Yuume blinked. He was in the water. At first moment he got scared, but he realised that he doesn't have to breathe, so he calmed down. But just for a while.

His heart almost stopped, when he looked around. There were bodies without faces, floating in water. Mainly small children. And a lot of pregnant women.

They were naked, but without genitals. They looked like manequins, but plastic doesn't decay like human body does.

Yuume started frantically swimming towards the surface. But he saw there just a thick layer of ice.

He hit the frozen surface of this creepy pond, but his hand just went through the ice. He felt relief. That meant that he could easly escape.

He came to the surface. The fog hid everything. He stepped onto the ice and looked around. It was cold and quiet. As if time has froze.

"I'm sorry" he suddenly heard someone's voice.

He started running towards this direction. He had to escape. He didn't know, where he is. Is this Midtimes? Somebody kidnapped him or what?

And then he saw him.

Kin was sitting on the ice, in his black kimono. He was barefoot and looked like he was about to freeze.

Yuume couldn't see his face, because it was covered with his hands. He calmly walked to the yubiwa and sat down in front of him.

His skin was almost deathly pale, which looked terrifying compared to its natural color.

Kin whispered something under his breath. Yuume reached out and grabbed his shoulders. The yubiwa flinched as hikouri hugged him.

And then this whole awful place disappeared and Kin stopped looking like a hypothermic victim. Socks and wedge flip-flops appeared on his legs. A mask on his face. Everything was back to normal.

They've been sitting like this for a moment, both wondering what to say. Yuume had the impression that Kin is confused. Otherwise, he probably would have said something a long time ago.

"What are you doing here, Tansetsuki?" asked yubiwa finally, moving away from Yuume. "I told you not to come here."

Yubiwa's golden eyes were glazed.

"My cat pulled it out from the drawer. When I picked it up, it rang" explained Yuume.

Wait... Glazed?

"Did you cry?" asked Yuume.

"Why do you care?" Kin stood up and almost lost his balance. "I've been sleeping. I had a nightmare. People have nightmares. And I probably weeped. Does it change anything?"

Yuume also got up.

"It was a terrifying nightmare" he said firmly. "There were children and pregnant women there. It's because of me? Because of what I asked you for?"

"I can save your sister-in-law and niece" replied Kin quietly. "But not them."

Yuume blinked.

Ice.

Water.

Time is a river. Yubiwas can stop the time. Their magic is cold. They're freezing time.

Water is time that didn't stop. Ice is a magic, which yubiwas use.

People under the surface...

"Were they the people you couldn't save?" asked Yuume. "Victims of failed missions?"

"There were a few missions I failed. With my skills everything is easy" replied Kin. "But I have to refuse help, because I know that this mission can't be done. We're not gods. We can't control realitly as much as people think."

Yuume walked to Kin.

"So they were people you couldn't save, because the only thing you could do was to refuse" he said quietly, putting a hand on his shoulder, but the yubiwa shrug it off.

"Stop it. I'm not a child, you don't have to treat like that" he growled.

"Alright, alright. I won't" Yuume waved his hands.

"Besides that, you don't know me. You've met me twice and you're really worried about me already?" Kin smiled doubtfully. "Are you stupid or what?"

"That's my nature" Yuume shrugged. "If you want, you can tell me what's bothering you."

"What, are you a psychologist?" Kin glared at him. "I don't know you. I won't talk to someone I don't know."

"And maybe that's a good idea?" Yuume sat down. "You don't know me, so you don't care if you upset me. I'm not a psychologist, and a veterinarian is a bit far from even a normal doctor, but I offer advice. And everyone often tells me that I'm a good listener."

Kin looked around, as if he was considering something, then he sat beside Yuume.

"As you wish" he said, tucking his legs under his chin. "But if you're in a bad mood afterward, it'll be your own fault."

"Of course" Yuume put a hand on his shoulder, but Kin brushed it away. "Alright, alright, I'm not touching you anymore..."

Even if he had an impression that the yubiwa needs it.