A cold wind wrapped around Ichimatsu as he struggled to keep his eyes open.

Although it was just a dream, keeping his eyes open was always key. If he closed them, there was the possibility of something terrible happening. Since he often accidentally DID close his eyes, he experienced and suffered from many nightmares.

"Stay open..." Ichimatsu thought desperately, the wind wrapping itself around his neck, nearly choking him to death. "Please stay open...please stay open...stay...."

Ichimatsu fell to the ground, blood spewing out of his mouth, trickling down his cheeks.

Cringing in pain, Ichimatsu drew his legs towards his chest and covered his head with his hands.

Whatever was out there trying to attack him, Ichimatsu knew this was the only way to attempt not bring killing.

"Ichimatsu...." a voice whispered, a hand gently stroking his cheek. "You're so ill....why don't you come with me? Take my hand if you wish, and I will bring you to a place of solitude. A place where even your own thoughts can't attack you like this cold."

Ichimatsu reached out his hand, not even thinking of what would happen. His cold fingers barely brushed the stranger's hand, and the moment he touched them, warmth and joy flooded his body. Yet, when his hand fell back to the ground, all he could feel was despair.

"Take me!" Ichimatsu rasped desperately, his throat growing dry from the wind.

"Take my hand, my friend..." the voice said, chuckling a bit as they crouched down to Ichimatsu's height on the ground. "I cannot take you against your will, even if you have said the words already."

Ichimatsu's hand trembled, his heart thudding loudly in his chest.

Weakly, Ichimatsu reached out his hand, grabbing tightly to the stranger.

But the very second he did such, Ichimatsu didn't feel warmth. He felt regret.

Eyes growing heavier and heavier, Ichimatsu finally gave in, closing them tightly. His body grew limp as the stranger lifted them up out of the snow around them.

"You fool..." the stranger chuckled again. "You're just like the rest. Gullible. Foolish. Worthless. I'll only be doing the world a favor..."

The stranger walked towards the edge of a cliff on the very top of the mountain which Ichimatsu had been on.

Snow fell down the cliff as the stranger peered over the edge, now barely holding onto Ichimatsu.

"Wake up," the stranger whispered into Ichimatsu's ear, causing his eyes to snap back open.

Struggling, Ichimatsu tried to get out of the stranger's arms, suddenly quite terrified.

"Let me go!" Ichimatsu screeched, clawing at the stranger's back. "Let me go!"

"Oh?" the stranger chuckled, loosening his already weak grip on the boy. "Are you sure?"

"Put me down!" Ichimatsu screamed, wanting to be back on the ground.

"I'll put you down, child. Hush..." the stranger comforted, only to completely let go of Ichimatsu, sending him flying down the mountain.

Ichimatsu awoke.