Where the Paths Take Me [COMPLETED]

Chapter 40 ~ Pain ~

In the dim light of the evening, Hina sat in front of the altar. Her eyes were staring off into a distant past as she studied her beloved husband and daughter's features in the photographs. She heaved a heavy sigh at the thought that all the memories were in the past.

"I wonder if what you saw will become true, Hoshiko. It may, but the path Megumi has to take is full of thorns.." Hina said with her eyes closed in concentration. "Hideyoshi, I am sorry to say this but, the last stages of her training might he closer than we expected. The final blow will determine where she will stand.."

She kept yer eyes closed for moments longer, unwilling to open them in that serene moment. As she felt her surroundings come to a stop, where she could feel even the slightest shifting of air, she dived deeper into focus. Deeper until she reached a grassy field surrounded by mountains.

Then, there it was.. The chime of a single bell.

Images rushed through her mind, causing her to open her eyes in shock. Her gray eyes scanned the room, cold sweat streaming down her forehead to her cheek. The cold liquid ran to her chin until they splashed onto the tatami floor, silently shouting out the panic.

"Mother!" Noriko rushed to open the sliding doors, sweating with trembling hands around her phone.

"It's Megumi, isn't it?"

"H-How.. I-I mean, yes. She.." The fierce Noriko was faltering. Her voice was shaking for some reason. That fierce demeanor that she holds onto wavers everytime her niece is in trouble.

"I suppose Hokuto doesn't know about the boy, does she?" Hina stood up from where she was sitting and slowly turned to Noriko.

Noriko looked down, defeated. "No, she doesn't."

Hina smiled at that. Her wise features flaring as she made the decision.

"I fear the last phases are at hand. Where is he?"

"He's on his way." Noriko had this heavy feeling pulling her down into thoughts. If that person was to step in, it meant that the last phases of the legend were approaching.

Hina said nothing more other than, "Let us hope the light in your sister's premonitions could come true. The child needs to choose her paths wisely from here on."

_______

Megumi's POV

The images have returned.

My whole being felt numb but, my mind kept saying that it was in pain. It was a scary sensation where your mind blacks out, turning numb to any thoughts that could follow before it strikes the rest of the body into a slow. Suddenly, the pain returns all at once along with the memories I begged myself to move on from.

My vision was a mixture of the ceiling and the spiralling memories flashing inside my brain.

That moment when Hicchan was hurt, it was the first time I felt it.

That fear.

That moment when everything slows down before your eyes, as if patiently waiting for the panic and fear to register in my body and mind. Those few seconds that gripped onto me like an eternity.

That moment, where I see every detail around me. The blood, the looks in the men's eyes, the fear and shock in Hicchan's eyes. But, what tortured me was the surging feeling in my veins. I was already physically hurt but, what I felt was something that entered my own sense although they were not mine. By force..

"Argghhh!!" I heard my own voice screaming in agony. The bitter feeling entering my veins all over again. My body jolted then balled into a ball of sorrow. Pain on my body did not scare me but, it was different. I feel it physically at first then, everything rushed, slams and cuts my heart at full blow, suffocating the life out of me.

Tears streamed down my face. The hot waters of agony burst from my eyes as if screeching out to the world, begging the pain and fear to stop. My throat was burning with each desperate gasp of mine. I was choaking on my own breath.

"Megumi.." My ears were ringing. Help me! I'm afraid. Please..

I felt my shoulders being shook by someone.

"Megumi.. Calm down.. Megumi.."

My spiralling vision was all mixed up. But, among the images and black dots, I could make out two orange hues with furrowed eyebrows.

"Megumi!"

Those orange eyes were changed with sharp onyx eyes staring daggers at me.

My eyes shot fully open. The shadowy images were shattered as air finally agreed to enter my lungs. As I was able to breath properly again, I could finally see Hokuto-ne clearly. I coughed and pant, forcing air to enter more efficiently.

"Megumi.." Hokuto-ne helped me to sit up, as I continued to pant.

"H-Hokuto-ne?"

"Yeah, it's me." I was greeted by a rare sisterly smile from her.

I couldn't hold in the tears. I miss Hicchan and Oka-san!

The dam in my eyes must be very rich of tears. Tears started falling all over again.

"Come here, kiddo.." Hokuto-ne put her arms around me.

As soon as she hugged me, sobs resonated without control. My heart hurts. It hurts!

_______

From outside the hotel building, a figure sighed. He stared at the sneakers on his feet that were dangling from the roof of the car. The hoodie he was wearing made it difficult to see who it was. The parking lot in front of the hotel were mostly empty and even if some passerby stared, he couldn't care less.

He shoved his hands into the pockets on his hoodie. A slight thud was heard when he let his back lay flat on the car roof.

His eyes focused on the light from the hotels room. He was sure that the room Megumi was in would be bright with all the lights on. With the circumstances at the moment, he doubt Hokuto would even dare let Megumi sleep in the dark. Darkness bright fort sorrow.

"I need to meet her.." he said to himself. "I wonder if she misses me.."

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Dun dun dun!! Whohooo.. Another cliffhanger. Any questions triggered in your minds, Reader-chans??

I hope this chapter didn't make you guys feel bored since Kise didn't show up.

Also, updating before class coz.. Umm, well.. Why not?? Hahaha😂😂

~kimmie_ryren