The snow fell silently that night.
On the rooftop of the ancient compound, two little girls huddled together beneath the eaves, their breath forming trembling clouds in the frozen air.
Suma's white hair clung wetly to her cheeks, the ends soaked from melting snow. She pulled the thin blanket tighter around herself and Hiyori, shivering.
"I'm sorry," Hiyori whispered, her voice breaking.
Suma blinked up at her. Even in the dark, she could see Hiyori's shame—those beautiful silver eyes dull with pain, her delicate hands clenched so tightly that her knuckles turned white.
"It's not your fault, Onee-chan," Suma said fiercely. "They're the ones who are wrong. Not you."
But the words felt hollow.
Because even among the proud daughters of the Yuki Clan—where every girl was blessed with the Spirit Of Snow Fairy—Hiyori had failed.
UnLike Suma, she had black hair, a mark of "impurity," an omen of powerlessness. And now, the elders had turned their backs on her. The other children mocked her behind embroidered sleeves, while their mothers whispered words sharper than knives.
"She should never have been born."
"What shame she brings upon our lineage."
It didn't matter that Hiyori trained harder than anyone. It didn't matter that she smiled even when her hands bled from wielding the sacred fans. The Spirit of Snow Fairy never came for her. Never answered her prayers.
And tonight... after the clan's announcement that Hiyori would be cast out unless she awakened her powers by the next snow moon, she had broken.
Suma crawled closer, wrapping her arms around her.
"I'll stay with you forever," she promised, her voice fierce. "Even if they all leave, even if the world turns its back... I'll never leave you, Onee-chan."
Hiyori's body trembled, and then—finally—she broke. Silent tears streamed down her cheeks, falling onto Suma's forehead.
The two clung to each other under the endless, pitiless sky.
That was when the shadow came.
Yesterday night ...
A figure materialized from the swirling snow, her cloak blacker than midnight, her eyes crimson with a gleaming, ancient hunger.
Misz.
Suma stiffened instinctively .
Misz smiled, a slow, indulgent smile.
"Poor little flower," she murmured. "So much pain... so much loneliness."
Her voice was beautiful and terrible, sweet as a mother's lullaby, sharp as the snap of breaking bone.
"I can end your suffering," Misz said, kneeling before them like a dark goddess. "I can give you what your clan deny to your sister . Power beyond imagining. The blessing of Rakhara, High Servant of the Evil Fairy God."
Suma felt something ....
Misz chuckled. "Child, power is neither evil nor good. It is simply... strength. And strength is the only thing that matters in this cruel world."
She reached into her cloak and withdrew a shard of pure, radiant crystal—the Celestial Stone. It pulsed with a mesmerizing, bone-deep thrum, as if the stars themselves had been caged within it.
"Through this stone, Rakhara will awaken the Spirit of Snow within your sister . Your sister will become the strongest of your clan. Your sister will be honored. She will be Worshiped."
Suma's hand twitched. Longing flickered in her silver eyes .
Suma grabbed her arm, shaking her head desperately.
"What's the price?" Suma demanded, her small voice hoarse.
Misz turned to her, smiling like a fox who had already won.
"For such a gift... a small price," she said silkily. "The hidden power that sleeps inside the boy you love."
Gojo.
Suma's breath caught.
"Give me the Spirit God's Blessing inside Gojo," Misz whispered, her words sliding like poison into her ears. "In exchange, your sister will have her rightful power. She will never suffer again."
Suma felt like she was drowning.
If she refused... Hiyori would be exiled. Forever . Broken. Lost forever.
If she accepted... she would betray Gojo, the one person who had ever made her feel safe.
Tears blurred her vision. She looked at Hiyori, who stared at her with wide, vulnerable eyes, trusting her completely.
"I'll do it," Suma croaked.
She fell to her knees, bowing her head to Misz, the snow soaking into her hair, her blanket, her soul.
"I'll do anything... just save her."
Misz smiled. "Good girl."
And with that, a terrible pact was forged.
Later that Night
Gojo stood outside ... the freezing wind cutting through him like blades.
He had seen it all.
Through the lingering magic Misz had unknowingly left behind, Gojo had glimpsed Suma's choice—the way she had sold her own heart to save her sister.
He should have been furious.
Instead, all he felt was grief.
Suma—his bright, ridiculous, beautiful Suma—had been carrying this burden alone. Smiling, laughing, teasing, even while her heart shattered piece by piece.
He approached silently, and Suma flinched when she noticed him.
Her eyes were wild, terrified, shining with guilt.
"I'm sorry," she whispered. "I didn't want you to know. I didn't want you to hate me."
Gojo closed the distance between them and, without a word, wrapped her in his arms.
Suma stiffened, then broke into trembling sobs against his chest.
"You're an idiot," Gojo said, his voice thick. "You thought I'd hate you for trying to save someone you love?"
"I betrayed you," she choked out. "I was going to give away your power... I..."
"I don't care," he said roughly. "I don't care about any of that."
He pulled back just enough to look into her tear-streaked face.
"I'm proud of you, Suma," he said, his voice cracking. "You were braver than anyone. Braver than me."
Her breath hitched. "But Misz... she'll come for you..."
Gojo smiled, fierce and determined. "Let her come."
He took her hands, holding them between his.
"Listen to me," he said. "From now on, you don't have to fight alone. You and Hiyori, both... I'll protect you. No matter what it costs."
Suma stared at him, eyes wide and disbelieving.
"You promise?" she whispered.
"I swear it," he said.
Something ancient stirred between them—the Spirit God's blessing responding to their bond. Light bloomed in the air, warm and golden, melting the snow where it touched.
The Celestial Stone in Suma's pocket glowed brighter—and then shattered into motes of starlight, dissolving the evil contract Misz had tried to forge.
Suma gasped, feeling the chains around her soul break.
Gojo grinned. "Looks like she underestimated us."
Together, they turned toward the swirling portal Misz had left behind—a gateway to the master realm where Hiyori was being held.
Suma wiped her tears, her heart hammering in her chest.
"We have to save her," she said, her voice small but fierce.
"We will," Gojo promised. "Together."
Suma smiled through her tears. "You're so stupid, Nii-sama."
"But you love me anyway," he teased.
"I do," she whispered.
Gojo held out his hand.
Suma took it, their fingers locking tightly together.
With a final glance at their snow-covered home, they stepped into the portal.
The world exploded into swirling light and freezing winds as they crossed realms—leaving behind everything they had ever known.
Ahead lay battles against demons, betrayal by the ones they thought they could trust, and trials that would push them to the edge of despair.
But they weren't afraid.
Because they had each other.
Because no matter what happened—
They would protect Hiyori.
They would protect their family.
No matter what it took.
To Be Continued...