358 Meeting at the Shack.
On the opposite side of the road.
A black-haired girl was also making his way over.
Well, barely.
The wind that was targeting Ichiro was much stronger, but Azura's body kept staggering back and forth because the wind was moving erratically around her.
Sometimes, she gets pushed back and sometimes to the side.
She had an arduous journey ahead of her, and she could still hear the sound of cars behind her, which means she hasn't moved far away.
The sound of wind and snowstorm already made a deafening sound, and Azura wondered if she had managed to even cross a hundred meters yet.
But, her looks never lost their glamor.
She knew what she needed to do, and a mere snowstorm won't stop her.
''This is nothing…'' She took a long stride forwards and felt her body shaking uncomfortably as she was trying to keep standing while the wind was trying to make her fall down.
After the wind calmed down for a few seconds, she took another step forward, which continued for a long time.
The dirt that was covering her face was disappearing because of the wind and the snowflakes that made her face wet.
A tiny sweatdrop also trickled down her face, but they soon disappeared to the wind.
''Haahhh…'' A deep breath left her lungs, which caused a puff of cold air to appear in front of her. Every time she breathed, she felt like something was stuck in her throat.
Also, her throat felt very itchy, and she had a desperate need to scratch it, but it was impossible.
*SWOOSH*
Azura's eyes widened as the loudest sound of wind appeared, and she couldn't even react as her feet left the ground.
''Kyaa!'' She screamed as she flew several meters before falling down on the ground on her back.
''Oww…'' She rubbed her painful back and tried to stand up, but something didn't feel right.
Even when she tried to move her fingers, nothing happened.
She couldn't raise them or move.
Same with her legs.
It was like she was stuck in time, frozen without being able to do anything.
The terrifying sound of wind kept ringing in her ears, making her scared, and she thought that her death had arrived and only regrets remained.
Not that she should have stayed Coldland, but because she didn't manage to complete her journey.
'Ichiro must be so disappointed in me… I am useless girl…' She thought with tears brimming in her eyes, but the wind stopped before her thoughts could get any more radical.
The previous loud sound disappeared.
The snowstorm was still moving sideways in front of her, but now, she managed to move her limbs.
With the help of her arms, she managed to push herself up, and soon, a relieved look appeared on her face.
Many would be relieved of knowing that they don't need to continue their suffering and that they can rest.
But, not Azura; she was relieved that she could keep going, didn't matter if she was in agony and was torturing herself.
First, she took a short step forwards and smiled after seeing that she could move again.
Slowly but surely, she started walking as fast as her body could.
Half an hour later.
Her face was an incarnation of fatigue, with her blue eyes having lost all their beauty.
Her body trembled, and even taking one step forwards was like crossing a mountain.
She bit her lip and didn't want to stop so easily, but then, in the corner of her eyes.
She saw something in the middle of the snowstorm.
Azura narrowed her eyes and saw a wooden shack!
The wooden shack seemed to be standing, even though the wind and snowstorm were trying to destroy it, but it still kept standing.
'I am sorry, Ichiro… I am so useless…' She wiped her tears, slowly walked over the snow piles, and made her way to the shack.
After arriving at the shack, she grabbed the door handle and glanced behind her towards the road.
She wanted to keep going, she wanted to reach her destination, but she could feel it.
A few more steps were her limit, and after that, all her fuel had run out, and she will die.
Her hand that was grabbing the door handle started trembling.
Slowly, she opened the door and entered the shack.
The shack had only one wooden table and two chairs, with wooden walls with cracks, where snow and cold air managed to infiltrate the interior.
Windows were still intact, but they were getting struck by the wind; it was only a matter of time before the windows were broken into pieces.
Azura limped towards the chair and sat down.
Only the voice of wind and snowstorms rang in her ears.
She tried to stop those voices but to no avail.
She was looking at her legs, at her body, and her reflection in the window.
Azura felt embarrassed and useless.
''I can't even… Do one thing right…'' She bit her lip with enough strength to make it bleed.
The drops of blood dropped down on the floor.
Once her body started to get relaxed, a voice inside Azura's mind told her to keep going.
Enough of relaxation!
''Keep going… Keep going…'' With eyes closed, she kept muttering the words that she had wanted to hear for a long time, ''I love you… Love…''
Her eyes slammed wide open as her two hands slapped her cheeks.
''I am Azura Nightside… Daughter of Abyss, Humanity's Hope…'' Slowly, she stood up, and her hidden muscles inside her frail-looking arms started giving her the strength she needed.
''I am Azura Nightside…'' A deep breath left her mouth, and she uttered the last bits of her sentence, ''Daughter-in-law of Kurogami Family.''
*Tap*
Her footsteps rang in the shack as her body moved closer to the door.
Her hand touched the door handle, and she was about to open it, but then.
*Knock* *Knock*
Azura's body flinched as she heard someone knocking from another side of the door.
The knocking was powerful and confident.
She glimpsed outside of the window and saw the snowstorm and wind being stronger than ever.
It was like they were fighting against the person who just knocked like they were mortal enemies.
Azura grabbed the door handle tighter and slowly opened the door.
Once the door was opened.
A young man with heavy winter clothing came to view.
His body looked very exhausted, but his excellent stature beneath the clothes couldn't be hidden.
A hood covered his facial features, but Azura felt that he seemed very familiar.
Soon, the hood was blown out, and the young man's features became visible.