The sun had begun to set over the Shaolin Temple, casting a holden hue across its ancient rooftops. In one of the temple's quiet rooms, Reito stood alone on the balcony, deep in thought.
His eyes were fixed on the distant statue that resembled Master Jiro – the First Monk. The silhouette stood tall against the fading sky, bathed in warm light, unmoving and timeless.
But Reito's heart was anything but still.
He thought back to what Hikaru had told him earlier:
That someone… is your mother, Reito.
That single sentence echoed in his mind like a temple bell. He hadn't stopped thinking about it since.
His hands tightened slightly against the railing. His expression unreadable. His heart unsure.
He whispered to himself, "Moth–"
Then–
Creak…
The soft sound of a door opening broke the silence.
Reito turned.
It was Master Takeshi, standing in the doorway, his hands gently clasped behind his back.
"Are you ready, Reito?"
Reito nodded, though his voice was quiet. "Yes."
Master Takeshi took a deep breath, studying him for a moment – the boy he had raised into a man.
"Okay then… let's go. Teshii and the others are waiting."
Reito nodded again. He took one final glance at the statue of Master Jiro.
Then he turned – and walked toward the door.
Toward his future.
Toward his mother.
Outside of the Shaolin Temple…
The wind howled gently across the snow-draped mountains, brushing across Teshii's fleeces as Hikaru and the others stood just outside the temple gates, waiting.
"WHAT'S TAKING HIM SO LONG?" Ikazuchi groaned, clearly losing his patience as he stomped his foot, sparks of electricity snapping around his arms.
Teshii grinned and casually turned to him. "Relax, Zeus."
"HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO RELAX WHEN WE'RE JUST STANDING HERE IN THE COLD?" Ikazuchi shouted, steam curling from his mouth.
"Um… you grow up?" Teshii said with a smug smile.
That was it.
"WHAT DID YOU SAY?!" Electricity exploded around Ikazuchi's arms as he lunged toward Teshii, who instantly started running in circles, laughing.
"Catch me if you can, Zeus!"
As the two of them chased each other like children on a playground, Haruto turned to Hikaru. His eyes softened as he noticed Hikaru wasn't laughing with the rest.
"Hikaru, are you okay?" Haruto asked gently.
Hikaru turned toward him, nodding slowly. "Yeah… I'm just thinking about how hard it must be."
Haruto raised an eyebrow. "What is?"
Hikaru exhaled, watching his breath rise in the cold air. "It must be hard for Reito – to leave the Temple after sixteen years. To leave the only home he's ever known."
At those words, everyone stilled.
Even Ikazuchi paused his chase, his expression dropping as he turned toward Hikaru. Moriya looked down. Teshii quietly crossed his arms, his smirk gone now.
They all knew Hikaru was right.
Reito had spent sixteen years within the sacred walls of the temple.
And today… he was stepping away from it.
Stepping toward something unknown.
Then–
GRRRRNNNNK…
The ancient temple gates creaked open with a weighty echo that cut through the cold.
Everyone turned toward the sound.
Two figures stepped out from within the temple.
One tall, calm, with hands behind his back.
And beside him–
White-haired. Blue-eyed. Cloaked in robes with the wind brushing against his bangs.
Reito.
And Master Takeshi.
Everyone turned as Reito and Master Takeshi stepped out from the temple gates.
"Reito! Master Takeshi!" Hikaru called out, raising a hand.
Both of them looked toward the group.
Reito offered a small smile. "Hikaru."
Teshii stepped forward, sliding his hands into his fleece pockets. "So… you ready to go, Sub-Zero?"
Reito nodded. "Yeah."
Then he turned to Master Takeshi, his expression beginning to falter. "Master Takeshi… I guess… this is goodbye."
He lowered his head, eyes downcast, sorrow beginning to falter. "Master Takeshi… I guess… this is goodbye."
He lowered his head, eyes downcast, sorrow beginning to cloud his features.
Master Takeshi noticed immediately.
He let out a long breath and placed both hands gently on Reito's shoulders.
"Reito."
Reito looked up, meeting his gaze.
"Reito, you don't need to worry about the Temple anymore. Your destiny lies with the Order of the Elements," Master Takeshi said firmly, though his voice remained warm.
"I know, but…" Reito began, until Master Takeshi gently cut in.
"You're finally going to meet your mother, Reito," he said with a soft smile. "I'm sure she's missed you more than words can say. And… there's no way I'll ever forget the boy I've raised for sixteen years."
Reito's eyes gleamed, filled with both emotion and understanding.
"Master Takeshi…" he whispered.
Master Takeshi gave a firm nod.
Reito turned to the Elements, who were all waiting patiently, except for Ikazuchi, for him – Teshii standing in front, arms crossed, smirking as usual.
"Well then, Sub-Zero," Teshii said, his grin widening. "Let's go meet your mother."
Reito nodded, his steps more confident now.
They began to move, stepping forward, leaving behind the temple that had been his world for so long.
Then–
"REITO!"
The voice rang out across the mountains.
Reito and the others froze and turned around.
"Huh?" Reito blinked.
It was the other monks, standing proudly atop the temple gates.
"REITO, YOU BETTER COME BACK AND VISIT US!" one shouted.
"YOU WILL BE MISSED, REITO!" another added.
Reito's chest tightened as his eyes welled up. "Guys…"
He turned to Master Takeshi once more.
And then–
Master Takeshi bowed deeply to Reito and the Elements.
One by one, the monks followed, bowing in unison.
A sign of respect.
Of farewell.
Of love.
Reito's eyes shimmered. He bowed deeply in return, heart full.
His time at the Shaolin Temple was ending…
Half an Hour Later…
The Elements and Teshii were making their way down the snow-draped mountain, heading back to the Black SUV.
The path was long and winding, the crunch of their boots the only rhythm in the stillness – aside from one particular voice echoing louder than the rest.
"THIS… IS TAKING SOOOO LONG!" Ikazuchi shouted, arms flailing in exaggerated frustration.
At the front of the group, Teshii glanced over his shoulder, unimpressed. "Damn, Zeus! For a hot-headed guy like you, you sure have no patience."
Ikazuchi glared at him, sparks crackling faintly at his fingertips. "SHUT UP, TESHII!"
As the two continued their usual bickering, Moriya moved closer to Reito, who had been mostly silent since they left the temple.
"You doing okay, Reito?" Moriya asked, voice calm.
Reito gave a small nod, eyes still fixed ahead. "Yeah… It's just… weird, you know? I've never stayed anywhere else outside the temple. Now I'll be living somewhere completely different."
Moriya chuckled softly, understanding the feeling all too well. "Yeah, I know exactly how you feel."
Reito turned his head, raising an eyebrow. "You do?"
Moriya nodded. "I grew up in a forest tribe my entire life. That place was all I knew – until I joined the Order."
Reito looked surprised. "How did that go for you?"
"Well…" Moriya scratched the back of his head, looking mildly embarrassed, "They had to teach me about technology."
"Technology?" Reito tilted his head slightly.
"You've been in the temple for sixteen years, right? I'm guessing you don't know much about technology either," Moriya said with a small smile.
Reito nodded with a faint chuckle. "Yeah… I have no knowledge about it at all."
Moriya let out another laugh. "They I guess you and I have a lot to learn."
Reito smiled back, the tension in his shoulders easing a little. "Yeah… we do."
Another Half an Hour Later…
The Elements and Teshii had finally arrived back at the black SUV.
But then–
Teshii's eyes widened behind his crimson glasses.
The entire vehicle was buried beneath a thick coat of snow, almost unrecognizable.
Teshii let out a low whistle. "I know we were at the Shaolin Temple for a while,… but I didn't think we were gone that long."
He walked up to the car and began swiping the snow off with his gloved hands.
Hikaru stepped forward to help – only to stop when he felt something soft underfoot.
"Ughhh…"
Hikaru quickly looked down. "Huh?"
Lying half-buried in the snow were two unconscious hikers, faces pale, barely breathing.
Hikaru blinked. "W-Where did these two come from?"
Teshii, still brushing snow off the windshield, didn't even look up. "Don't know. Don't really care. Just move them out of the way."
Hikaru stared blankly at him. "Seriously?"
Ikazuchi came over to help drag the hikers to the side of the trail, while Haruto checked to make sure they were still alive.
"They're fine," Haruto said, checking for pulses. "Probably knocked out from the cold.""
Teshii stepped back, admiring the now-clean SUV. He placed his hands on his hips proudly. "There we go. Looks good as new!"
Hikaru exhaled. "Well then… now that you're done cleaning, let's get in."
He reached for door handle.
Teshii's eyes widened. "Wait, Sunshine–! I haven't turned off the–"
Too late.
ZZZZZZT!
A surge of electricity burst from the handle. It shocked through Hikaru's body, launching him back a few feet.
He hit the snow with a loud thud – completely unconscious, smoke faintly curling from his fleece.
Everyoen froze.
Teshii stared at the sizzling handle, then down at the knocked-out Hikaru.
"Guess… I was too late."
Haruto turned to Teshii, eyes wide. "What the hell was that, Teshii?"
Teshii smiled nervously. "That, Tsunami… was my car's defense system."
Ikazuchi narrowed his eyes. "Defense system?"
Teshii grinned. "Yep! Remember what I asked yesterday, Zeus?"
Ikazuchi tilted his head. "Yesterday…?"
Then – he remembered.
Literally Yesterday…
Back at the safehouse, Ikazuchi was sitting on the couch, phone in hand, minding his own business.
Then–
"YO, ZEUS! WHAT IS UP?"
Ikazuchi's eye twitched as he turned toward the voice, already irritated. "Huh?"
Of course, it was Teshii.
Ikazuchi glared. "What do you want, Teshii?"
Teshii smirked, holding something behind his back. "Mind doing a me a favour?"
"No." Ikazuchi replied instantly, not even looking up.
Teshii grinned wider, ignoring the answer entirely.
"So, I have this box here…" He revealed a strange, box-shaped device – some kind of custom-built engine with wires poking out.
Ikazuchi crossed his arms. "I just said no."
"I don't give a f@%k," Teshii said cheerfully. "Anyway! Can you put some electricity into this box?"
Ikazuchi raised an eyebrow. "Why?"
Teshii just smiled innocently. "No reason…"
Ikazuchi narrowed his eyes, staring at him for a long moment. Then he sighed. "Fine."
He raised his hand, sparks beginning to crackle across his palm.
"Just don't blame me if it explodes."
Teshii grinned.
"Deal."
Back to the Present…
Ikazuchi's eye twitched violently as the memory hit him full force.
"Y-you–" he stammered, glaring.
Teshii nodded with a satisfied grin. "Yep!"
"YOU USED ME!" Ikazuchi roared.
Teshii gave him a thumbs-up. "Just like I said two seconds ago – yep!"
Both Moriya and Reito watched the chaotic exchange in silence.
Reito leaned over and whispered to Moriya, "Are they… always like this?"
Moriya gave a slow nod. "Yes."
Then–
Teshii turned toward Reito with a sudden grin. "Well, Sub-Zero… ready to meet your mother?"
Reito blinked, caught off guard. "Uh… y-yeah!"
"WELL THEN, GUYS, LET'S GO!" Teshii shouted, already marching toward the Black SUV.
Everyone followed suit. Teshii grabbed Hikaru – still unconscious from the earlier electric shock – and dragged him to the passenger seat, buckling him in without a hint of shame.
He hopped into the driver's seat and slammed the door.
GRRNN – VRROOOM!
The engine growled to life, echoing across the snow-covered cliffs. The wheels turned, and the SUV began its descent from the mountain, carving fresh tracks in the untouched snow. The Black SUV disappeared down the path, leaving behind nothing but fading tire marks and–
Two unconscious hikers, still sprawled beneath the trees.
Silence fell.
Until–
WHHRRRMMM.
Two figures slowly rose from the ground like shadows breaking through reality.
One of them… was Ghost, eyes narrowed and jaw clenched in frustration.
The other–
Blood Mage.
Her crimson cloak flowed in the frigid wind. Snow clung to her boots as if afraid to melt. Ghost had clearly held onto her as he phased, allowing her to slip through the ground with him.
Blood Mage stood in silence, staring down at the two unconscious hikers.
Then – she licked her lips, slowly, hungrily.
A twister smile curled across her face.
TO BE CONTINUED!!!