Nagato Kagutsuchi: The Dawn
The Dawn 26: A Frozen Memory
A few days after Nagato left the Ellesmere Kingdom. He directly moved towards the Cakrawyuha Forest. Before that he stopped in Daruma City.
At the Winter Ice Flower Residence, Nagato meets Oichi who is playing with a three-year-old child.
“You..” Oichi is surprised, even Nagato is more surprised to see the adorable little boy.
“Nagato?” Oichi stood up and approached Nagato who looked more mature, even the three-year-old girl looked at Nagato with an adorable look.
“Nagato, you should know. Actually Az..” Oichi choked, he turned softly in his heart, ‘Let the two of them meet.’
Nagato just kept quiet and smiled faintly. Oichi introduced his daughter whom he named Fuyumi Hayasaka. This child is the son of Azai and himself.
While Oichi is chatting with Nagato, Hika and Tika come along with a beautiful girl who is no stranger to Nagato's eyes.
Oichi is about to say something, but he sees Nagato already aware of Iris's frozen memory. The beautiful girl lost her fighting ability and lived an ordinary life for the past four years.
Nagato immediately left after making sure Iris was in good health. Although his memories disappeared, and was unable to return to a world filled with battles, it was much better.
Nagato is traumatized for failing to protect Hisui and Litha. Of course when he left immediately, Shirayuki confronted him.
“Nagato! At least greet us!” Tika screamed because she saw the change in Nagato.
“Tika, Tika. Don't scold Nagato. After all he was the hardest hit among us..” Hika holds Tika's shoulder.
“Do you not want to say hello to Aunt Shirayuki?” This woman is still beautiful even though she is getting older. Nagato shifted his eyes.
”I just want to make sure Iris is. I'll go.” Nagato stepped back, but Shirayuki froze her legs.
“Is it true that you are looking for trouble with Orochi and the Demon Worship Sect?” Shirayuki felt that this young man did not want to involve anyone.
Nagato approached Shirayuki and whispered something to the woman. Shirayuki was aghast in shock and looked at Nagato deeply.
“I don't have enough strength to protect you all.” Nagato instantly disappeared from Shirayuki's sight. The young man seemed to have vanished into the earth.
Shirayuki looked at Iris and cried softly, “Look, Dragon wants to protect you. Protect us...”
____
Nagato again met Hayabusa and the others. They were waiting for his arrival in the forest far away from Daruma City.
“Hiragi, do you still like Iris?” Nagato glanced at the silent Hiragi.
“How is Aunt Yuki?”
“As usual. He doesn't smile at me.” Hiragi smiled wryly.
Nagato looked at the faces of Panda, Hayabusa, Kashima, Nekoya and Laura looking uneasy. While Chibi just fell asleep with his leisure.
“It looks like you guys have figured it out..” Nagato pulled Chibi's neck and placed it on his shoulder. Then he continued his journey towards the Cakrawyuha Forest.
Nagato's friends learn of his past from Hiragi. Now they saw the young man was in a raging inner being.
Nagato and his friends continued to walk through mountains and hills, until finally after a few days of travel they reached the Cakrawyuha Forest.
“This place is different..” Nagato stared in silence as hundreds of Black Ape and White Ape greeted him. His heart was sliced in memory of Litha. However, this feeling was very painful and heart-wrenching.
His head lowered to hide his facial expression.
“Naniki..” Nekoya wants to hug Nagato, but Laura holds him back.
As Nagato was gathering his courage towards the future, Serlin's shadow magic was seen.
Nagato stared at the familiar female shadow. He is Serlin.
“You wait here!” Nagato looked at all his friends who followed him to the Cakrawyuha Forest.
“Start from here only Nagato can enter this forest..”.
Nagato's friends stared at Serlin's talking shadow, they were about to cut him off, but Nagato raised his hand.
“I see, they just accompanied me up here.”
After Nagato entered the Cakrawyuha Forest, Sonjo looked annoyed.
“Trust him. If he cannot make peace with his past, then Nagato does not deserve to be our leader
Hayabusa's words made all who wanted to catch up with Nagato choose silence.
Nagato took a deep breath and savored the Cakrawyuha Forest with an indescribable feeling of emptiness.