Chapter Two

Hello, Goodbye!

The second time he saw her, she was eight and he was eleven. He'd never forget that scar that travelled along her left cheek. Such a shame it had ended up on the likes of her. She was clean this time, nothing was amiss about her, no wounds, no fire surrounding her. Thankfully.

Still, he couldn't help the intense fear that overwhelmed his very being when she walked by him, her magical power was just as strong as the first time he'd seen her, stronger even. How she'd grown in such a short amount of time. He shivered at the thought of her being even more powerful when she got older, just what was this girl anyways?

Of course, he was a force to be reckoned with as well. People even called him a monster. He wondered, was she considered a monster as well? With that much magic seeping out of her very being, it was hard to believe that she wasn't. People avoided her. He knew that much.

She didn't seem to be travelling with any sort of companion, and for an eight year old girl, he knew that wasn't right. But, he'd seen stranger things.

He debated on whether to go up to her, she was standing alone after all, it wouldn't be that hard, but, in all actuality he had no reason to walk up to her, she wouldn't remember him. It had been two years after all, and she was half dead back then.

It was when she turned to him directly, that he could see some sort of recognition in her large honey brown eyes, and to be quite frank, he'd never seen eyes so beautiful before. Eyes so full of life and wonder, they were nothing like the eyes he had seen back then, the eyes that had haunted him day in and day out. He looked her over from his place on a bench, he'd been on a job that day in the city of Shirotsume and was headed back to his guild now.

She was taller then she was two years ago, she wore a pink dress and little white flats, her hair was up in a pink ribbon that she was fiddling with as she watched him, he was quite certain that he was in fact the one she was watching anyways. It was when she smiled that he lost his breath. It wasn't the smile itself that got to him, not exactly, it was the genuine look of gratitude that was on her face that threw him for a loop. How had she remembered that he was the one that had saved her? Or is this merely how she smiles at all strangers?

He wasn't exactly sure.

He knew he'd never forget such a smile though, he'd never been thanked before, his clients certainly never thanked him. Although, he was a real pest, a real terrible pest. He knew what he was, he didn't hold any regret for his actions, he was who he was, and if people didn't like that, then to hell with them!

When she started walking in his general direction, he knew the smile had indeed been meant for him. His palms suddenly became sweaty and for some reason his heart raced at an all to furious speed. He hated this feeling, why was he so damned nervous? He'd never been this way before.

Except for maybe back then...

It was when she stood in front of him, smile dimmed down a small, tiny bit, eyes crinkled at the sides, a hand stuck out towards him and the other clutching at the hem of her dress did he regain his composure. Quickly he placed a cool, frightening smirk on his face, one that usually made others run away, fast.

But she didn't.

She stayed there and kept on smiling, although her hand did drop to her side, and a brief look of uncertainty crept into her eyes, but it diminished a moment later, replaced by what he considered a fire, a determination so bright that he almost lost his cool once more.

'Those eyes of hers...' He thought as he smirked up at her, wondering her next move.

And then he heard it.

The sound of her voice. For what seemed like ages he had only dreamed of what her voice might sound like. He'd never pictured it would be so soft, almost like bells. He didn't know what else he could compare it to. His eyes widened fractionally at the sound, at her words.

'I know what you did for me...Back then..' She whispered,

It was partially the sound of her voice that had caused the problem to be honest. He was just to entranced by her very being to be able to respond, although, he'd ignored her from the very beginning, as soon as he saw her at the same station he'd come to a decision to just ignore her, it would've been easier than having her get involved with him and vice versa, wouldn't it have been?

It wasn't an easy decision, but seeing as he was well him and she was so freaking golden and bright he couldn't very well walk a path of light with the likes of her. It was easier for both if they didn't know each other. At all.

'Don't know what yer talkin' bout' little one.' A snap of the jaw ended his sentence, and he looked up into the face of the girl once again, only to find her staring down at him in amusement.

'I know you know who I am. Don't try to play it off as if you don't' she snapped back, pointing a finger against his chest as she puffed her cheeks and let her magic flare a little.

The little one was feisty, he'd give her that. It made her more interesting, that was for sure.

'Alright, and say I do know who you are?' He stood up, and at full height he was already so very much taller than her, it was a beautiful thin really, this made him more intimidating.

The small girl took a few steps back once she realized she was now staring at the mans chest instead of his face, regaining her composure she tilted her head up with the same fire in her eyes that she'd had moments before.

'I just wanted to thank you, my spirit told me what you did for me, so thank you, thank you for saving my life.' The small girl snapped, seeing as she completed what she had come over to say she nodded her head and began to walk away from the boy who was towering over her.

The boy for the most part, gaped at the cement square the small little girl had been standing on. He was in utter awe of the guts that the blonde had, no one had ever stood up to him before, most cowered away at the very sight of him.

How can one little girl be so brave.

'Wait what do you mean by 'spirit'' the boy asked, lifting his head up after noticing the two little feet he had been looking at had disappeared. His eyes went wide with disbelief as he saw that she was gone.

She sure was a mysterious one.

Leaving without a trace.

Not even her scent was there to follow.