Chapter 1

"Haru! Focus!"

The boy's eyes widened in surprise as the wooden sword hit his left leg hard. He immediately bent down, rubbing his throbbing ankle as he looked up to his mentor.

"Sorry!"

Another hit from the training sword sounded, this time on the deck of the Unaaq. The Commander looked to his pupil, who was smiling apologetically. He sighed.

"That's it for the day," he ordered. The Ace Cadet looked both relieved and disappointed. "I do not know what's distracting you so, boy, but take the day to fix it."

Haru stood up and nodded.

"Thank you."

The boy hadn't quite left yet, but already Akio felt arms wrapping around his waist from behind, and Leiko's chin nuzzling against his shoulder.

"Come on, I think you're being a bit hard on the boy," she said.

Her speaking had her breath tingle against his neck. He suppressed a smile and kept a serious face.

"This is the kind of thing that'll get him killed. A moment of inattention can have disastrous consequences. This isn't something to take lightly."

Haru's eyes widened a bit and he pursed his lips before opening his mouth to respond. Leiko didn't give him the opportunity to do so, cutting him off as she rolled her eyes.

"I think you're being a bit dramatic, Akio."

She squeezed him softly. The Ace Cadet hovered in place for a couple seconds. He kept glancing to the side, then to his shoes. He always had a hard time being reprimanded. He took a deep breath before he could look the Commander in the eyes and withstand his – almost – permanently serious glare.

"I'll work on it. I promise."

Akio threw the training sword his way.

"That's what I like to hear."

The boy caught it with a steady hand and nodded. He looked to Akio, then Leiko, then Akio again before leaving. When they were finally left alone, the Commander softly broke away from the Hammer-wielder's embrace as he turned to face her, frowning slightly.

"You can't keep doing that."

She smiled mischievously without breaking eye contact.

"What? Undermining your authority?"

He couldn't hide a small smile, although he tried to remain somewhat stoic.

"No. Well, yes, in a sense. But mainly, you need to understand that the boy needs someone to be hard on him. He has so much potential, and I will not let it go to waste. Besides, you know just as well as I do that I'm right." He hesitated slightly. "Inattention is a hunter's greatest threat."

By the end of his speech, his face had grown entirely serious again. There was some sort of far off look in his eyes, like he was remembering a not quite so distant memory. She wrapped her arms around him and lay her cheek against his chest to pull him out of his dark thoughts.

"All I'm saying," she begun, "Is that you shouldn't put too much pressure on him. He'll end up breaking under it."

Akio was about to argue, but she stood up on her toes and shut him up with a kiss.

"And the same goes for you," she whispered softly.

He let out a long sigh through the tiny smile that played on his lips.

"You are impossible," he breathed.

When she entered their room, that night, he was already sitting on their bed. Clad in nothing but his underwear, he was sipping at a glass of water and looked at her. She nodded as only greeting, knowing full well that any attempt at a smile she would make would only tip him off more.

Slowly, she started taking off her armour. The only sound breaking the silence was her undoing the straps of it.

"I would very much like to know what is bothering you," Akio finally spoke.

She stopped what she was doing, slowly turning around to face him. She faked ignorance.

"What do you mean?"

He looked her in the eyes, locking his gaze in hers as if daring her to look away. She didn't.

"Leiko..." he trailed off, hoping that this would be enough prompting from him.

It wasn't, and all she did was bite her lip. He knew she was looking to buy some time, and decided to give it to her. As he did so, gratefulness shone in her eyes.

"This is something I would like to be aware of, both as your Commander, and as someone who cares about you. We can't arrive in Yatori without being completely prepared for the task at hand."

The thought of their docking at the town, the next day, had her stomach in knots. She sighed deeply, as if gathering her courage. He never took his eyes off of her half-armoured self.

"I was born in Yatori," she finally let out. "And, honestly, I would've much preferred never setting foot in that place again."

He nodded silently. She stood there, staring at him, knowing full well his head was full of questions, and knowing just as well that he would not push her for answers. Slowly, she continued taking off her armour. He finished drinking his glass of water. He had hardly set it down and already she threw herself at him, throwing her arms around his neck and nestling herself against his chest. She nuzzled her face against his neck.

"This is so fucked, Akio," she said, her voice muffled.

He wrapped his arms around her, holding her close and laying his chin atop her head without a word. They stayed like this for a while. Only when her breathing was completely even and her body limp against his did he lay down, her form still nestled against his chest. He let out a sigh, squeezing her softly, and closed his eyes. He fell asleep wishing he could protect her from herself.