Five years ago, a war broke out between two clans.
The reason? I don't know. All I know is that, from that moment on, everything changed.
"This family's future is over," the man said.
He launched a powerful fire attack, strong enough to destroy an entire city, targeting a little boy who was at home, caring for his sick parents. At the last moment, Ryuzo intervened, protecting the entire family from destruction.
"What are you trying to do?" Ryuzo shouted. "What did this family do to you?"
My parents were always sick. I never knew why. From the day I was born, their health had been gradually deteriorating. Before I turned three, Ryuzo was taking care of them—and me—even though we barely had any money.
In the end, our clan lost the war. The destruction affected everyone.
Our house was left in ruins, and we were left with practically nothing. My parents and I were taken to the hospital. I wasn't seriously injured, but since my parents couldn't get out of bed, they were hit by falling debris. Even so, Ryuzo protected us.
I didn't stay in the hospital for long. I spent most of the time unconscious and was discharged soon after.
Ryuzo walked me home. On the way, we passed a lamppost and a trash can.
There was something strange. There was a single lamppost in the middle of nowhere, completely alone.
Because of this strange feeling, I looked inside the trash can.
There was only a teddy bear.
Nothing else.
It seemed abandoned.
So I decided to take it with me.
I thought for a moment about a name.
Then I knew.
"Ash'vour. The one who stays by my side."
Ryuzo turned around, his eyes widening slightly.
"Lauren, what are you doing with that teddy bear? It was in the trash. It might be contaminated."
I lowered my head, hugging the bear.
Ryuzo let out a long sigh... and smiled softly.
"It's okay. You can keep it."
He gently ruffled my hair and we continued home.
The old gate creaked as Ryuzo pushed it open. The house was quieter than I remembered. The windows were ajar. The garden—which once flourished thanks to my mother—was now just dry earth and fallen leaves.
I hugged Ash'vour tightly.
"There, Lauren. You're home," Ryuzo said, opening the door.
The smell of bitter tea and medicine hung in the air.
"Lauren," he said softly, "I brought your parents home before you woke up. The doctors said—"
He paused for a moment.
"They don't have much time. If it were just the injuries, they would recover... but there's an illness they haven't discovered yet."
"You don't need to apologize," I said. "It's not your fault."
The doctors asked us to take them home so they could spend the time they had left with their family.
"They said everything will be alright," Ryuzo added with a forced smile. "So don't worry."
I smiled back.
Ryuzo felt guilty for lying.
"Go see them, Lauren. They're in the room."
As I entered the room, a weak voice called to me.
"Lauren? Is that you?"
My mother was pale and thin in bed. Beside her, my father was wrapped in blankets, coughing softly.
I wanted to say, "I'm here.
I'm okay.
I missed you."
But no sound came out.
"Oh, my son…You're back…" my mother whispered, slowly wrapping me in her weak arms.
"You're alright. That's all that matters," my father said with a gentle smile.
Tears fell silently.
Ash'vour slipped from my arms and fell onto the wooden floor.
That night, sleep came as I held my new companion close to me.
When morning arrived, something seemed different.
Ash'vour was beside the bed.
He was dirty before… but now he was clean.
As if someone had washed him during the night.