Always Will Be

Chapter 2

Cold. Ice-cold. That's the first thing that registers in Gyutaro's brain as chills racked through his twisted body. His instincts kicking in as the second thought came. How could it be this cold in the store house? Did someone manage to break through the walls, exposing them to the elements? The most worrying of them all being the sun.

Eyes shooting open only to screw back shut as his vision was flooded by the distinct shine of daylight. Clawed hands flying up in reaction to shield himself in vain from the fatal brightness.

But the burning never came, only the sensation of cold tiny pricklings on his grayed skin. Daring to crack an eye open, he could tell that he was lying on his back staring up at the sky.

Gyutaro laid there dumbfounded, eyes glued to the snowflakes that sprinkled down from the sky that should be incinerating him right now. Well, the snow would explain why it's so cold but nothing more.

"Daki?" He called out, turning his head to his right where she had been laying. But his sister was no longer at his side, only endless white fluffy snow for as far as the eye could see.The upper moon beginning to panic as he clamored to his feet.

"Daki! Where are you?! Da-!" His calls for her being cut short by the sound of children's laughter. He turned to face the source only to freeze in place at the sight of three familiar faces as they played in the snow without a care in the world.

The first being his own, but he could see that it was his old self. His hair still black, eyes still blue, and teeth not yet fangs.

Next was Ume who was yet to become the fallen princess Daki; she was grinning ear to ear and she looked very young. Gyutaro guessed that she must have been maybe five or six.

And last was Yuna; just as beautiful as he remembered her. And given how young Ume appeared, he further guessed that himself and Yuna were maybe nine.

The three of them looking dirty as ever and all clad in straw boots that Gyutaro remembered they would make themselves by hand for the harsh winters. The two girls laid flat on their backs, arms and legs spreading in and out as they made their own snow angels. His former self idly sitting by and watching them from atop of a large boulder; a content smile pulling at his chapped lips.

Gyutaro stood there still, shell shocked by the sight before him. What the hell was going on? How was any of this possible? How did he even get here? The questions only piled on more by the second before the delayed realization finally struck and an explanation became clear.

This was a dream. It had to be. But that couldn't be possible either. The demon hadn't dreamt in over a hundred years, the ability to do so having been taken from him once he had been turned. It didn't seem like it could be a dream either, merely because of how vivid this all was. He didn't think he ever even dreamt like this as a mortal. But how else could one explain him standing unharmed in the sun; looking at 3 ghosts of the past?

Placing one foot in front of the other he drew closer to the trio; the need to get a better look at Yuna unbearable and overcoming his senses. But the kids didn't even look at him, not noticing him in the least.

"Oni-Chan, help me up!" Ume demanded, seeming to deem her angel complete now.

"Can't you do anything for yourself?" His younger self huffed.

"I don't want to mess up my Angel!!" She retorted.

"Just help her Gyu-Chan, I'd hate for her to throw a fit." Yuna chuckled, her voice sending chills down Gytaro's back. It had been so long since he had actually heard her speak. Too long.

Gyu-Chan sighed before sliding off from his perch to go and give in to Ume's demands. He stood before her and grabbed hold of her outstretched arms to pull her to her feet. She turned to face her creation, bouncing on her feet gleefully. "Looky! Looky!" She chirped.