Canaan looked down from the top of the building, watching the people walk about their business. She breathed in deeply and ran her hand through her short, silver hair as the wind blew harshly. Her higher senses kicked in and she stared curiously at all the different colors that now lit up the street so far below.
"They look like ants," A familiar voice said behind.
She turned to face the voice, her senses lowering back down to normal. Standing in front of her was a taller woman with short, choppy black hair. She smiled and her blue eyes gleamed with humor. The woman's black military uniform clung to her body loosely, only slightly revealing her figure. She laughed at her friend's expressionless face.
"Don't you think?" The woman asked.
"What did you need me for, Rylie?" Canaan asked her friend.
"I've got a job I need help on," Rylie said as she walked closer. "Plus, I think you'd be interested."
"What?" Canaan asked impatiently.
"Don't get that tone with me young lady," Rylie said with a light laugh. "It's not like you have anything better to do anyway. So I got this lead from uh… weird source."
Canaan stared at her friend, annoyed by her antics. She didn't understand why her friend had to make a joke out of everything. It was annoying her a lot recently. "Come to think of it," Canaan thought, "everything has been annoying me lately. It's just that… I…" She trailed off in her thoughts and gave her attention back to her friend.
"Well, I'm glad you're listening to me again," Rylie said with a smirk. "I got a lead from your friend… Alphard."
"How did you even get in contact with her?" Canaan asked, intrigued and worried for her friend's safety.
"She found me," Rylie said, noticing the concern in her friend's eyes. "Anyway, she said something along the lines of she knew who I was and what we were doing, and that we should check out this address."
Rylie handed her friend a scrunched up piece of paper. Canaan looked over the address and grew very suspicious when she realized what country it was in; Japan.
"She wasn't lying Canaan," Rylie said to try to calm her friend. "She almost seemed like she was… worried."
"That's intriguing," Canaan said as she closed her eyes and only saw her light. "So when are we leaving?"
"As soon as you're ready," Rylie said with a smile before walking to the edge of the building. "How's now sound?"
Canaan shook her head and opened her eyes. She stared at the light blue sky and wondered what games Alphard was trying to play. The two women jumped off the building in union and headed toward their destination.
The night sky was clear and dark, and for once Maria could see some stars. She did happen to live right outside of Tokyo, but the city lights shone so bright that they even interfered with her night sky.
She sat on the porch of her two story cabin and stared hopefully into the night's sky. Every night she sat and prayed on that porch. She prayed for her friends and that they all had good health. She prayed for her neighbors and their children she had grown fond of. But most of all, she prayed that one day she would see Canaan again.
It had been five years since the incidents in Shanghai, and every day that past grew harder for the young woman. She didn't know where her friend was or if she was okay. All she knew was that her friend was still alive; she could feel her heart beating somehow.
Maria sighed as she looked dawn from the night's sky. She shuddered slightly as she felt a cold, light breeze blow. She stood up and crossed her arms over her chest, rubbing herself to try and gain some warmth.
"It's getting cold," She said lowly to herself. "Fall is right around the corner."
She made her way inside her cabin and locked the huge wooden door. She turned around and looked into the darkness of her house, hoping that maybe Canaan would appear from it. She shook her head, knowing all too well that her friend would not appear.
She sighed once more and turned to her left. She slowly walked to the stair case and made her way to the second floor. She walked down the small hallway and made her way into her room.
Once more, Maria stared into the vast darkness and prayed; knowing that her prayer wouldn't be answered. She knew that as long as there was even a tiny threat on Canaan's life that she would never see her again. The young woman flopped down onto her bed and let sleep take a hold of her; expecting to dream of her friend once more.
Outside of the house was a woman leaning against the giant oak tree that stood in the yard. She stared into the window of Maria's bedroom with a blank expression.
"Don't worry," the woman said in a whisper, "your love is on her way."
And with an almost evil smirk the woman disappeared into the night, leaving no trace of her presence.