Soft steps in the winter snow of the Northern Mountain. How long had it been? She didn't know.

Oh. She paused in her icy cold steps. That's right. It's "Yoro" now.

She continued trudging, tracking in the pure white snow. He sighed. As usual, leaving a trail.

She sneezed. Would it never end?

But…

She looked at Inosuke. At least she had him. Now she was not alone. They traveled in silence, hoping for something at the top.

Ku—Yoro had traveled here into the mountains, fighting the heat, the haze, on the fringes, not human or wolf…

And now she didn't know why she kept going up the mountain. Maybe she hoped there would be something beautiful on the other side. Maybe she could be human again?

And stop Inosuke from losing himself to the beast as she had. Someday he had to cool down and be human again, or he wold burn forever.

They strode fruitlessly to the top. The snow and wind seemed to stop around them, and a hush descended. At the base of the mountain was a shrine.

Yoro gasped, and Inosuke stared at her. The memories of her human life returned, and the spell almost failed.

As they passed through the wisteria and they became human in the sanctuary of the shrine—

Inosuke looked around irritably. Unfortunately, despite his anger, he was actually happy to be around her.

Yoro smiled as she showed him around.

Inosuke shivered. It was so cold here. Maybe that's why it was so easy to remain human. He couldn't burn anymore. His body was hot, but he world wasn't.

The haze had lifted, and she was the ice cold moon.

This wasn't like he'd expected. He'd seen mating dances before, and they didn't look as good as this felt.

Inosuke was still in intense pain from the loss of his human friends. But now he felt…better.

As he looked around the Final Selection, he felt like he could find a home here. Fighting monsters, eating as much as he wanted, having a place to rest…being with her…

Inosuke wondered if Yoro was using her power to end his pain. He had to know. He couldn't cause her pain.

Inosuke grabbed Yoro's shoulder. She whirled, and…

They kissed.

And then she began to disappear. Inosuke growled at her.

"You tricked me, Yoro or Kurai or whatever your real name is!"

Yoro bristled. "My name is Kuri, INOSUKE BOAR HEAD HASHIBIRA!"

"That is NOT my name!"