The two of you run for what feels like all night. It feels like the world could have ended and there's nothing left but this path, and these trees, and this snowy darkness. You and Kazuha stop to catch your breath, but the frozen air offers little relief to your gasping lungs. The two of you are cold and exhausted, and still the wind rages.
"Take my cloak." Kazuha says, sliding it from his shoulders and passing it to you. Ever the gentleman, you think, but your eyes don't miss the tremor overtaking his limbs.
"I'll be fine." You say in response, though passing the cloak back is one of the hardest things that you've ever done. With how badly your teeth are chattering, you don't expect that you're being very convincing, but Kazuha ties his cloak back around his shoulders once again, eyeing you in unspoken concern. "Let's keep moving. We're almost at the harbour."
You feel Kazuha kiss your forehead. But even his normally warm lips have gone cold. You pull him close, bury your face into the crook of his neck, and try to bring some semblance of warmth back to his body and yours.
"There are blankets on the ship." Kazuha says, pulling away, but your teeth are chattering so badly that you can't answer. "And fresh clothes."
You take a deep breath and begin to move, slowly, painfully. The frigid wind freezes the joints in your body, making it hard to move, but you push through it, struggling through the snow with Kazuha. You know that you need to move faster, especially with Vision Hunters on your trail, but you can't. Even this feels like it will kill you.
Loud, guttural shouts cut through the air, accompanied with dogs barking; footsteps thud and grow louder with every passing second as a flurry of activity heads in your direction. Next to you, Kazuha lets out a string of curses – only about half of which you're familiar with.
"We'll be fine." Kazuha says, tightening his grip on your hand. "We're almost there. By the time they catch up to us, we'll be gone. It's fine." You get the feeling that he's assuring himself more than you.
"Kazuha," You say softly, your footsteps slowing as the wet cold seeps into your skin and makes you grit your teeth. Your voice is almost carried away on the wind, but he hears it and turns to look at you. Worry etches lines into his face, but for you, he tries to smile. In spite of everything, he's ready to embark on a new adventure, ready to leave his country with you in search of a better future. Ready to stand by your side no matter what.
You wish it were that simple.
"We'll be fine." Kazuha says, still smiling reassuringly at you.
You shake your head. Ice trickles down your spine, and your heart thunders. There is only one path in front of you now, and you can see it clearly lit. It is an awful path, one that you hate. You will never be able to forgive yourself for walking down it. You will not come out the other side the same.
But it is the only path you can take.
"Ayaka!" You cry, loud enough to be heard over the wind.
Recognition spreads across Kazuha's face, and he's quick to draw his sword, but he's still weak from travelling, and the combination of the cold and the shock slows his movements. Ayaka disarms him in minutes, and Tohma shoves him down onto his knees and drags his arms behind him, binding them with a length of rope.
You're frozen in place, unable to do anything but watch. Baal's commands are absolute, you remind yourself. It's the right thing to do. Still, seeing Kazuha unable to fight back breaks your heart, causes guilt to rise in your chest until you can hardly breathe.
The boy on his knees before you isn't the one you've known for the past few months, the one you looked at the stars and the moon with, the one you laughed and talked with. That Kazuha was beautiful and light and was always smiling around you, but this boy has red-rimmed eyes and an expression like ice. There is no emotion in his eyes, which is just as well. Your entire body is numb.
"Take him to Baal." You say, surprised that your voice comes out level. Even your shivering has stopped. "I'm told that she's been wanting to meet him."
