Aki does not think of the past very often, as far as she is concerned, the present is all that matters. She doesn't really like to think that much, actually. That tends to drag up memories and bits of the past that she doesn't like to remember. After all, she is a Hunter. She fights. There is no time for reminiscing, for dreaming, or regretting.

( She remembers, distantly, a life a thousand years ago when her brother had pressed a sword to her hand and said this: We are soldiers. We serve. )

She is a girl, fresh fifteen, sitting on a train looking outside. It is raining. She has nothing on her, no ID, nothing of personal value. She turns to press her nose against the cold window pane, breath misting over the glass. He's gone now, and she is not needed. She imagines if her brother is resting in a shallow grave, unmarked by anything, leaving no trace. Or perhaps he had not been buried at all. She's being sent away now, to somewhere else where they need fighters. She is a girl, fresh fifteen, leaving behind everything she has ever known.

There are other train rides. They travel a lot. This time, they are traveling to London to investigate and provide protection to a troop of Life Hunters investigating something. She glances across at her partner. Nico reminds her of her bro-- No. She must not think that. Aki is a hunter. Aki fights. Nico is her partner. Everything else is in the past. The past is not important. She closes her eyes and drifts off to sleep.

They are walking. It is raining. She feels the rain, the pain the--

"Stay awake, okay?"

"Okay." She promises, though Aki does not think she can stay awake. The pain, it hurts, stings, arches across her ribs. The rain is cold, numbing. But Nico's back is warm. And his gait comfortable, and his shoulders broad and.

( She remembers faintly a similar situation when they are walking under the changing leaves. She thought then, how beautiful autumn is, you cannot see blood against the red leaves. She remembers pressing her face against her brother's neck and thinking, that even if you could not see the blood, you could smell it. )

A burst of flames incinerates the horde on her left, she takes a blow from the right but that is her fault entirely. Nien hisses, takes a glancing blow. She screams, and lets loose the lightning. She slashes, fights like a berserker, as if she has lost her sanity. Not even Nien can call her back.

Nico grips her elbow tightly. She turns around, almost, in her feralness, claws at him. But the hunter pulls her into his shoulder.

"It's okay. It's okay. I'm right here."

There is a strangled sob that she is too embarrassed to admit it is her's. There is a part of her that thinks this is too cruel. Sending children to fight abominations that even men cannot imagine... She sinks deeper into Nico's shoulder, as if she might find solace there.

Nico smells like ash. Aki is rather fond of it.

( We are destroyers, not saviors. )

She traces the scar that stretches across her ribs. Nico is bandaging her ankle, wiping at the gash on her leg. When he presses the alcohol to the scratches, she hisses. Sputters, but does not pull away. Nico continues.

Abruptly, she says, "You should get a new partner."

"And why is that?" He says, sounding mildly amused.

"Lightning. It flashes bright, then fades away. Like a shiny blade, it can't protect. It only destroys."

"Even if that's true, I'm glad you're my partner. I wouldn't trade you for anyone else."

Aki doesn't have the words to reply. So they sit there, in an empty hall, surrounded by the sweet silence.

"You don't have to stay with me." She tells Nien.

I've been with you from the start. I'll stick with you to the end.

"I know you. You want to survive. It's okay, I'll go alone."

He laughs. Aki likes Nien's laugh, likes the mellow chuckle, the musky warmth, the comfort she finds in it. I do not mind going to the end at your side. And, child, I do not think we will be alone.

She is sitting on a train. A man is sitting across from her. Her breath hitches, almost says the unspeakable name. The man's eyes are hidden behind his dark hair. She remembers swords, blood, the mountain path in fall's colors. She remembers the shoulders, the eyes like glass, his large hands, the unwavering stench of blood. A memory like one she remembered distantly...or perhaps it was all a dream. Or was it? She opens her mouth, almost calls out the forbidden name. The door opens, a familiar splay of blonde hair. The girl sits down next to the boy. "Geez, where were you guys? I was looking for you." The man laughs. She sees it now, the familiar sea-green sash, remembers the warmth, the sun and the smell of ash. She smiles. Aki does not think of the past very often. She looks away from the window. Aki does not think of the future either. Come what may, she is not scared nor is she alone.