Hikari woke up that morning, her mind not completely remembering what had happened last night. She sat up in her sleeping bag, pondering this before the events played themselves before her eyes.

'I really killed a man…' She thought to herself as she got up, taking some clothes with her as she walked to the small creek the quartet had found. She splashed water on her face, eating a mint leaf before spitting it out, wishing vehemently for a tooth brush and tooth paste.

"Good morning." Ryu greeted her, offering her a small smile as he splashed water on his face to wake him up. His hair was ruffled from sleep, his clothing wrinkled as well.

"Good morning." Hikari greeted back, stifling a yawn. She rubbed her eyes and stretched, smiling back.

"How are you from last night?" He asked, yawning himself. Hikari sighed and glanced at the water.

"I'm not alright with it…but I think I'll manage…at least."

"Good. If you were alright with killing people…well, I'd worry for your state of mind." Ryu replied, nodding.

"Yeah…" She nodded, getting up. "Would you mind standing here and making sure no monsters or the other guys walk in on me changing?" Ryu nodded, standing in front of the bushes she changed in. She came out a moment later in a black skirt and red top.

"Thanks. I'll stand guard for you if you want." She motioned towards him with her hand, at the clothing in his arms. He nodded and stepped behind the bushes, re-emerging in black pants and a red tunic.

"Back to camp." Hikari nodded, following him back to their camp.

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They reached Pravoka by sundown, having fought many monsters. Their clothing was ripped a little, nothing that Hikari couldn't fix.

"Finally…" They reached the inn, the single rooms being a little expensive, so they opted to get a room with four beds in it. Hikari claimed the one by the window as hers, immediately settling down on the bed to rest.

"Tired, eh?" Genki asked, settling on the bed across from her.

"Yeah, I'm not used to walking all day…I get stuck with the paperwork that I can legalize."

"Ouch."

"Yeah…"

"Well, rest well then." Hikari didn't need to be told twice, immediately falling asleep, skipping her dinner.

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The next day, Hikari spent her time at the armor shop, getting it tuned up, her weapon at the weapons shop.

"So you're…their cousin." Hikari finished, trying to get the relation between the male at the counter and the smith twins back at Cornelia.

"Yeah, I'm Alex." Alex was a strong, young youth, probably not even older than twenty. HE had blond hair and brown eyes, and many muscles used to hard working over the fire.

"Ah. Reiyanna told me I could come to you for armor and the like…"

"Ah, she must like you then to give you all that." He pointed to her armor and the knife she showed him.

"Yeah, that's their work alright." Alex grinned, taking the metal guard offered to him. "I'll melt this down later and give you a better one, how is that? This one is old, that much I can tell…it has the year inscribed here, and it's too battered up and burnt."

"Wow, it's kinda cool you being able to tell all that! Yeah, I sort of got bashed around fighting some guy so…"

"Ah, that would do it. Let my assistant take your measurements and I'll get to work immediately. Depending on how it goes, it should be done by tomorrow. And I'll give it to you for only 200gil no less."

"You sure?" Alex nodded. "You're awesome! Thanks so much!" She smiled and let the assistant take the measurments, scampering out of the store once paying Alex a 100 deposit since that was all she had on her at the moment.

"Hey, they're saying something about pirates being in town, hording the port so no one can get in…wanna help me do something about it?" Kage asked as he exited the library next to the smithery.

"Sure…but we might want to get Genki and Ryu first… I don't have my iron guard at the moment since Alex was going to melt it down and produce a newer one."

"Ah, that might be a little of a problem…Just stay away from the pirates and only get involved when needed, alright? I'll make sure Ryu or Genki keep an eye out for you."

"Thanks." Hikari followed him to the port, Ryu and Genki already being there, swords drawn.

"Hey, these lads 'ere think they kin stop us!" One pirate sniggered. Another laughed.

"Aye, they're but boys."

"Oi, lookit this! A lil'lass think's she kin fight us!" The captain pointed to Hikari, who had a staff in her hand. Lisa, the weapons smith didn't want her to go defenseless while she worked on Hikari's weapon, so she gave the whitemage a staff, insisting that it wasn't a bother.

"Hmph." Hikari snorted, holding her weapon in a defensive position.

"Aye, lets' entertain the lads and take the girl as our prize!" The other men cheered at this, advancing slowly.

"Oh boy." The citizens hid in their houses, not a person or dog on the street as Kage cast a bolt spell, Genki zipping in and out, seeing what he could steal. Hikari cast a protective spell on herself and Kage, whacking a pirate across the head that got too close to her.

"Creep!" She shouted, running a few steps away and behind Ryu, whom was fending off two at the same time. It seemed that these pirates were better with the act of surprise than actually fighting, which Genki and Ryu had practiced all the time at home in their spare time.

"Thunder!" Kage shouted, hitting the captain. The rest of the men fell back, surrounding the captain, all battered and bruised.

"Please! Don't kill me! I'll turn over a new leaf, I swear!" The captain stuttered, his men nodding. "I'll even give you my ship!"

Hikari nodded at this, warily staring at the bunch.

"Make sure you pay back the townspeople you stole from, and work honestly…if we hear anything about you goofing off or stealing again, we won't show mercy a second time!"

"Yes, yes! You are too kind!" The captain bowed to the ground, thankful for his spared life. A few citizans came out, tying rope around the pirate's wrists, taking them to the town jail to stay until they could figure out how to put them to work.

"Thank these warriors for helping us in our time of need!" people shouted and cheered, patting them on the back and telling them they would hold a party that night in honor and thanks.

"We didn't really do anything…" Genki mumbled, though enjoying the attention. Kage smiled a little, not saying a word as a few girls crowded around Ryu, flirting shamelessly with him. Hikari thought she felt a small twinge of jealousy, but didn't catch the look that Ryu gave the men that crowded around her, complimenting her on her bravery. Genki managed to get some of his own flirters, and even Kage too, though he was quiet about it.

"Horray for the Hero's of Light!"