"It has always been you."

Those words echoed through Kazuha's mind, amplifying every time he heard it. Kazuha's heartbeat began to increase even more. Heizou looked at Kazuha and said, "Please.... Don't hurt yourself.... I can't take it when you're in pain.... Do it for my sake atleast...." With pain and sorrow in his voice.

A tear fell from Heizou's left eye. He wiped it as he looked down. Kazuha looked at Heizou, trying to say something. However he faltered. Kazuha knew he had to say it eventually.

Suddenly -- Kazuha held Heizou's face and leaned in, kissing him gently. They began to connect lips once more. Kazuha's body moved on its own. Both their lips quivered, trying to recover from crying. As their gazes met, so too did their tongues.

"I-It... It has always been you too...." Kazuha admitted. Heizou tasted a slightly sweet taste from Kazuha's mouth. As they began to embrace their love, they eventually stopped. They then proceeded to lay on the floor together.

Kazuha sighed, feeling that it was the time to tell him. "Heizou... I want to tell you something." "Yeah?" Heizou replied, curious of what Kazuha wanted to say. "I... need to talk about my friend to you...."

-----------------

"Two years ago, I lost my friend..."

"He was the best friend I could ever ask for. We used to talk alot and met up with eachother every day. We used to spar with eachother and do all sorts of things together. I'll tell you one secret but you have to promise not to tell 'her'. Well.... Me and my friend used to steal some fireworks under the cover of night from Yoimiya. We used to fire them but Yoimiya always found us and scolded us. My friend would get the worst of it.

I thought that he was her brother or something... but he didn't tell me anything.
He'd always talk about the Musou no Hitotachi to me and once... *sigh* he told me these words. 'There will always be those who dare to brave the lightning's glow'.*Tears up* *sighs* Then... the Vision Hunt Decree....

I was not with him. I was hiding in with the public. I heard about a Duel before the throne taking place in Tenshukaku. However, I heard news that it was my best friend. I ran all the way towards Tenshukaku but... I was too late.... *sniff* I- I lost him... I couldn't save him.... I grabbed his dying Vision in my hands. I tended to the burns in our usual meet-up place... Yoimiya came there looking for my friend but... she eventually dug the truth from me. We mourned his death together.

After all these years... I thought I had put my past behind me but... this... I can't... I can't move on...."

---------------

Kazuha then began to shed some tears again. "It's not fair!" He cried. Heizou looked at him and climbed on top of him, covering his mouth after leaning down on him. Heizou looked at him as he couldn't control his tears anymore.

"I... lost one of my closest friends too..." Heizou cried as his tears fell onto Kazuha's. Kazuha looked up at him and gave him a small kiss on his cheek. "Heizou..." he said. They both began to empathize with eachother more. They shared even more tales about the things they used to do with their old friends.

"Heizou... you remind me so much of him" Kazuha said. Heizou's eyes widened. However, he decided to stay silent. They got up and began to rest, wanting to fall asleep for a while. Kazuha asked, "C-Can I lean on your shoulder?" They both were getting bolder and used to eachother. Heizou nodded 'yes'. As soon as Kazuha fell asleep, Heizou looked at him.

Heizou then began to realize that perhaps, Kazuha liked his friend. "You remind me so much of him." Those words echoed in Heizou's head. Heizou thought, "Is Kazuha falling in love with me just to get the sensation of having his friend back? Is he using me as his coping mechanism?" In the back of his head.

("No. He couldn't do something like this... H-He wouldn't!")

("But all evidences seem to prove that he might....")

("I'm overthinking this.... Maybe I need a nap.")

An hour later....

Both of them awoke next to eachother. They then decided that it would be best to try to find the exit now. Kazuha pulled out his new sword and sliced a boulder covering the entrance. Kazuha was amazed. The slice managed to incinerate the cuts located on the Boulder.

The cut somehow made the rock melt. Kazuha then sliced it several times, completely shattering it. They were met with a new cave... with several hillichurls and a stonehide lawachurl awaiting their arrival.