~2 years ago~

She held her eyes closed. She couldn´t dare to open them, she just couldn´t. Images shot through her mind. Only fragments, carrying the memories of a past life. A life she had to leave behind. They have cut into her heart and soul, but no matter how hard she tried they´re always there, waiting like shaddows in the darkness. All the pain and desperation she gathered for years were about to break free. Long ago, deep inside her heart she decided to stop. She has builded a wall within herself, to lock them away and never allowed to be free. It was the only way for her back then. Otherwise she would be broken. So she decided to become empty.

Slowly she opened her eyes and for the first time in years she looked at the world not through empty eyes but her own and death was all she saw. No life remained her anymore. It was the same like 6 years ago. And it was her fault again.

Something shattered and fell apart. It was them. They were rushing to the surface, like waves during a storm.

She raised her hand and touched her cheek. Tears were flowing down her face. Becoming stronger. No longer, she was able to hold them back. Everything she has trapped emerged and she letted it.

She looked at her shaking hands and put them on her face. Covering her eyes, she formed them to fists. Then she removed them and encompassed her arms. Hugging herself, she lowered her head, barely touching the ground. Clinging to herself with a firm grip, she started to shake even more and finally she could let everything out. She screamed at first but it quickly turned into a quiet sobbing. The tears were now streaming even stronger.

In the end her saddness overwhelmed her anger and she came to understand that no matter how much she hoped and prayed, but no one will hear her.

Nobody would come to save her.

No one would ever come.

~Somewhere~

Kamui slowly regained his consciousness. When he tried to stand up a wave of dizziness overcame him but it quickly faded. He placed a hand on his head, in the naive hope it would help to stop the pain. He shrugged briefly before he removed his hand to look at it. Blood was covering it. It must have happened during the explosion earlier. Putting his hand back, he started to observe his surroundings.

Wind began to blow. Tardily, it became stronger and took with it the last mist of dust that was left from the incident. With the view becoming clearer he once more observes. There was nothing but a quiet and fade noise. He decided to follow it. With steady steps he followed the sounds until he reached the source, it was Aiko and she was crying.

She was sitting on the ground with her back to him. As he watched her, his missing memories came back to him.

Aiko had joined the 7th division barely 2 months ago. From the moment of her accession she was always part of their missions. Right from the beginning she proved her skills on the battlefield to be more than worth. Even in this short time she already earned the respects of her comrades. She hadn´t really any choice since she was a human. When they believed her to be weak and fragile, she proved them wrong.

Since their first meeting he wanting to fight with her again but she never letted him cross the line. But beside avoiding his attempts, she didn´t show any interest at anything. Never showing any emotions. She acted like an empty doll.

She esteems to always keep her distant from the others, the only exceptions were orders, like for this mission where they were formed to be a team, him and Aiko.

Their purpose was to eleminate the enemy. Everything went well until an unknown group of enemies appeared. They had surrounded them but they were no match for them. Aiko and Kamui fought their way through them. Only a few minutes were bygone, when they had beaten half of them already.

It all changed when their leader showed up. He covered himself with a gown, unrecognizable. Kamui noticed him poiting something at Aiko. He didn´t know what he did to her but her movements became slower, she became weaker. Only shortly she sanked to the ground, unable to stand anymore. When the enemies soldiers attempted to attack her, he quickly made his way to way, killing everyone of them. While he kept them away from her, Aiko began to shake uncontrollable. The moment Kamui turned to her an impulsive shockwave sended him flying. When Kamui looked back her a sphere of energy had encircled her. Holding herself, frantic she tried to keep the barrier alive but it was no use. The barrier broke into thousand pieces, unleashing the energy within. Her body was forced to set straight. Her face was pointed toward the sky. The power that escaped her body swalloded all her screams of pain. Before anyone could do even a movement, the energy became even stronger until it collapses into a huge explosion.

Now here they are. Only them and no one else, all reminders of any others disapeared. Kamui continued to look at Aiko for a little while, before he takes one more step towards her. And another.

She startled at his footsteps at first. When Kamui noticed that he stopped walking. Aiko carefully turned her head to him, it was like another person was looking at him. Not empty but alive. Tears were still leaving her eyes. Her expression was shocked at first when she saw him but it slowly turned into a relieved one. He couldn´t move. In her eyes he saw all the hurt and sorrow she caried with her but also the real her. He also saw a memorie of himself from a long time ago.

The wind once again began to rise but this time it was a gentle breeze.

„At least you…", these were the only words she managed to say before she smiled at him. Kamui still couldn´t move.

He never saw a sadder smile.

Aiko continued to smile at him. She was thankfull that he survived. She didn´t want to hurt him, to kill him. Not anyone else.

He began to walk again, coming closer to her until he was before her. Kamui extended his hand to her. She stared at him. His expression was neutral, not showing his intentions.

„Let´s go back to the others.", he said to her. Forming one of his usual smiles. She was still unsure but she reached for his hand. His grip was firm. Then his smile became more gentle, even honest.

For the first time she felt somehow safe and maybe she could still hope.

Maybe her prayers were heard.