Akashi's POV :

She called me Sei. It brought back memories. She reminded me of mother.

Her beautiful smile, those glistening eyes, her warmth and along with it came, her last words, her last breath, and the image of her lying in my arms for one last time.

I couldn't stand it.

I left.

I know it hurt Akira more than she would ever admit, but that was the right thing to do. Maybe not.

~~

I rode on my horse for a while, away from her hideout.

Twilight fell as if a shade had been placed over the sun, robbing the forest of it's brilliant virescent hues and replacing them with a washed out khaki-grey.

I jumped off my horse and walked around in the woods. Where would I go?  Should I leave Rakuzan?

I was lost in my thoughts.The mountain ahead was pristine and white, even the dark green of the pines was mostly coated in the crystalline snow.

I could stand here drinking it all in, listening to the silence that hangs so thickly in the frigid air.

But I must keep moving to stay warm. I walked on for some time until I found foot prints on snow coated ground beneath me.  It got me curious.

It wasn't an animal. It's a human foot. Who would walk around in these woods?

Is it her? Akira? She wouldn't run this far into the woods. She has a horse. 

I tried to convince myself that it wasn't her. But something in me forced me to follow those ambiguous foot prints. I protested with myself for a while before giving in.

I followed foot impressions until they faded away. It took me a few hours to get there and I was out of my breath.

I looked up to see blazing fire and a female near it. I could only see her long black hair as  I made my way towards her.

" Ahem.. " I coughed a bit.

But she didn't turn around. 

I gently gave her shoulder a tap, and she finally turned towards me.

Akira .

It was her. Why is she here? We are out of Rakuzan. I looked at her as she rubbed her arms together.

Her eyes collected and bore tragically every wrongdoing that had been poured upon her, the lips smiled but those eyes ceased to be a part of this world.

" Are you okay? " I asked.

"  I came looking for you. " she stated, leaving my question unanswered. I didn't push it further.

Guilt washed over me. I shouldn't have left. As I shifted my gaze away from her, I noticed a small hut behind her, and made my way towards it.

The door was left ajar, and as I stepped in, the wooden floor made a creaking noise.

I opened the door further so that more light could be brought in. I could hear groans. I hesitated, but walked in anyway. I stepped on something thick and fat, and I immediately jumped back when I heard someone yelp in pain.

By now, my eyes were adjusted to the darkness inside the house, and I could see better.

I saw four men laying on the ground, panting and howling in pain. While one was hung upside down to the ceiling and other was half out of a window.

My eyes widened in shock, before a smirk crept its way onto my lips. I rushed out and found her standing still, unmoved from her older position.

"Akira" I called out. " Did you do all that?"

" Yes" she answered.

They must've done something really disturbing.

Otherwise she wouldn't have caused this to them.  She has indeed gotten stronger.

" Did they hurt you? "

"  No " she said. But her hands were trembling and so did her lips.

" You've done well. Don't be afraid,. It's over. "

"  I'm not afraid. I'm brave and strong enough to protect myself " she stated firmly.

" Go back home " I stated, and made my way towards my horse.

I walked a few steps before she tackled me with a hug from behind. Her chest was pressed against my back.

" Why did you leave?  Why Sei? " my body stiffened before it relaxed.

The hug was a simple enough gesture which put forth a lot of affection, perhaps the fragile beginnings of love.

The arms that held me were soft, yet strong. The feeling of her body so close to mine soothed me more than I  had expected.

I turned around to face her. She let go of me for a moment, but hugged me back again.

" I was so scared"

She tightened her grip around me.

" Stay"  she said.

This is how mom said it would be. Love. I sighed and shut my eyes. Should I hug back? I smiled to myself, before wrapping my arms around her.

" Scared? I thought someone was being brave. "

" No". She further buried her face into my chest. I gave her head a gentle pat.

" I'm sorry" I apologized.

She loosened enough so that she could pull apart a bit in order to look at my face. She gave me a questioning look.

" Just don't leave again " she said.

Her eyes met mine. We stayed in that position for a while before she decided to lean in and close the gap between us.

Her face moved closer and closer to mine, while I just stayed motionless.

Her lips were merely inches away from mine.

She closed her eyes and reached up to claim my lips.

Right when our lips were about to touch, I placed my palm in between.

She shot her eyes open, and quickly pulled away. Her hands fell to her sides as she took a step back.

" I.. I'm sorry" said she.

" Let's go Akira "