~Chapter Fifty-Eight~

The sun rose, and with it came a new day. Winter quietly got dressed, slipping on a black kimono with red flowers on it that had been left out. She braided her hair back, a few strands coming loose and framing her face. She paused as she passed by a mirror, her fingers lightly tracing the scar that clipped the edge of her jaw and slides diagonally across her throat, her mind cluttered with memories and thoughts.

Her hand dropped and she walked out of the room, sorting through her messy mind and putting things in order. She was greeted by the melancholic smiles of her teammates, the twins dressed in finer clothes than normal.

"I never realized returning to the living would require such formal wear." Riku murmured, pulling at the collar of his own kimono.

"I'm surprised you're actually obeying the rules for once," Ryu stated, "I expected you to show up shirtless and ten minutes late."

"That was one time!"

Ryu raised an eyebrow, staring at his brother with disbelief.

"Okay, it was more than once, but still this is a special occasion."

"You showed up to a wedding like that, we seriously need to get you a dictionary."

Winter laughed, "I could care less how you guys dressed, as long as you're coming with me that's all that matters."

"We wouldn't miss this for the world." They spoke in unison, causing the smile to grow on Winter's face. Ah yes, she was going to miss them so much, but she was grateful she was able to spend a few more minutes with them.

"We're going to be late you hooligans." Inazuma snapped, her purple hair up in a bun and her kimono glistening in the light, a beautiful field of flowers all over the fabric.

"Don't get your granny panties in a twist, we're coming ya hag." Riku said, looping his arm through Winter's. Ryu, always the gentleman, offered Inazuma his own arm who was steaming at Riku's words. They made their way out of the woods, walking along the cobblestone paved streets.

The sky was overcast, still tinged hints of pink and orange, the air cool and pleasant. People were out and about, going on with their daily activities, at peace in the afterlife. Winter took it all in, knowing it would be a long time before she came back here.

"A penny for your thoughts?" Riku asked softly, glancing down at her.

"I'm a bit nervous," Winter admitted, "I was talking to Inazuma and there's a chance I may end up on some random island. I'd rather just be dumped into the Storm Village and get it all over with."

"Get what over with?"

"The whole coming back to life, the fact that the village has likely changed and the people I knew are going to be different, in both subtle and vibrant ways."

"Well, to be fair, you've changed as well."

She looked up at him, "How so?"

He paused, gathering his thoughts, "Well, when I first met you, you were this bundle of nerves that was slowly coming out of your shell. You were this growing mass of wind, and then we, ah, died and it was like you erupted in fury. You grew closed off and cold, a true testament to your name, and you became this thunderstorm of anger and distrust and threw lightning at anyone who dared to look at you wrong.

When you joined Team 7 that storm within you slowly became an... an anticyclone of sorts. Still brushing away those you just met but letting those who pushed through your coldness to rest in the calm of the storm, getting to know them better.

As the next few years passed you became a passing storm cloud, alighting with anger when necessary and then—" he broke off with an embarrassed cough, "I'm totally overdoing it with all the storm analogies aren't I?"

Winter smirked, "Just a little bit."

"Anyways, the point is, you've become more comfortable with who you are. You've mastered your abilities and defend those you care about without question. And while you've been here, you've finally achieved a form of peace, something that has been missing from your life for a long time. But all of these changes have made you who you are because you shall always be Winter Ookami, part time ninja, full time savage."

Winter laughed, "Thank you."

"Anytime."

They came to the base of a mountain, stairs carved into the side, swirling in an upward spiral, ascending into the clouds. The four shinobi walked up the staircase, finding themselves high in the air with the clouds as company. The air grew colder and there was an eerie stillness that enveloped them, the wind not daring to tread upon this sacred ground.

Frost glistened on the dark green grass, their breath appearing as swirling, translucent mist. The mountain top was curved inwards, creating a half-moon for part of the mountain was gone, leaving only the blue sky and clouds. A floating discus stood far out, the item about the same size as a small pond. Pillars floated in a jagged formation above the discus, small chips and cracks hinting at their age.

A goddess stood at the edge of the mountain, the veil concealing her immortality released, a soft golden light encasing her. Standing next to her was Aiden, her older brother holding something gently in his hands.

Winter walked over, Aiden taking a few steps forward to meet her. He smiled, the two standing inches apart, and he tucked the blue flower he'd been holding in his hands behind her left ear. "Something to help you remember all of us watching over you." She smiled at him, a hint of her nervousness showing through the slightly tremble in her hands.

"I want you to know that I am very proud of who you've become and that I know mom and dad would say the same."

Winter tilted her head slightly, "And who have I become?"

"Winter Ookami, a shinobi with a giant heart and a fearsome reputation. A girl with a storm trapped in her eyes and loyalty engraved in her soul. A warrior with a knack for getting out of tough situations, for surviving the impossible, and shouldering burdens that no one should ever have to. My dear little sister, who has a twin that she'd do anything for, and a family, not by blood, but by choice that she'd sacrifice everything for. You're a legend, a hero, someone who raised a village from the dead, a true Storm Bringer, and a guardian."

A soft smile spread across her face, "A guardian of what exactly?"

Aiden shrugged, "A guardian of the storm I suppose."

Winter hugged her older brother, closing her eyes and committing this moment to memory. "Thank you," she murmured, "for always believing in me."

"Of course, that's what big brothers are for." He kissed the top of her head before letting go, "Now it's time for you to go back home."

"This will always be my home."

"You can have more than one home, Winter."

The goddess cleared her throat, "I'm not getting any younger here, and I'd like to get back home before noon so I can take a nap. So... let's start shall we?"

Winter let go of her brother, hugging Ryu, Riku, and Inazuma one last time before walking over to the goddess. Her eyes widen in surprised as she took in the familiar, ever changing eyes, and the short black hair. Sen winked at her before grabbing her shoulder, murmuring a few words underneath her breath.

Winter felt her heart skip a beat, the world blurring in and out of focus, and the ground vanishing from underneath her feet. She let out a shaky breath, spinning around in confusion as she appears on the discus.

Clouds veil the long drop all around the discus, her teammates and brother now looking small and far away. Sen threw her head back, her arms outstretched as she chanted, a red aura appearing around Winter. The black haired girl gasped, clutching at her chest and pain spikes through her body. She felt as if her skin had grown too tight, her heart beating too fast, her lungs not catching enough air.

Dying had hurt, but returning to life felt like hell.

Her body was on fire, each shaky breath ripping her fragile lungs apart, the oxygen burning burning burning as it slithered down her throat and flooded her veins. Her heart pounded against her ribcage and she was faintly surprised it didn't gnaw through her ribcage and escape her body.

A ghastly voice echoed overhead, the feminine voice painted with pain and purpose. The sky darkened and a chorus of unending voices clamoring to be heard— screeches of agony and cries for help scraping on fragile ears as souls who wished to be brought back to life fought to take Winter's place.

Sen chanted louder, her voice echoing around the space, the discus slowly shrinking with each word. She flicked her wrist, a small, decorative, fan appearing in it, and waved her arm upwards, a large wind coursing through the air and slamming into Winter, a few flakes of snow touching her hair.

Winter stumbled back, her black hair whipping around her face as she stumbled off the floating discus, vanishing with a loud clap of thunder. A ripple of raw power rocked Heaven and Aiden's face drained of all color.

"What the hell just happened?" Inazuma sputtered out.

"Well," Sen said nonchalantly whilst looking at her nails and debating on what color she should paint them next, "correct me if I'm wrong, but that was Winter Ookami descending back into the living..." The goddess smirked as a thought crossed her mind.

"That fall is going to hurt like a bitch."

***

Ja'far walked through the forest, his arms linked behind his head as he cooled off having finished his training for the day. The sky was clear for once, the sun beating down on the usually rainy village.

A lot had been on his mind the past few weeks, although the meeting with Emiko had taken up most of the space in his mind. Him, a leader? What was she thinking when she said that? Ja'far Fukkishimi had always been one to blend into the background, a perfectly average shinobi who could complete the tasks thrown at him and made his clan happy.

But this his Kekkai Genkai had developed, the mist that was supposed to be used to attack and suffocate instead taking the form of a shield that rose with a subconscious thought. It was never heard of, and anything that was new made the elders of his clan suspicious.

So he became an outcast of sorts, still respected for his skills, but no longer a candidate for any higher positions in his clan.

He let out a sigh, tipping his head back and letting the sun warm up his face.

Why did life have to be so complicated?

He made it to his house, unlocking the door and slipping his sandals off, wandering into his kitchen. He was in the process of making onigiri when his door slammed open, Eien running into his house.

Ja'far frowned deeply, his eyes scanning the teenager from head to toe. Eien's hair was a mess as if he'd run his hands one too many times through it, his clothes rumpled and his expression wide and panicked. "What's wrong?"

Eien gulped several mouthfuls of air, trying to fill up his deflated lungs. "S-she, she's gone Ja'far. I went to check on her to make sure the process was going well and at first, I thought I might be hallucinating or something because I haven't been well, but I wasn't. She really wasn't there and I don't understand because no one can go down there except for me and—"

"Woah woah woah, slow down," Ja'far said, trying to keep his voice soothing. He waited for Eien to take a deep breath before asking, "Okay, who's gone?"

"Winter, her body, it's gone."

wow, i'm surpised at how fast i managed to write this (and, bonus, it's 2,000 words exactly woooo)

QotC: what songs do you think suit this book (lowkey making a playlist for it so...) + where do you think Winter will end up?