2 A new hope.

Shikimori Aomizu was in grief. Her only son, her baby boy had just been eaten by the pigs she had raised herself. The day she found out, was the day the pigs breathed their last. She took them to the cleaners herself and chopped them bit by bit into tiny little porkchops. She wasn't a violent woman, but that day, she was demon incarnate. She didn't enjoy inflicting pain on others, but that day she relished in the pained squeals of the pigs as she slaughtered their babies in front of the mommy and daddy pigs. Their turn came soon after.

Shikimori Farms stopped raising pigs that day. And Fukaku swore they never would again.

Months passed by, but the pain never went away. Not truly.

She wondered if the person who said time heals all wounds was one of those sheltered do-nothings, oblivious of the world around him.

She tried and she tried, she joined clubs and hikes. She learnt to play the guitar and did therapy. But that hole in her heart never went away.

Then came the final blow. When they were preparing to have another baby, at a routine checkup, the doctor delivered it. The bad news. She was infertile. The stress from losing her child had done a nunber on her health. And the obsessive distraction with strenuous activities hadn't helped. There would be no more little Harus in her future. That was the straw that broke the camel's back.

She retreated inwards, abandoning her friends, her duties, even her husband. There was no more joy in her life. There was nothing left for her.

She wept and wept until she could weep no more. She whipped herself to sleep every day and whipped herself every morning.

She figured if she couldn't stop the pain, she could at least control the hurt. And the blood reminded her of the pigs. Those ungrateful monsters. Her health deteriorated to the point of disability and despite Fukaku's efforts, she wouldn't stop.

That was until one fateful day. The day her Haru returned to her. Back from the dead.

It was a cool summer night when Fukaku heard the dogs barking. It was nearly 11 pm and he was about to go to sleep. But their barks concerned him. They had gone on for a bit too long for it to be a fox or badger.

He had to check it out. And boy was he glad he did. There at the gate of their farm, lay a baby boy, bruised and bleeding from his blistered feet.

"Shit!" Fukaku cried. He picked up the unconcious boy and ran inside. The boy needed medical attention.

"Ao-chan!" He screamed, awakening his wife.

"What?" She asked weakly.

"It's a baby boy. He's hurt. Bring out the first aid box." He said, conviction in his voice, jolting Aomizu into full alert.

She brought over the first aid box, while her husband washed the boy clean.

Once he had been bandaged, cleaned and clothed, they sat on the couch opposite to the unconcious boy, and breathed out a sigh of relief.

"Who is he? And what was he doing out here, all alone? At night even!" She wondered.

"Don't know." Her husband replied, "I don't think he's from around here though. But we'll see about it tomorrow. You go to sleep, I'll watch over him for now." He kneaded his temples.

"He has a high fever, Fu-san. And you're tired. I'll stay here. You need to sleep." She argued.

"But.."

"No buts! You need to sleep. I'll take care of him." Aomizu interrupted, pushing him up.

"Alright. But if anything happens.."

"Yes, yes. Now go. You need to rest."

"Faaaiiiine." He yawned. "Goodnight honey."

Kissing her forehead, he retired for the day, leaving Aomizu with the unknown boy.

As she watched him sleep, changing his bandage every few minutes, something melted in her broken, cold heart. The hole in her soul felt a bit smaller. The facsimile of a smile bore gently upon her face. She felt like a mother again. She felt for the first time in months, that she could love and be loved again. That maybe, just maybe, she was worthy of it.

Little did she know, that come next morning, her life would forever change for the better.