Story

The group had arrived at a small hotel, Azuma watched as Natsu Tanimoto and Kenichi bickered like best friends, the blond boy behaving like your standard tsundere, he also noticed how Miu and Niijima seemed to stay close to him, Miu he could understand, but the boy seemed to be afraid of air itself, where Azuma moved, he followed.

Miu insisted for the group to go up the mountain, a blizzard seems to head their way, and she wanted to have at least have some fun skiing while they could. Dividing themselves into smaller groups, Kenichi, Miu, and Azuma being one, Niijima, Tanimoto, and Takeda being the other.

This time Kenichi did not care that Azuma was here, he wanted to spend time with Miu, and spend time with Miu he would.

Azuma only smiled seeing how Kenichi glued himself to Miu, not caring about him. He thought about interrupting, but after more thought he chose not to, if he always stayed with Miu, Kenichi would have no opportunity to know her.

Choosing to stay in the back, walking a few steps behind, Azuma started thinking about his training, for all intents and purposes he should be a legendary master, but something appeared to be blocking his way.

They had reached the peak, but out of nowhere the blizzard struck them, Kenichi was panicking, Azuma was still thinking and Miu being in the storm, Miu started getting some weird memories, sometimes she had those dreams about flowers, not as common as when she was little, but they still happened, for some reason being here, in the snow, those memories reawakened within the girl.

Out of the blue, tears started falling from Miu's eyes, scaring the living crap of Kenichi, who quickly ran towards her, "Miu, what's happening? Are you okay, why are you crying?" Concern filling his voice, making Azuma behind smile seeing how worried the boy was.

Touching his eyes in confusion, Miu told Kenichi, "I…I don't know, it feels like I should be sad or scared, but instead there is happiness as if it's protecting me from the bad feelings." More tears fell, and a memory of a man giving her flowers and a doll resurfaced in her mind.

Azuma had caught up with the rest, hearing what Miu told Kenichi, a soft caring smile adorned his face, remembering the baby girl he had saved all those years ago.

Miu was looking in Azuma's direction, she caught a glimpse of his smile, "Uncle, do you know anything about my dream, and these memories?"

Not expecting her question Azuma didn't know what to do, he couldn't remember if he ever told someone, that besides rescuing Shizuha, he also undug Miu from the snow, his father probably realized once he found out Azuma was the one that rescued Shizuha, but Azuma wasn't clear if Hayato ever told someone.

Still walking Azuma reached Miu and Kenichi, the boy still had a face screaming with worry, "Let me tell you a story…." With one hand on each of the teen's shoulders, "A long time ago, a man was on a mission to rescue someone." Seeing he had their attention he kept talking, "Once the man reached his target, he noticed there was a small baby buried in the snow, the baby kept quiet, as if knowing that she would be in danger if she made a sound."

Both Miu and Kenichi ears perked up hearing the baby was a girl, "The man approached the baby, there he saw a beautiful blond baby, with deep blue eyes, that were looking at him with wonder, the blond baby gave the man a big smile as if assuring him that everything would be okay, for you see, the man was extremely nervous, he could even die, and he was not a man, but barely a seventeen years old boy, not much older than you two."

Realizing what Azuma was talking about, Miu cried even harder, meanwhile, Kenichi was starting to have an idea of what the story was about.

Azuma kept telling his story, "The teen carried the baby, scaring her, at first she seemed to want to cry, but giving him another deep look, she kept quiet. The teen could not allow such a small baby girl to be buried in the snow….. so, carrying her, he entered a forest nearby, and made a small crib for her, he also put flowers around the baby to protect her from the snow, at the end he even built an ugly looking doll for the baby to distract herself. He hated himself for leaving the baby alone, but he knew someone that could look for her was heading this way. Feeling reinvigorated the teen steeled himself and left the baby alone, ready to rescue his target."

Azuma stopped talking, his gaze turning toward the pair, astonished he saw Miu become a pool of tears, and even Kenichi was shedding a couple of tears. Miu launched herself at Azuma, hugging him tightly.

Distracted, Kenichi imagined the situation, getting a deeper understanding of Miu's past, and why her relationship with her uncle was so strong, even before she had memories, Azuma was already taking care of her. Smiling, Kenichi resolved himself to become like Azuma, someone that Miu could always depend on, knowing he will always be there for her, no matter the circumstances.

Breaking Miu's hug, Azuma told the others, "Alright, let's go, the storm is getting stronger, and we need a place to rest." Getting Kenichi out of his thought, regaining clarity, and hearing Azuma, he sprinted to Miu, helping her stand up.

The group kept walking on the mountain, a big building appearing on the horizon, walking towards it, they noticed it was a hotel, the hotel their group originally wanted to go to, but when Niijima called to make reservations, the staff told him the whole hotel was booked for some bigshot from another country.

Before they could enter the hotel, Azuma stopped, blocking the way for Miu and Kenichi, "I smell a putrid animal nearing its dead." Looking at the top of the hotel, "Do you?"

Confused, the kids wondering who Azuma was talking with... When a response reverberated across the mountain, "Kakakaka, the boy knows how to bark, let's see if he knows how to fight. That girl beside you seem promising, I wonder how far can I push her…."

Anger filled Kenichi, understanding the voice was talking about Miu, trying to look for Azuma, he noticed he had disappeared, searching for him, he saw Azuma's silhouette running up the building. Before either he or Miu could follow Azuma, the hotel doors opened, revealing a cluster of people, a young handsome dark-skinned man with long wavy black hair tied in the back, "Peasant that has the audacity to call himself the strongest disciple. This king will take that title, one such as you do not deserve it.