Rain trickles down from a dark clouded sky. Two hooded figures walk by the path with their shoes rugged and muddy from the walk. Their clothes are soaked through as nature solemnly sings either side of them as they walk silently side by side.

  Two large rucksacks bounce from side to side as they continue walking underneath the trees that tower over them. One of the two gives the other a look of concern from under the hood as water taps against taps against them. The other looks back reassuringly and smiles.

  The two figures reach a large tree prompting the taller of the two to tap the other and point at the spot for a break. They sit their stuff down and lean against one another. The silence lies as water drips through the leaves above and ripples into the puddles lying beside them. Eventually one slowly pulls back their hood.

  Hatsuho sighs in relief and smiles yet her eyes tell the story of a woman tired of running and a woman trying with all her might to hold everything back for the benefit of the other hooded figure. Hiro takes down his hood and leans back against the tree.

  His hair is long. His face has matured. Years have passed since his village was destroyed. His eyes have the same tired look as his mother. She wipes the rain from his face and they smile to one another. They huddle together for warmth. Hatsuho looks in pain as she cuddles into her son.

  She softly places her cheek on top of his head and strokes his hair. She chuckles slightly.

  “We’ll have to get this cut don’t you think?”

  He doesn’t answer which worries her until she looks down at him. He sleeps with his head buried into her. Her face drops once more as she bites her lip trying to hold back her tears.

  One single tear slips through and drips onto his cheek. She kisses him on the forehead and closes her pained eyes as she places her head onto his.

  The two sleep either side of one another hidden away from the road behind the large tree.

  The sun slowly rises as clouds part; rays glimmer off a nearby river as it flows through a deep forest. Trees wave as a breeze flows along the river caressing the grass and picking petals with it. The calm waters pass under a bridge as Hiro hangs over smiling down. He watches as fish swim from one side to the other, his face the picture of childlike wonder.

  “woah… and this is called a river?”

  Hatsuho slowly strolls up next to him and places her arm around his shoulder leaning into him

  “I think so… it’s pretty whatever it is”

  The two stare on as the river continues under the overhanging trees. Hiro stares at the water intently as Hatsuho looks around seemingly watching for anyone that comes near. Hiro slowly grows closer to the water below until his reflection meets him face to face. He touches his long hair as it hangs down almost touching the water

  “you want to cut it?”

  Hatsuho’s reflection hangs above his in the water as he stares at himself. He tilts his head assessing the way he looks for the first time in a while

  “what do you think?”

  He turns to his mother and awaits an answer. She tilts her head and scratches her chin slightly. Hiro stares back at her in silence as she keeps tilting her head from side to side trying to come up with an answer. her head sits almost horizontal until she breaks the silence.

  “I don’t know”

  Hiro’s face drops in annoyance as Hatsuho chuckles. Hiro sighs and slowly lifts a palm full of water over his head and basks in the stinging coldness as it drips from his hair.

  Just as he begins to speak to his mother the two hear voices from the nearby path. Hatsuho instantly grabs Hiro and pulls him under the bridge. She covers his mouth as they lean against the stone holding atop the rusted bridge above. Water dances at their feet as the men walk above them. Hatsuho’s breathing becomes heavier as dust from the above bridge drifts down towards them sprinkling atop the calm river. The two men stop just above them.

  “you think its calm enough to cast a line?”

  the other man laughs

  “just what I was waiting for!”

  Hatsuho puts her head back in relief slowly sliding down the wall as if to give her heart a break. Hiro sits beside his mother as the water continues flowing

  “it’s cold”

  he whispers with a grin.

  She turns to him and feigns a smile

  “it is…”

  As Hiro puts his hand deep into the water again Hatsuho slowly drops her smile. Hiro pulls his hand out quickly, the freezing water makes him chuckle. Hatsuho just watches his smile as she slowly loses hers.

  The sun begins to set as the two walk along the path once more. Their hoods cover their faces as their large back packs swing from side to side. The loss of the sun casts darkness on them as Hatsuho reaches out her hand towards her son. Hiro looks at it puzzled.

  “I-I’m a little old to hold my mother’s hand”

  she continues to hold her hand out, even shaking it at him. He chuckles slightly before grabbing hold of it.

  “I’ll always hold your hand no matter what age you are…”

  Hiro laughs

  “shut up”

  She pouts slightly

  “that’s probably not something a kid should say to their mommy…”

  The two walk along in the darkness, the moon the only thing lighting their way.

  Time slowly passes. The sun rises and falls again. Days, weeks and eventually months go by of their lives together. The two only have one another, hand in hand. Saddening glances towards Hiro become more regular for Hatsuho as time went on but Hiro was just happy to have his mother after everything that had gone down and as long as she was there, he can still smile.

  The two stand by a small pond as they seem to be waiting on something. Just as Hatsuho goes to speak Hiro jumps into the water with a crash. Hatsuho watches intently through the splashing and the noise as eventually Hiro stands triumphant lifting a fish above his head. They both jump up and down unable to withhold their excitement.

  Night falls and they cook the fish over a fire. the two sit either side watching slowly

  “we’ll have to move quickly because of the fire…”

  Hiro smiles while watching the fish slowly cook over a spitting campfire. He almost looks like a dog as he dribbles at the mere thought of eating it. He continues staring intently as Hatsuho packs things into one of the large bags

  Hatsuho chuckles as she watches him

  “you know it’ll only go slower the more you look at it”

  Hiro hangs his head

  “I just need it so bad…”

  she laughs as she snips a pair of scissors

  “the perfect time then?”

  Hiro’s eyes light up

  “woah where’d you get them?”

  she looks proud of herself as she taps her nose

  “you’ll never know”

  Hiro raises an eyebrow as Hatsuho’s proud look drops and she quietly mutters

  “ok… we had them for a year I just didn’t see them…”

  Hiro holds in his laughter as Hatsuho blushes

  “you shush boy! It was an honest mistake… a-anyone could’ve missed them!”

  Hiro grins

  “for a whole year?”

  she pouts as she pats the ground

  “y’know it’s a rule to never piss someone off while they’re holding scissors”

  Hiro chuckles as he slowly shuffles in front of his mother. she sighs as she places her hand on his head, the fish sizzling infront of them. His brown hair slowly drifts away with every snip. The blowing of the trees the only other sound around them as they sit peacefully. Hatsuho smiles but her eyes seem saddened, they hold grief but a fear of the next step.

  “Mother…?”

  she swallows before quietly answering

  “yes?”

  he looks to the ground, his eyes holding back his sadness. His face scrunches slightly as if to stop the tears from being able to escape as he says

  “do you think she’s alive?”

  the sound of the snipping scissors stop as he stares forward. Just as he begins to turn around to see his mother she places her hands on his cheeks, her chin slowly leans against the top of his head.

  “I truly hope so…”

  Her arms slide down to hug him from behind. She leans her cheek against the back of his head as he smiles softly

  “I do too…”

  Hatsuho slowly turns his head around until they look at one another eye to eye as she smiles softly at him. He slowly smiles back and they hug just as Hatsuho opens her eyes she sees a small puff of black smoke coming from the direction of the fish. Her eyes shoot open before she jumps up

  “oh shit the fish!”

  Hiro jumps up and holds his head

  “no!”

  They both try to get over as fast as they can, stumbling over one another until Hiro holds the black fish in his hands. Smoke whisps off of it as it looks inedible

  “my fish…”

  they both stand over it upset. Hatsuho sighs and shrugs

  “well there’s always the next one I guess…”

  They both hang their heads as they pack everything up, just as they start packing the rain slowly drips down almost trying to match their mood. Hatsuho groans as Hiro slumps over

  “and now it’s raining”

  Hatsuho pats him in the back smiling

  “welp! Let’s get walking”

  he mutters back as he follows just behind her.

  Clouds grow darker and darker as the rain becomes heavier and heavier until eventually it crashes down on the two. They run through the mud as it slams against the ground around them. Hatsuho points out a small shack just off the path, they both run towards it slipping and sliding on the muddy path on their way. Hatsuho slams on the door shouting for anyone to answer. she gets annoyed and just about pulls the door off its hinges

  “hello?”

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  No one resides inside, the place is empty apart from a rundown bed and a few broken parts of furniture. They both drop their stuff as they look around, water drips from the ceiling and the window is but a hole in the wall.

  Hatsuho laughs awkwardly “at least it’s got a bed?”

  The bed breaks in half as Hiro sits down and after a second of silence they both laugh together. They board up the window with rags to stop the rain getting in, they plug the holes above the bed with small rocks and bits of dirt and Hatsuho breathes a sigh of relief as she finally sits down

  “See? Just a fixer upper” Hatsuho is barely convincing herself.

  Hiro looks around before sitting on the bed and lying back, looking up at the ceiling as Hatsuho slowly leans back and joins him. They lie in silence as they look up at the run down plugged up roof, water still getting through ever so slightly. A small drop taps on Hiro’s cheek and runs down onto the bed.

  Hatsuho slowly twists onto her side to face him, he keeps staring up. She wipes the hair on his head as he slowly turns to her.

  “it’s been 3 years since…” Hiro looks up at the roof once more

  “and after all that time… you haven’t brought her up…” Hiro seems to hold back his emotions

  “why?” she whispers to him as he feels another droplet on his face joined by a tear as they fall down his cheek before joining and dripping onto the bed.

  Hiro turns to his mother “I miss her mother…”

  Hatsuho bites her lip in pain “I’m sorry…”

  she wipes the tear from his cheek “I’m so sorry…”

  she keeps smiling as tears begin to build up

  “Why do you keep smiling?”

  she swallows trying to hold back, “your dad once told me that if you smiled at the worst times, then it would be easier to smile during the good…”

  Hiro stares at his mother as she continues smiling, she sits up and turns to him

  “don’t you think that’s stupid?” she laughs as she says it.

  Hiro stares at her trying to hold back his tears unsuccessfully, they drip down both cheeks as he tries to force a smile. They both lean back and laugh

  “that’s so dumb” Hiro cries as they both laugh looking up at the ceiling. Hatsuho slowly grabs hold of his as they lie together laughing

  “We did a terrible job… there’s so many dripping on us” they both laugh as tears stream down their faces. They hold hands tightly as the moon hides behind black clouds. Both of their cracking laughs fill the empty shack.

  Hiro opened his eyes to darkness. Nothing around him, no sound, no sight. Slowly, a voice began to call out, a heavy breath echoing through the void. Someone feared this dark place, and they feared the voice. Black hands reached out from the shadows, creeping closer, growing larger. White eyes revealed themselves from the darkness, locking onto him.

  A woman’s voice echoed, muffled by the oppressive dark. The black hands were nearly upon his face when Hiro suddenly jolted awake.

  Hatsuho gasped, her hands hovering above Hiro’s cheeks in shock.

  “Are you trying to kill me?!” she exclaimed.

  Hiro’s breath came in quick, shallow gasps. His heart raced as he looked around, disoriented. “Are you okay, Hiro?” Hatsuho asked gently, her voice filled with concern.

  Rubbing his eyes, Hiro glanced up at his mother. “I guess… just a bad dream.”

  She embraced him tightly. “Well, your mommy is here to protect you!”

  Hiro squirmed slightly, clearly embarrassed. “Okay! Okay!” He nudged her off of him. She slowly opened the door, squinting against the sunlight.

  “Looks like the sun decided to come out,” she remarked.

  Hiro shielded his eyes from the harsh rays as he stepped outside. The shack, barely standing, stuck out like a sore thumb against the lush greenery surrounding it. The trees looked reborn, their leaves shimmering in the sunlight. Birds chirped, and the wind hummed, filling the air with life.

  Stretching, Hiro glanced at the path they’d come from. Mud covered everything, with large holes marking where each of them had stepped.

  “Oops…”

  Hatsuho hung their clothes on a rope tied between two trees, smiling brightly. “Look, Hiro! I’m doing what normal moms do!”

  Hiro couldn’t help but laugh, walking over to help her with the clothes. Her black eyes shone in the sunlight, and her black-and-white hair fluttered in the wind. Hiro’s brown hair whipped around alongside hers.

  “It’s shining, sure, but the sun didn’t bless us with warmth, huh?” Hiro commented, shivering slightly.

  Hatsuho chuckled, looking at him with a teasing smile. “Hey, look at you!”

  She stared at his chest, her eyes widening slightly. “My little boy is turning into a man before my very eyes!”

  Hiro sighed, glancing at his mother. Her small vest revealed the many scars on her back, a silent testament to the pain she had endured.

  “Don’t worry, your clothes will be dry soon… probably,” she said, trying to sound reassuring.

  Hiro groaned. “Just say you don’t know…”

  Hatsuho stared at the clothes with confusion. “I’ve never done this in my life…”

  Hiro chuckled as he headed inside the shack. “Hey, wait!”

  Hatsuho’s voice stopped him. She was holding her arm out, looking at him with a mischievous grin. “Seeing as I’m seeing progress, why don’t we train a little?”

  Hiro tilted his head in confusion. “Train? For what?”

  She slouched and sighed, looking almost disappointed. “Don’t you want to impress the ladies with your sick abs?”

  He stared at her blankly. She stared back, unbothered. “Men?” she added with a knowing smile.

  Hiro sighed again and reluctantly got into a fighting stance. Hatsuho chuckled. “Don’t worry, I know there’s only one woman for you… me.” She slowly clenched her fists, getting ready.

  Her scars were visible once more — deep slashes covering her back, small cuts dotting her neck, though her stomach and face remained unmarked. Her knuckles, however, showed signs of serious damage.

  “So, are we—”

  Just as Hiro relaxed to speak, Hatsuho charged at him. Her movements were fast, but there was no real intent behind them. Hiro barely managed to dodge as her punch missed his face by mere inches.

  She sighed dramatically, then kicked his legs out from under him, sending him crashing to the ground.

  “I’m sorry,” she said, her voice apologetic but with a hint of amusement. “I didn’t think you’d get flattened…”

  Hiro slowly got up, smiling despite himself. “You definitely did.”

  Hatsuho shrugged nonchalantly. “Maybe…”

  She got into a defensive stance again. “Why don’t you just try and hit me?”

  Hiro tilted his head in confusion. “Shouldn’t you be showing me how to fight?”

  Her face went blank, and she scratched her chin, pondering. “How? Don’t you just… do it?”

  They stared at each other for a long moment, both equally confused.

  “You tell me…” Hatsuho muttered, scratching her head. “I think your father said I fight on ‘instinct’?”

  Hiro blinked, still lost. “What’s an instinct?”

  “I don’t know,” Hatsuho admitted with a shrug. “But we have to get you on top of it, I guess?”

  Both of them stood there, confused, as the wind blew through their clothes hanging on the line.

  Hiro finally broke the silence. “Why don’t you just run at me and see what happens?”

  He sprinted at her, his fists clenched tightly. The wind whipped through his hair as he closed in on her. As he swung, Hatsuho easily dodged every one of his strikes, moving with fluid grace. Hiro’s movements felt sluggish in comparison, his punches slow and predictable.

  She laughed, dancing around his fists with ease.

  Hiro finally collapsed onto the ground, staring up at the sky. Sweat poured down his face, and he struggled to catch his breath.

  Hatsuho stood over him, grinning. “You give up?”

  Hiro sighed, wiping the sweat from his forehead. “I thought this was training?”

  “Oh, it was…” she said, her grin widening.

  She tossed a dry shirt at him, hitting him in the face. Hiro groaned as he struggled to get up.

  Hatsuho stood at a distance, watching him with a soft smile. But there was something in her eyes that made Hiro raise an eyebrow. She looked... sad.

  Hatsuho turned her gaze up to the sky, watching as the clouds parted, revealing the full glory of the sun. Her smile faded as a look of sorrow crossed her face.

  Hiro took a few steps toward her, his concern growing. He opened his mouth to speak, but before he could say anything, she coughed, almost as if to stop him. She turned and began walking back to the shack.

  Hiro stood there for a long moment, his thoughts swirling. He watched his mother retreat into the rundown house, her form disappearing behind the creaky door.

  He looked out toward the sun, his chest tight with a sense of longing. His hand pressed gently to his heart as he stood there, staring out at the far-reaching world.

  The sky glowed orange as the sun began to cast its final rays for the day. Inside the shack, Hatsuho fidgeted nervously with her hands. Hiro stretched, wiping the sweat from his forehead as he walked toward his bag.

  “So, where to next?” Hiro asked, his voice casual.

  Hatsuho swallowed, her throat tight, almost unable to speak. Hiro rummaged through his bag, but when he didn’t get an immediate response, he glanced up at her.

  “Mum?” he asked again, a little more insistently.

  She smiled weakly at him, but her eyes betrayed a deep sorrow. “I think it’s time you leave me.”

  Hiro froze, his brow furrowing. He stepped back slightly, his confusion growing. “W-what?”

  “I think it’s best if you leave me now…” Hatsuho’s voice trembled as she looked away, avoiding his gaze.

  Hiro’s confusion quickly shifted into frustration. “That’s not a funny joke.”

  She slowly stood, her eyes cast downward, her face a mask of pain. She refused to meet his eyes. “I’m not joking.”

  Hiro’s jaw clenched as he stood still, trying to process her words. “Mum, s—”

  She interrupted him, her voice rising with emotion. “It’s not fair… You should be a kid. You shouldn’t have to hide.”

  His grip on his bag tightened. “Shut up and just say where we are going next…”

  Hatsuho’s voice grew louder still. “You shouldn’t have to look over your shoulder all the time…”

  Hiro slammed his fist into the wall of the shack in frustration. The wood splintered under his blow, but he quickly turned, his anger quickly melting away when he saw his mother’s expression.

  Her smile was bright, but there was a sorrow behind her eyes that Hiro couldn’t ignore. She looked at him softly and gently placed her hand on his cheek.

  “I think it’s time I stop being selfish…” she whispered.

  Tears welled up in Hiro’s eyes, but he couldn’t bring himself to speak. He just stood there, frozen. Hatsuho pulled him into a tight hug, and he buried his face in her shoulder, his tears soaking through her clothes.

  “Why…?” Hiro managed to ask, his voice barely audible.

  “Will you promise me something, Hiro?” Her voice was thick with emotion as she held him tighter.

  Hiro didn’t respond, only clung to her more desperately.

  “Your dad used to say that smiling through the hard times made smiling in the good times easier, right?” she continued, her voice trembling. “So won’t you smile for me, Hiro?”

  Tears fell from his eyes, dropping onto the wooden floor of the shack. Hiro hung his head, not knowing how to reply.

  She pulled him back just enough to see his face, her eyes still soft but full of love. “I’ve kept you all to myself these last three years…”

  Hiro’s heart shattered as he looked at her, but Hatsuho smiled through her tears. “I think it’s time for you to live... and I mean really live.”

  Hiro took a step back, shaking his head, his voice a broken whisper. “I don’t want to leave…”

  Her hand rested gently on his shoulder. “I think that Kyoko may be out there somewhere.”

  Hiro’s eyes widened. “So we can find her together?” he asked, hope blooming in his chest.

  Hatsuho shook her head, the smile on her face now gone. “You’d never find her if I was holding you back.”

  Hiro’s face twisted in a mixture of anger and heartbreak. “Why are you leaving me?”

  Hatsuho stood tall, slowly opening her eyes to meet his tear-filled gaze. “I should’ve never taken you with me in the first place.” Her voice cracked as she continued, “I should’ve dropped you off at the closest village… but I just couldn’t bear to leave you.”

  His fists shook with emotion. “And you’ll leave me now?!” he shouted, his voice breaking.

  Hatsuho stepped forward, her hand reaching up to gently caress his cheek. Her smile wavered, but it was still full of love. “Go find her, Hiro… Go be happy… please.”

  Her voice trembled with the weight of her plea.

  Hiro stared at her, devastated. “Mum…” His voice caught in his throat.

  Hatsuho looked up at him as he slammed his foot into the ground, his voice rising. “I loved being with you these three years!” he yelled at the top of his lungs, his words echoing through the shack. Hatsuho was momentarily taken aback, but Hiro continued, the pain in his voice undeniable. “Don’t you dare start thinking that I wasn’t happy!”

  Hatsuho clenched her shirt, trying desperately to hold herself together.

  Hiro’s voice softened, though his tears fell freely now. “I miss her! And I miss Dad!”

  She swallowed, steeling herself for the worst. Hiro’s voice grew quieter as he continued, “I don’t think I can bear losing you…”

  Hatsuho was completely taken by surprise. She was frozen, staring at her son, her smile faltering under the weight of his words. Hiro looked at her with grieving eyes, his body trembling.

  Without warning, she grabbed him and pulled him into another hug. Her arms wrapped tightly around him. “You’ll never lose me,” she whispered, her voice thick with emotion.

  They stood there in silence for a long moment, their tears mingling.

  After a while, Hiro pulled away, wiping his eyes. He picked up his bag and slung it over his shoulder. “I’m gonna be back… so you better be here,” he said, trying to sound determined, though his voice trembled.

  Hatsuho smiled softly, a bittersweet expression on her face.

  “I’ll see you again, Mum,” Hiro added, his voice barely above a whisper.

  She swallowed hard, her throat tight. She smiled at him, but the words wouldn’t come. She couldn’t say it back.

  Hiro turned and walked toward the door. Before he stepped out, he looked back at her one last time. She opened her eyes, and they locked gazes for a brief moment.

  He flashed her a bright, hopeful smile. “See you later!”

  Hatsuho was unable to respond, her heart breaking as she watched him walk away.

  Hiro closes the door, and the room lies silent. Hatsuho stands, light streaming in from the window. The silence stretches on long enough for her to place a hand over her mouth, holding back her tears. She falls back onto the broken seat, doing everything she can to stop herself from breaking down.

  Outside, Hiro feels the warmth of the sun touch his face, and tears sparkle in the sunlight. He walks, not daring to turn back around. Hatsuho sits in the darkness, her voice barely a whisper. "You’ll protect him, won’t you? This was for the best?” Her words float into the air, unanswered. The silence hangs heavy.

  Hiro reaches the path, letting his hood fall and reveal his face to the fresh air. His breath slowly normalizes as he stands before a sign. He stops just before stepping onto the path, knowing that the first step means leaving his mother behind. He will be alone for a while, but this is the moment she trusted him to take.

  “She trusted me to leave... and to smile,” he thinks to himself.

  He looks up at the flowing path, a slight smile forming as he stands before the sign. Three different words are written across it, each pointing toward a nearby village. One reads “The Capital.”

  He stares closely at the sign, taking his time. And then, with a slight chuckle, he mutters, "Oh... I don’t know how to read."