9 MAY 18

Yes… a new chapter, but I'm backtracking again. Sorry...

I've always wanted to build up Yuki and Marco's bonding experience, how I do?

"Keep your head up… yeah, like that… straighten your shoulders… that's it… wait… wait for it… NOW!?" Yuki slices her sword on the mannequin in front of her landing a few massive death blows.

"*pant*... *pnat*... how… how I do?" She's been holding that same stance the last 5 minutes, her sword was getting heavy with how long she held it over her head.

"Not great… but it's getting there…" Marco looks over the blows left on the fake body and wobbled his hand up and down a few times at the little girl.

That was a lie, each slice was better than perfect! If it would have been a real person in front of her, there's a good chance he would be on the ground bleeding out right now.

"GRRRRRRR I'M TRYING!?" She stabs the mannequin in the face with the sword sticking out 3 inches behind it as she tries to take down Reaper.

"Oh, you still got a little fight in you? THEN LET'S GO?!" Marco wraps his hand behind her head and shoves Yuki forward off balanced.

Faye has been watching over them last 4 weeks, Yuki must of thought it was going to be a great idea to have him stay with them. She immediately regretted it the next day waking up at 4 am with Marco.

Then so on, and so on until going to bed at 10 pm every day.

Marco had her up for a two-mile run first thing in the morning around the town with him and then sprint up the hill where Asuka stayed. Then into push up and sit up exercise going into rolling drills and then back on a two-mile run.

The town people couldn't get enough of how he pushed the little girl and say good morning to everyone they crossed during the run.

Her mother would have a meal ready for them by 7 am shape. Then off to Yuki's first shower of the day.

9 am she was standing outside the house ready for hand to hand combat training. Reaper had to tone it down for her, just a little. After three hours of getting thrown around and tapping out a few times.

12 pm was lunch and the best part of the day for her. She was able to really sit down and look back on all the things they've done now and pick at Marco's brain a little more. He would then catch a nap sometimes.

That was the only time she could get payback…

Flashback

Reaper was in the living room crashed out on the sofa, it was a few minutes before he would wake up.

"I wouldn't if I were you…" Faye saw the room set up with the furniture arranged… to get a better advantage of her surroundings.

"Mama… I got it this time!" Yuki bolted out the kitchen and her mother watched.

The little Jinko first jumped on top of the love seat headrest and onto the bookshelf that was on the other side of the room.

She made sure Marco was still asleep and then climbed up the sleeves jumping to the chandelier as she held onto it for a second. Then her feet were firmly planted on the ceiling before she immediately launched herself at him with her fist out and ready to crush his chest.

Until...

"TOO SLOW!?" Reaper was in her face before making it half the distance.

"AHHHHHHHHHHH!?" He picked her from out the sky and now buried Yuki's face into the couch with one arm behind her back.

"Now didn't we have more than a few talks about this? Never anticipate what the other guy is going do! You thought I was asleep, you anticipate I wouldn't move… tst tst tst." Her arm was pulled up a few more ticks to not forget the lesson.

"OUCH OUCH OUCH?! I UNDERSTAND MARCO!?" How she hated when he was in training mode… why did she do this to herself?

"That's enough!" He yelled out loud more to himself and lowers Yuki's arm while standing her up in front of him.

There were tears in her eyes, they refused to fall. That would only make the training harder on her, he looks over Yuki a few times making sure there weren't any new injuries.

Marco been has been pretty tough on her long enough as he lets out a long sigh "Come here…" She's pulled into his chest as he held her tight to him, his body almost covered her completely as she started to whimper into her chest.

"I... I.. *sniff* I really tried MARCO!?" Her foot stomps on the ground a few times.

"Hey, hey, hey shhhhh… you did great, really! Anyone else would be on the ground crying like a baby for their mom. I'm just… you know? Better than everyone else!" He starts to laugh as Yuki dries her face on his chest.

"You… *sniff* you mean it?" She pulled away to look at his face.

"Well duh Yuki! Make a plan and go with, don't over think it and always go for the kill! You should of went for it rather than letting your mother hold you back." He whispers that last part to her and Faye gave them an odd look.

"Okay… you ready for the second part of the day?" She gives a light jab to his chin as he smiles.

"Only if you willing to do what I say and not give me any back lip?" Oh, that was was a trap!

Yuki opened her mouth with an angry face, then shuts it and runs to grab her sword making a beeline to stand before the mannequin. Just right where she should be for the next part of their training.

"Look at that… she's learning!" Faya walks over to him with a smile.

"That she is, only took her long enough!" They laugh watching her just stand out there not moving an inch.

"Go out there, I'll see you guys in a bit." The older woman starts to fix the living room.

"Don't have too much fun without us!" Marco waves at her and is out the door.

Flashback Over

Once Yuki had her balance back, she spun on one foot the landed the other into his stomach. Marco takes a step back or two feeling the small amount of pain, "About time… WELL DON'T STOP!?"

They start going at it with Yuki stacking up some points on him for once, all the training was starting to stick and payoff.

"ALRIGHT YOU TWO, BRING IT IN!?" Faye calls over to them proud of her baby girl and able to hold her own.

"You heard her, get your sword and let's go!" Yuki was a little upset that it had come to an end, she grabs her sword and runs over to her mother without a word.

Marco was really proud of her also, he starts to walk to them, but feels a dull pain in his chest. Then the pain picks up a notch as he stopped walking to cough. The ladies walk into the house as the stinging pain makes it hard to breathe.

"Fuck… just calm down… 1… 2… 3… 1… 2… 3… that's it..." The pain starts to fade away. He picked up a little breathing exercise with help from Faye, it was one of the few things she could do to thank him for everything he's down for all them and ending the war.

"HEY, I WAS TELLING YOU TO COME IN ALSO!?" Faye was out on the porch yelling at him and wasn't in the mood to wait.

"I'M COMING… I'm coming you slave driver…" He said the last part quietly. Yuki wasn't the only one that had a whole list of things-to-do every day..

"WHAT WAS THAT?! DID YOU FORGET WHAT I AM!?" The woman points at the ears on top of her head, nothing goes by her or the comment he made a few weeks ago about Yuki not listening to her about an ambush attack.

The little Jinko loved to watch her mother get on his case, it was the only way he seems to ever really be scared, "UMMMMM NOTHING!? I SAID NOTHING AT ALL MA'AM… I'M COMING!?"

Marco was double-timing it to her (Running) quick fast and in a hurry! He runs past her into the house not saying a word.

"That's what I thought… training is over for today, go get cleaned up you two!" The rest of the night was them washing up and spent eating a nice dinner.

Faye knew her little girl had more than earned a night of rest after finally able to land more than a few good blows on him. It was about bedtime and Yuki came out into the living with her mother and Marco in it.

"Hey, Marco! Could you read me this story tonight? It's been so lonnnnnnngggg the last time anyone read it to me!" She was holding a rather old book.

"A story? Ummmm yeah? I think I can do that? Maybe?" Has he ever done that? Faye laughs at him.

"It's just a little book bonehead, it's really cute also. I thought you outgrew that one Yuki? Her mother asked.

Things started to feel odd for him, "No… daddy was the last person to read me this story…" She looks at the ground.

Marco was on his feet and picks the little Jinko like she was luggage by the back of her shirt, "Come on you, if I mess this up, YOU CAN'T LAUGH AT ME!?"

Faye hears them laughing down the hall, "Yuki… it'll be okay…"

Bedtime

The book was over with Yuki tight in bed, "So how did I do?" Marco wanted to make sure he didn't do anything wrong.

She yawns and wobbled her hand up and down a few times at him, "You could use some work on it, I got a few more books if you want to get some training in?" Yuki starts to poke at his ribs.

"FIIIIINE… fair is fair, right? Go get some rest, I'll see you in the morning." He placed a kiss on her forehead and stands up.

Yuki was holding her sheet with her cheeks getting red, "Night Yuki…"

Nothing… "I said goodnight?"

Again… nothing, "YUKI!?"

She damns near jumps out of the bed, "GOODNIGHT MARCO!?"

"Better, sweet dreams butthead!" He closed the door behind him as Faye was waiting for the latino in the hall.

"That was cute Reaper… I don't think anyone would ever believe me if I told them this!" She was wearing something rather… that should have been left in the bedroom.

"Ummmm yeah…" His eyes run up and down her body a few time until it ends with her nodding at him to follow her.

"Ri… right behind you…" Looks like he might be ready to move on with the whole problem soon...