The full moon shone bright in the night sky as a cool breeze blew. Mina shivered. She was out walking alone, wandering in a strange town, lost in a foreign land. She had went off to find Soul Edge, trying to prove to her father that she was not a little girl who needed coddling. If she brought back Soul Edge by herself, he would see that she was a capable warrior who was able to defend herself. She wanted her father to treat her with respect, treat her as an adult. But here she was, lost and alone, trying to find a place to stay the night.

Mina wanted to cry, but she chided herself. She was not a child anymore. Crying would only prove her father right. She had to stay strong. The breeze blew harder, swirling more cold air around her, causing her to sigh. Even the winds were against her, seemingly wanting to break her down. Tears started to sting her eyes. She angrily wiped them away, feeling so incredible alone.

“Mina!”

She suddenly froze, hearing a familiar, masculine voice. Could it be? She slowly turns around…

Standing several feet away from her was Hwang, his cape billowing majestically in the wind.

“Oh Hwang!” Mina cries, her eyes wide open with joy and disbelief.

She runs into his strong arms, clinging to him. She could not believe he was here, her savior, her guardian.

“You came for me! But how?” her voice muffled in his chest.

“Your father and Admiral Yi sent me to get you.”

Mina stiffens. She looks up at him.

“So you were just following orders?” She slowly backs away from him, angry and hurt. He was just being the good soldier boy, doing what he was told. She should have known.

Hwang saw the hurt and anger in her eyes, tearing his heart.

“It is simply not just an order, Mina.” he said, trying to make her understand.

“Oh really?” she replies, her lovely eyes blazing. She turned to walkaway, but he grabs her arm.

“Admiral Yi sent me to find you because I could not properly fulfill my duties in the Coastal Defense Force. I was too consumed with thoughts of you, my Mina – consumed with worry. I needed to find you. I need you, my Mina.”

Mina looked into his eyes, seeing his anguish and sorrow, his soul bared before her. He did come for her…!

“Oh Hwang!” she cries, placing a hand on his cheek. She suddenly shivered.

Hwang takes off his cape and wraps it around her, pulling her close to him. Mina’s heart pounded wildly in her chest, feeling his warmth. She felt so safe with him, like she was meant to be in his arms.

“Do you believe, Mina?” Hwang asks her quietly.

She looks up at him. “Believe what?”

“Do you believe in the day that you were born?”

She sees his dark eyes smolder in earnest.

“Do you believe Mina, that you were born into this world, so we could meet?”

Tears well up in her eyes, his words moving her so.

“I do believe, Hwang. I believe I was born into this world to be with you. We were born to be together.”

He takes her mouth with his, kissing her fervently…urgently. Today will be the first day, of the rest of their lives.

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