Fuyumi lost her former self that day. She pushed everyone away and kept her heart frigid, unwilling to let others in as she was too afraid to lose anyone else. Whereas other rangers may have fought to protect and explore the wonders of the world, she fought to eradicate. But at this very moment, it was like all the years of anger and resentment had disappeared.

  The world around Fuyumi faded as her mother emerged into view, her gait slow. She hadn't aged, looking the same as the day she lost her. Long dark hair that flowed past her shoulders, her soft ocean-blue eyes, her gentle smile that warmed her icy heart.

  Fuyumi's eyes glistened with unshed tears as a flood of emotions rushed through her—joy, relief, and an overwhelming sense of longing.

  "It's...you..." Fuyumi whispered, her words trembling with years of pent-up emotions.

  "Yes, I know it's me," Hana responded to her rather strange statement with a raised brow.

  Before Fuyumi could think, her body had already thrown itself into her mother's arms, clinging to her as years of anguish and resentment melted away. She broke down, her sobs muffled in her mother's chest as the burden of loss was lifted from her shoulders. Hana instinctively wrapped her arms around her daughter in a tender embrace, her blouse now drenched in the resurfacing emotions that Fuyumi had buried long ago.

  "Sweetie, what's wrong?" Hana gently stroked her daughter's hair, her comforting touch calming.

  Fuyumi had almost forgotten what it was like to be held by her mother. She missed her warmth, her smile, her embrace, but most of all...

  "I missed you...so much..." She sniffled, tightening her grip as if terrified she'd lose her again if she let go.

  "What do you mean? Are you feeling okay?" Hana asked but didn't get an answer as Fuyumi sobbed silently. "Sweetie, I can't help you if you don't tell me what's going on."

  She remained in her arms until she ran her eyes dry. Reduced to a state of constant hiccups, she finally lifted her head, her eyes puffy and red.

  "Are you ready to tell me what's wrong?" Hana wiped away her stray tears and placed the back of her hand on her forehead to check for a fever.

  Fuyumi shook her head, overjoyed. "Nothing's wrong. I'm just...so happy you're here."

  "Honey, I've been here this whole time. It's my day off, remember?"

  As Fuyumi calmed down, she took a moment to look at her surroundings. She was no longer in the counseling office but in some sort of living space.

  Something about the place seemed familiar. The sliding doors that led to the backyard, the Sakura trees outside, the layout of the house, the placement of the furniture.

  There was no mistaking it. She was back in her old home.

  After a few more minutes of comforting her daughter, Hana rubbed her back and gently urged her forward. "Come. Let's get some fresh air. It's rather hot out so how does a cold treat sound?" She smiled softly.

  "I'd like that." Fuyumi smiled back.

  She followed her mother through the house, which was the same as she remembered it. On their way to the front door, she saw her father tending to a much younger Kei blabbering in his booster seat. Her father had fewer wrinkles than she remembered as if he regained some of his youth.

  "There's my little girl." He said as he fed his son.

  "I'm not so little anymore," Fuyumi responded with a pout.

  Hana regarded her husband with a playful cautionary look. "Careful. Our eleven-year-old is a more mature and dignified young lady now."

  Eleven-year-old? Confused, she looked down at her hands which seemed a lot smaller than before. She did a quick inspection of herself, and even the scars she'd accumulated from her previous battles had vanished and her hands were more delicate. Looking up, the room seemed larger than before...or maybe she was shorter.

  Disregarding the changes, she was just happy, ecstatic even, to have her mother back.

  Her father raised his hands, feigning defeat. "I guess that means I'll have to start keeping the guys away then."

  "Gah!" Kei blurted.

  "I agree, buddy." Her father quipped, wiping his son's mouth.

  Walking out the door, they bid each other farewell. The morning sun graced their skin as they strolled leisurely through the village. It was just like how she recalled, before the nightmare she had to endure.

  The fresh aroma of freshly baked bread from bakeries drifted in the air, mingling with the scent of blooming flowers. Sakura trees swayed gracefully in the morning breeze, their pedals dancing along the road.

  Neighbors greeted them as they passed with friendly smiles and waves, some of which Fuyumi recognized. Their laughter and chatter produced the soft and lighthearted community that she grew to love in her younger years.

  Vibrant blue flocks soared overhead, Fuyumi finding herself bobbing her head as they sang their all too familiar melody.

  Walking through the village square, there was a bubbling fountain with kids playing on a large playground that surrounded it. Fuyumi beamed as she recalled the fond memories of her childhood on that playground.

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  A playful smirk tugged at her mother's lips. "I thought you weren't so little anymore."

  Realizing she'd let her guard down, Fuyumi snapped her head away from the playground, trying to act cool and mature but embarrassment had already flushed her cheeks pink. "Y-Yes. But I'm allowed to look."

  After arriving at a small diner, Fuyumi looked over the menu and was both relieved and ecstatic to see her favorite meal. After ordering, her plate of toasted buns oozing with cheese and scrambled eggs infused with veggies and bits of meat cooked to perfection was set in front of her. The burst of flavor and seasonings had her melting in her seat in delight, leaving her mother smiling to herself.

  After eating, they left with ice cream and ran a few errands while they were out before returning home. Fuyumi couldn't remember the last time she genuinely had a good time let alone smiled. Her father greeted them as they walked in, Kei outstretching his arms to Hana.

  "Awe, did you have enough of Daddy for one day?" Hana said, teasing her husband as she picked up Kei.

  She played with her son for a few minutes until they heard a knock at the door. Putting playtime on pause, she went to answer it while Fuyumi's father took the opportunity to tell his daughter what he had planned for the upcoming trip for Hana.

  "We'll be surprising your mother with a special dinner during our tour in the Capital so make sure you pack your best outfit for the occasion," he whispered. "I've already set up the reservations."

  Fuyumi's face lit up and gave her father an assuring nod. This would be the first family trip so she struggled to contain her excitement. However, the longer his words marinated, the more her excitement began to fizzle out. The haunting realization of his words made her face turn pale.

  "Is there something wrong?" He asked.

  "...her birthday...when is it?" Her voice trembled, terrified of the answer.

  He raised an eyebrow. "Today. Don't tell me you forgot."

  She remained silent as a wave of fear was projected in her eyes. A crushing weight pressed down on her chest, leaving her gasping for air.

  It was going to happen today. However, unlike before, she could stop it. She could change her mother's fate.

  "What's wrong? Are you feeling okay?" He worried, rubbing his daughter's back.

  Fuyumi forced her stuff neck to turn, finding her mother in the doorway chatting with an older woman. She couldn't tell what they were saying but from the disappointment etched onto her mother's face, she knew it was bad news.

  Hana turned to her family. "Sorry, but it looks like work is short-staffed today."

  Fuyumi's face darkened. It was happening again. Panic welled in her chest as she bolted out of her seat, desperate to alter the events about to unfold.

  "Mom, you can't go!" She yelped.

  "It's okay. We can reschedule the trip for another time," Hana responded, oblivious to her fate.

  Fuyumi sprinted after her mother but somehow the distance between them stayed the same. In fact, she began receding away from her. No matter how fast she ran, she couldn't reach her.

  "You don't understand! Wait!" Fuyumi outstretched her hand but it was of no use.

  The world around her grew darker, with her father and brother vanishing from sight. The brilliant light from the doorway shrunk along with her mother's silhouette the more she ran. Fuyumi's heart thundered in her chest, drowning out Hana's echoing voice which was already growing fainter. The distant light shrunk to a speck before finally disappearing, shrouding her surroundings in an inky blackness.

  Tears welled in her eyes and her breath became heavy as she feared the worst. Traversing the void, there was no sound to accompany her footsteps. She wept but couldn't hear her sobs. Even as she called out to her mother no words came out.

  Her perception of time became lost within the endless space of nothingness. After what felt like an eternity of aimless wandering, her ears perked to the first stimulation they'd received since being trapped there. She wasn't sure what she was hearing but having no choice, she followed the source.

  In the distance, she spotted a faint crimson light glowing brighter with every step she took. The sounds grew louder but she still couldn't decipher them as they were still a muddled mess. She began sprinting towards the fluctuating light, afraid that it would eventually flicker out of existence.

  Approaching the light, she could now distinguish what she was hearing. Running through the light, she found herself within the same house only this time it was engulfed in a raging inferno. The sounds of pained wailing of villagers clashed with the animalistic grunts and howls outside.

  Through the flames, she could see the silhouettes of hulking beasts trampling families, devouring anyone in their sights.

  "Run...!" A familiar voice cried out.

  "M...Mom?" She responded, grabbing a knife from her ablaze kitchen. "Mom, w-where are you?"

  She didn't get a response but one thing was certain. She still had time. She could still run away with her mother. Mustering every ounce of courage she could, she stuck the knife out in front of her with trembling hands and carefully navigated her collapsing home.

  A guttural roar pierced her ears making her stop dead in her tracks. A bipedal creature peered around the corner, its red piercing eyes locking onto her. She froze, the beast's sheer presence anchoring her in place as it made its slow approach. She tried to run but her body wouldn't respond to her commands.

  Thin strands of crimson weaved out of the beast's sickly grey coat, swirling into a tendril. Fuyumi's legs were on the verge of giving out, her grip weakening around the knife as the creature's overwhelming pressure weighed down on the child.

  Its chest heaved as a hideous toothy grin split its mangled face, savoring the girl's terror. It raised its tendril before firing it towards her. The world slowed as she watched its sharp edge grow larger. The only thing she could do was squeeze her eyes shut and curse herself for failing.

  Expecting to be impaled, she flinched when she heard the tendril punch a hole through her...except she felt no pain. Besides the warm substance that smashed on her face, she felt fine. Prying one eye open, she looked down to find that she hadn't been injured at all. Opening her other eye, she wiped her face and looked at her hand to find blood.

  "...r...un..." A faint voice whispered in front of her.

  Looking up, her eyes widened in horror to find her mother standing there with the tendril protruding through her sternum.

  "...ru...n...Fu...yum...i..." The light in her eyes faded.

  The tendril fizzled out of existence along with the beast as her body flopped to the ground. One by one the flames extinguished, slowly plunging the world around Fuyumi into darkness once more with her mother's motionless body still visible.

  Her lips quivered and tears streamed down her face, blurring her vision as she finally collapsed to her knees. She broke down, letting loose a pained howl as she cradled her.

  Once again, she'd been forced to watch her mother leave her behind, helpless to stop it.

  "Oh you poor thing." A soft, almost consoling voice spoke.

  She'd heard this voice before, but she was in too much distress to meet the person's gaze even as they sauntered through the darkness toward her. She already knew who it was anyway.

  "Such a tragedy to have your childhood ripped away from you that day. Life hasn't been kind to us, I suppose."

  Her mother's body gradually evaporated into a red mist and Fuyumi reverted back to her present-day body as she continued to weep silently.

  "That's why I have taken it upon myself to treat the anguished. Imagine all of your pain, all of your anger, gone. You won't have to grapple with your demons anymore," the woman knelt down and craned her neck unnaturally. Fuyumi pried her swollen eyes from the ground to meet Maya's piercing scarlet eyes bleeding through her vague silhouette. "After I'm done erasing your dear mother from your memory and all the trauma associated with her, your sorrow and resentment will have nothing to latch onto. I will make you whole again."