she was standing in a pool of blood.
"Fine… I'll show you that day…"
And in the distance, she heard someone crying out in the wind. It was waning and fading, growing weaker with each moment. She closed her eyes and let out a saddened breath, she allowed the pain to latch on, and in the darkness, she saw the only thing that remained. The skin turned a light blue from the cold, her fingers and toes were stained black from frostbite, and her face… her face was frozen with a look of terror and desperation.
Deep in the snow, lay her frozen body, so easily forgotten…