Ashes of the fallen: Bound by the flame

Chapter Four: Buried past

Third perspective:

A tiny pale hand reached out for the door handle. Two small feet rising slightly, trying to reach the door handle by the wooden door. The child's surroundings were dark, seemingly looking like the night sky. The only thing that could be seen was the white night robe the child wore and so was his silver like hair, matching the snow that's piling up outside.

But they did have a difference.

"Mother, Father"

The child gently called out, but his quiet voice didn't seem to reach his parent's ears. The boy wondered, the temperature wasn't so low that he can't stay outside. It's just that he had a bad feeling suddenly, and his first instinct was to run to his parents.

After a few seconds of waiting outside the door, footsteps were finally heard coming towards the door. Although, the child's eyes widened. In his 8 years of living, he had already memorized his parents footsteps. And that heavy like footsteps did not belong to them.

"Yuki?"

A gentle like tone called out, nudging the man's shoulders in order to wake him up. Hiroyuki's eyes widened in surprise. Sweat dripping down his forehead, making his shirt wet and sticky to his skin. His breathing was heavy as if he just ran 20 miles, his heart pounding against his chest loudly.

If he wasn't such a mess infront of Kairi right now, then he would've curse under his breath a long time ago.

"You okay? You looked really troubled in your sleep"

Kairi gently asked. Her expression filled with worry and concern. Her hands sliding behind Hiroyuki's back, not minding the wet shirt from his sweats. Kairi gently caressed the man's back, comforting him through her warm touch.

Luckily Kairi thought of giving Hiroyuki dinner earlier, that's why she's here.

Hiroyuki's eyes narrowed, his eyes softening. Tears were almost forcing themselves to go down. His hands were trembling, no- his whole body was trembling.

He was doing so well in forgetting that, so why now? Why now when he finally moved on?

His hands continued to tremble, not until Kairi's hand gently intertwined their fingers together, making them hold hands. The woman held a concern yet gentle expression, because of that. Every last ounce of Hiroyuki's bravery went down the train.

The usually composed and calm Hiroyuki aki ended up sobbing into Kairi's arms. Clinging onto her tightly, he was holding her as if she was his last lifeform.

It's been so long since his scar ache like that.

At this moment, he just wishes that him and Kairi could stay like this forever: Remaining peaceful friends who's always there for each other.

Dear god, was that so hard to ask for?

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The man's face was buried in his hands, the big black circle under his eyes was more than enough to tell that he was exhausted and stressed. Currently, Hiroyuki was piled up with paperworks. Appearantly, a squad member made a huge mistake in their paperworks. It was only a mere full report for their previous cases this past month. Yet, since the member was new, it was expected for her to get so nervous.