“I want us out of here as soon as possible,

We, I, have spent too much time away from home than expected, the people here will deal with the aftermath themselves.” Aki informs to her squadron of warriors

“Chief!”

They nod in affirmation and begin preparing to move out

“hhuhh” Aki sighs to herself looking up at the sky or rather the empty space above that previously was occupied by the houses hung up

The months she spent up there now a blip in her memories,

(What do I do with him now?) Her mind sinks into thought

(I’m the Chief I can’t have friendships,

There is no room in my heart for anything else but my people…

Anyone else…

Shiryu… he hold me back, I almost lost twice because I was relying on him,

Just like granddad said, getting close to people makes us weaker,

I can’t,

I can’t,

I shouldn’t care…

Is that person even Shiryu anymore?)

“Sist–chief,” Natsu’s voice grabs her attention

“Are you concussed or something? you look like you’re seeing stars,”

“No, I was just umm, thinking our next moves and what this strange sky is about.” Lies Aki

“Shiryu and that metal man knows something I bet, they went off looking for another requiem I think.”

“Yes, I already know that.” Aki looks away from brother at the destroyed city,

She stands right at the center intersection watching out for any of her warriors that would come by,

The horizon around is a dusty crumbled mess of concrete and wood, even if everything was repaired would still have hated the sight,

Too many buildings crunched together, not enough space between them for wind to pass, she much prefers the quaint wooden houses of Tonbo, where the wind chimes and whistles passing through the boarded walls onto the antique bells,

“I wonder if Shiryu is coming back with me?” she suddenly blurts out loud

“Huh, are you thinking that a about observing his actions now that he’s assimilated with the requiem?” Natsu inquires feeling a bit unsure why she would mention the young man suddenly

“Y..yyes that’s exactly what I was thinking.” Aki stutters,

“We–”

“–Natsu you need to run some drills with the warriors before we set off,” Fuyu interrupts slipping in between her siblings

“Already?”

“Yes.”

“Alright then I’ll be off chief.” Natsu nods to Aki, she nods back allowing him to leave

If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

“What is wrong with you?” Fuyu immediately presses her

“Don’t get weak on us now Aki,

You are getting attached to that boy,

I like him too but even our pets we can’t love,

Remember what gran–”

“–I know what granddad touch us,

I remember best out of us, don’t try to lecture me,” snaps Aki

“I am only making sure sister,” Fuyu locks eyes with her sister, essentially looking at refection of herself,

“How long have we know each other Aki?”

“Our entire lives.”

“Do you love me sister?”

….

…..

….

(I can’t allow myself to get weak)

….

(I can’t ever…)

Aki now briskly strides through the ruins on her way to the outskirts, her sisters–no, her grandfather’s words now echoes endlessly in her mind,

Shiryu also…

“Aki, hey!”

Speak of the devil, the young man’s voice cuts into her thoughts stealing away her attention, he rushes with eagerness to her

“What, did you find this other requiem you mentioned?” the woman answers annoyed

(Why is he so happy to see me?)

“No, not yet but I was, I’ve been hoping we could talk,”

(You are a liability to me)

“We’re speaking right now.”

“No, I mean about what’s next,

With Dracula, the sky, Kage, we have all–”

“Look Shiryu that isn’t my concern I have a nation to manage,” Aki brushes him off,

“Wait, what’s wrong?” Shiryu pulls her back

(You make me weaker)

“Don’t touch me.” She pulls away,

“I don’t know how to break this to you lightly Shiryu, so I’ll just say it how it is,

We’re not friends, we never were, I needed to use your ability to survive,

I don’t need to do that anymore, so I don’t need you,

Don’t touch me again unless it’s a fight, don’t hug me, don’t love me, sorry but that’s it for us Shiryu,”

“A—”

Shiryu opens is mouth to reply but the woman already speeds off

(I relied on him too much,

Even when he got battered by the dragon armor back there and was unconscious for weeks,

I have was so worried,

I hate that, I hate that it bothered me, I hate that I prioritized his safety when the rest of my mem wash here suffering,

That’s not what a good leader does, I can’t care about one over all,

My happiness comes from my people’s happiness,

My heart only as room for my country

Nothing else,

No one else.)