"Douma?"

"Douma?"

"Doumaaaa~"

Opening two tiny rainbow eyes and peering right up at the light green ones with a cheery smile spread on her chubby cheeks.

"Why are you sleeping when it's bright and sunny out here, silly?"

No response but with a few blinks at the girl above him. He moved his head and look at his surroundings then sees he is lying on the fresh grass in the same old forest he had long forgotten. He moved his lips, saying her name but he couldn't hear it.

Her long indigo strands of hair touched his small face. the lovely floral aroma he will never get tired of.

Douma feels both corners of his lips lifting upwards.

"You are such a sleepy-head Douma" the sound of her soft voice sounds beautiful and pleasant. always have. He wanted to hear her again.

"Stand up my love."

Love. the term for companionship. deep affection.

Towards another human being.

Douma was surprised when she touched his chubby cheek with one hand. He sees her gently caressing. The long-forgotten fuzzy sensation has developed inside. the heartfelt moment he didn't realize he longed for. He doesn't want the soft sentiment to go away.

He doesn't know if he could bear without it.

He looks up at her again and was outstanding at her delicate smile.

A smile that symbolizes her purity.

A true smile. unlike his

A smile he will always love about her.

She brushed her thumb under his eye, "you always have beautiful eyes."

He felt both his cheeks reddened. Usually, when somebody compliments his eyes, he wouldn't care but coming from her...it's soothing.

The little girl brought her small nose up to the tip of his nose then nuzzled gently.

"We will always be together. No matter what. That's a promise we made."

A sting had occurred to him. Distress as if it never happened. An insufficient resentment as if it was never kept. Trouble as if it was a fib.

Why are all the thoughts are happening when they have commenced their promise?

Before he could remark on her word, he was stunned when he felt a small peck on his forehead.

The forehead peck brings him closeness. As if she kissed his soul. Giving him a place feels like everything matters.

Because she is the one who leads him that way.

She is like a world.

His world.

Where did it all go before?

Why did he push everything?

A tear ran down his cheek.

"Don't cry. I'm here." she wiped the tear off his cheek and give him another kiss on the cheek. "Your smile suits you better."

Douma reaches up to her face with both of his hands. why is it to him it has been a long time to touch her face? He wants more of the sanctuary tenderness onto the palm of his hands. He had has forgotten the nostalgia feeling of the touch from her so much. He wants to experience it again. He doesn't want to lose it. Especially the sentiments he is perceiving.

As he could touch her face, she quickly pulled away, standing up as she is still brightly smiling. Her smile shines brighter than the sun.

"Come on let's go!" Gesturing her arm with a giggle.

Before he could act, he sees her running away.

He sits up looking at her now distance away from him.

He doesn't know why but he felt the urge to stand up and chase after her.

As if it was a traditional activity for him.

A traditional activity that he always enjoys doing.

Especially with her

He did and she ran away but not in a startling way. She is giggling as if she was having enjoyment being chased even further down the wilderness.

The way she runs is always her typical run. as her hair flows delicately up in the air, showing its magnificence waves.

What a glamourous sight to see.

Bringing him a smile. His smile never felt so real and alive.

The liveliness he's developing he never possessed before. Containing response to different amazing thoughts. He feels more than one emotion at the same time. Mostly is happiness. Mainly around her. And he wants to keep it that way.

Enduring emotions he eternally yearns for.

Douma could see how radiantly the sky has become as the sun shone through the forest, showing mother nature's true beauty.

He really misses being out here.

He looks back at the girl and sees she is getting farther, picking up his speed as he could to catch up to her. Attempting to tell her to slow down but no words are appearing.

He isn't going to lose this time

Especially he doesn't want to let her go.

Pushing past through the trees, bushes, and the large rocks, she somehow manages to get away and her speed has slightly increased.

He could feel his lungs burning as he is running out of oxygen. His legs slow down as he releases wheezing.

However, what shocks Douma is that the once beautiful sky becomes into a gloomy atmosphere. Making it difficult to see her running figure. Her elegant giggles turn into sobs. This brings agony to his chest as he felt feeble seeing his world falling apart. He unexpectedly strumbled and landed his face on the ground, breathing heavily. Crouching up but almost fell forward due to the lack of energy he has in his body. But his short arms supported his fell. He kept looking to the dark ground assuming it be grass as he could feel the dirt and small narrow greens in the palm of both his hands. He heard her footsteps stop. The disquietude rising in him as he thinking she is completely gone.

He suddenly heard small footsteps coming towards him and see two pairs of small feet. He looked up and widened both his rainbow orbs.

The little girl looks devastated as her face is covered in bruises, her once pretty kimono turns become filth and tore one as the hem of has a couple of rips. Her hair is disheveled and messy. But what hurts the most is the look on her face....pain, sorrow, and grief.

He quickly stands up, wanting to hold her face and comfort her.

As he is trying to reach out for her, she moves behind but she isn't using her feet as if something is pulling her away. He could see their surroundings had gone completely pitch black becoming into emptiness. He wants to run to her so badly but his legs forbid him as gravity tugs him down, slowly his movements.

He is trying to reach out to her but she is further away from him much quicker.

"Douma...Please come back to me." She disappeared without a trace.

The little Douma can finally move but dropped to his knees with an anguish expression as his breathing became unsteady.

Wanting to call out her name. Want her to come back and play with her again. But he couldn't. It was too late.

———————

Gasping for air as he sat up from his futon. Sweats have already formed on his face, brushing his fingers through his hair as he let out a sigh. Looking up to the ceiling calming down after the intense dream he has.

Douma knows he is no longer the petty child he once was.

He knows she is no longer alive in this world.

Including that emotions doesn't exist

He knows he will no longer go back in his delusional fantasy of his.

Douma doesn't know why this is occurring when he knows it is a waste of time.

Just another worthless dream.

—————

Winter has come and returning its coldest season. Falling snow and cold temperatures along with strong winds. Around this time, the days are short and nights longer.

The night is the coldest of the time.

Almost everyone in the temple has fallen asleep except a couple of servants finishing up the chores.

Hisashi folded the late-night laundry along with other servants also doing late chores. Two are battering the futons, one sweeping the floor, and two are washing up the cups and dishes. For Hisashi, he had finished and folded at least 16 futons. All at once. For some people, it will be a lot of work especially doing them late at night but for Hisashi is another everyday task.

"You know Hisashi-San. We could finish the rest and you can go to bed! Don't worry about finishing up." The braided brunette female servant in an article of white clothing said with a smile. She pulled a small stack of sheets to the other side to make room for more sheets.

The older man respond with a closed-eye smile and shook his head. "No need. I can do this on my own. I may be old but it doesn't mean I can handle temple chores. I have been doing them so long that my body resists from tiredness." Hisashi placed another stack of clothing into a separate pile.

"A-are you sure?" Another male asked as he dusted off the counter with a cloth.

Hisashi nodded, "besides I do not mind doing the responsibilities. It had enabled me to become the man I am today." This astonishes the other helpers in the room as they look at each other with widened eyes. Hisashi is one of the adequate and kindest servants among the group, becoming a lovable man to converse to and keep company with. However, they couldn't bear to see him do most of the tasks at such an old age. They insisted on assisting him to do his tasks and let him rest but Hisashi dismissed him as he gave them his warmest smile. Which they would sigh and let him proceed with the work.

Another male but younger nodded his head, "a-ah okay then, Hisashi-san! You always do most of the hardest work than the rest of us. Let us know if you need an extra hand."

Hisashi smiles before leaving the laundry room as he carries the folded futons with both arms. He headed straight down the hall to the entrance. Entering outen look up to the luminous vast moon as the twilight sent out incredibly elegant light snowflakes all over the environment demonstrating the glorious viewpoint of winter. He smiles in admiration at the lovely sight despite the frigid winter and its harsh temperature.

What a joyous season we are in!

He felt a full breeze rise to his neck and face indicating him the cold is increasing. He get out of his thoughts and began to pick up his pace to the other side of the temple. "I better give the futon back to the others. They must be shivering by now." As he reached the first step of the small stairs, he heard unexpected rapid footsteps crushing the snow surface not too far from the temple. He ceased in his tracks and directly turned around looking for the same sound. He maintained listening to the same footsteps and proceeded to follow where it is coming from. He gently set the folded futon down and continue to go out of the temple. He didn't find the source of the sound, but he can hear it. He looks to his right and left but he could see nobody. Instead, it's snow falling. He then looks towards the forest that's surrounding the temple.

It must be coming from the forest!

"H-hello? Is anyone out there?" Hisashi looks to his sides to find any particular thing or someone as he walking on the snow. He then heard the noise getting closer however the footsteps has become less than it was before.

I wonder what's happening?

Hisashi turned in the direction heading towards the forest. Although it was covered in snow the light of the moon helped him look through. He shivers from the coldness as he wraps himself with his arms as the snow drizzles through his face. Making it a bit difficult to see right. He looks back and could see nothing but trees and snow. This confirms that he is further away from the temple. He turns to his front again and sees more trees and snow. He stops as he is realizing he is now at a dead end. Especially when the sound of the footsteps has stopped. He figured it must have been an animal. Hisashi figured he should go back otherwise he will get lost. As he was about to turn around and go home, he heard a slump sound onto the ground not too far from where he is. He picked up with his pace and ran towards even though the snow on the ground has gone deeper, he doesn't care as he is worried someone must be in trouble. He doesn't know where he is going, he still wants to find the person who must be in trouble. He continued running until he suddenly stopped after seeing a body facing down.

He widened his eyes as he could feel his heart racing and this skin went pale but not from the cold but the shock.

It's a woman...and she looks...badly hurt...what-what happened?....

A woman was lying stranded on the snow ground. Her skin was cold and covered in frostbites especially blood. His hands gently pulled the woman from the snow. She was cold, pale, and beaten. He checks her pulse if she's still alive. He placed his two fingers pressed to the woman's pulse than waited to feel any small movemetns under her skin. Hoping he could feel the beat soon.

The good news was he could feel the pulse however her pulse is slowly beating. Unsteady rhythm.

He let out an uneasy breath.

He looked at her bruised body up and down. He then looks at her arm and could see the scratches and blood already imprinted on her skin. He tried lifting her, seeing her face badly bruised.

This brings Hisashi into pain. Bring a sorrowful expression as he felt his chest tighten at the poor woman.

What kind of cruel sick person does this to her?

"Forgive me but I'm not very strong." He put her onto his back with his back hunched over and wraps her arms around his shoulders

Hisashi knew he had to hurry, running for immediate help before she injures becomes fatal. He never was fond of death especially seeing death in his own eyes.

He had been there before and he isn't going through that traumatic experience again.

He struggled walking with precatious steps, closer to the temple. At least that is what he is hoping for.

"It's going to be okay dear, I promise," he muttered.

She wasn't heavy, but also too light. As if she hadn't eaten for a while. But Hisashi wasn't particularly strong either due to his age.

————————-

"Douma-sama!" fastened his awareness at the unexpected knocking. He was getting ready to fall asleep in his comfortable large futon. He immediately stands up, grabs his crown heading towards the door.

The door slid open, Douma fixed his hat before a head peeked inside.

"Gracious founder, you urgently need to in the threshold, Hisashi has found a woman...beaten so badly in the forest!"

Well, that was something to tell bad news in the middle of the night. "Let's see what we help her." He followed the male down the hall as he led him.

People swarmed the passageway as he came a few minutes later. People carrying medical aids, a pot of water, and warm towels.

Another frantic servant rushed towards him with a tense-up expression, "Gracious founder! Please please come see! She looks badly injured and she came without shoes...her foot is covered in frostbites from walking in the snow...please come see her condition...I don't know she is going to make it or not."

If Douma was ordinary, he will too parcel the equivalent crucial concern but he can't as he is getting aggravated with his noisy panic raids.

"I will take a look at her." He reassured them with him another yet fake smile.

Douma ignored everyone's frantic movements as he walked past.

The door was wide open full of darting people.

Hisashi sat next to the very wounded girl with a worried facial expression as he could feel the anxiety is already impacting him. Enclosed with sheets of blankets that we're recently cleaned, and thank God he picked the right night to wash them, to keep her comfortable.

Douma then turned his awareness to the trembled wounded one under the clean blankets. He could only stare down at her as he closed into her broken figure. However, something just began to conquer him. He knows it isn't the unfortunate scenery in front of him, the familiar phenomenon is forming on his mind and body. Preventing his motions merely by glancing at her.

Is she contagious? She doesn't seem to be ill? But it is hard to tell when her face is covered in awful bruises.

However, if she is contagious, why the warmth is becoming good to him?

He looks down at her.

"Douma-Sama?" He pulled back from his subconscious and his followers and servants including Hisashi now looking at him. Confusion formed their faces.

Douma untangled himself, "Hisashi-san. Please tell me what have you discovered so far? Where did you find her? Her name?"

"I...I found her deep in the forest as I heard rapid footsteps coming back into the temple. After I found her sh..she was badly injured and her clothes were bloody. She hasn't woken up so we don't know her name." Hisashi said in a worried tone with an unease look in his eyes.

Douma nodded as he crouched down next to her. His eyes were once again locked on the woman, her soft, broken face framed by the blankets as her hair sprayed all over the pillow.

"Let her rest for now. But treat over her wounds if she is in pain. Make sure to keep an eye on her and her condition." His words seemed to reassure the crowd, sighs of relief and comfort before the people walked out, finding their way back to their chambers to sleep.

Hisashi wanted to stay longer with Douma that way he won't be treating her alone. However, Douma told him that he will be fine if he'd stay with her alone. Hisashi hesitantly left the room.

As soon as his footsteps faded, Douma reached down to the woman's face. He doesn't why he suddenly is so fond of this woman. He never meets her and she is covered with bad wounds so no telling if she is attractive.

But...

He couldn't help but want to get closer to her. Wanting to feel her touch. Wanting to look at her features.

This wounded woman is giving him a sense of haven.

Same haven.

He hasn't felt that way since he was a mere boy.

Douma was out of his thought when he heard her stirring. He looks down and observed she was squirming. Swollen with a fractured bone no doubt. Her face looks unrecognizable from the poor injuries.

There's that familiar sensation again. Is he coming down to a fever?

A grim sight.

He then recognized the hair color.

But where?

The look on the texture even from one strand looks incredibly soft despite the lack of brush and a couple of hair strands sticking out.

This touch was somehow he encountered in his life before.

For some reason, he couldn't help but sniff at the scent specifically from her. He didn't bring his nose to her hair, but he could smell it from a few small meters from him. The aroma of flora. The forgotten aroma he hasn't smelt for a long time.

Steadying and volatile at the same time. A tightening sensation appeared in him when he felt something. As if it was serious yank tried to heave his skin.

It didn't hurt. Although nothing did.

Light green eyes were gazing at him with one as the other was swollen shut.

This almost startles Douma at the eye color but immediately pushes past the thought.

A small hand reaches for him but he made sure to not let her touch him.

Douma held her gaze for a long moment. Her eyes were light green. Light green like fresh and brightened grass under a sunny day, a scene he hadn't seen since he was a child. Green like the color theme for outdoor activities.

The woman he noticed moved to sit up. She slinked at the attempt, a gush coughed escaped from her bruised throat. Although the sight would've disgusted him, but with her...nothing. Nothing from her.

This woman?

"Don't sit up or your wounds open." He said, gently pushing her back down by the shoulders. "How are you feeling? Can you remember what happened to you?" His hand made sure his hand doesn't fully touch her shoulder as he placed her head back on the pillow. She let out a rusky hisses when she felt a sting on her right abdominal.

"Wh.....wh" He could tell her voice become unsettled as it was raspy and croaking, "Where...am I?" She began to panic but the tall prodigy calmed her down.

"You're in my temple. One of my followers found you lying unconscious from the forest."

She glanced until she touched her swollen face, cheek, and eye. Douma stopped her before she could touch even more. "They are possibly be ruptured, don't fondle with your injuries."

"I-I-I can't- I can't see!"

Douma leaned back, setting her hand quickly before the sensation gets worse, "Do you remember what happened?"

Her breath tightened as tears began to form on both her bruised eyes. "I-I was trying to....escape from..him." She breathed deeply, trying to sit up again but flinched at the pain again. Douma gently hold her down from getting up, "He was- He was hurting me again, pulling and p-punching." She lifted her hand to her bruised bloodied lower lip and winced just from the small grazed. She felt her swollen eye becoming throbbing in her eyelid as pain slightly increased. "I tried...I tried to...fight...but he tackled me...to the floor and began hurting me..."

Douma's hand wrapped around her small hand.

He slightly flinched when he hold her hand.

Resulting in a blissful moment that he had disregarded. He doesn't know if he should like it. Particularly with the gesture. But he went along with it. He caressed his thumb against her smooth one.

"B-but I bit his hand before he could strangle me. Hard...I think I may have peeled off the skin...It tasted like blood..."

Douma clamped her hand to stop her from moving more or else she gets in more pain.

"You're safe here," Douma said before he sit back from the warmth she's giving him. "Naught to worry about being impaired here as long you are under my preservation."

Wept occurred from her but in solace way and leaning into the warm forgotten comfort she haven't received for a long time. She missed it so badly, "Thank you..."

There's again the sensation. He needs to ignore it otherwise it will get worse.

But the manifestation is hard for him to do so. However, he wants to hold on to it.

"Douma. Call me Douma."

She passed out before he could say his name.