Asuka was lost. Not just physically but mentally too. What was she supposed to do now? Where was she supposed to go? Wherer would she live? What could she do? how would she survive? But the most vivid question that repeated itself was "Why would he leave me like that?"

After walking for what felt like several hours but was merely a few moments, Asuka sat down beside a tree and just broke down. Tears sreaming down her face as if she'd held in a long term pain she couldnt bottle up any longer. Whe whimpered out into the silent forrest.

"Lucifer... We've been through so much... I... I don't wanna be without you..."

She had grown so fond of the Xenomorph in such a short time and had created a close bond together. At least, thats what she thought.

"I guess... he didn't feel... the same way..."

Something about those words brought an unknown pain to her chest, like something was stabbing at her emotions and making it hurt more. It was an even worse feeling than the aftermath of what Cyrus had done to her recently before his death. But even more confronting and confusing for her was, why? Why was she feeling like this at such a deep level?

As she sat with her back against the tree, more tears gushed from her face, flowing like small waterfalls as she couldn't contain her emotions and just let it all go. Crying her eyes out over a creature she had just met not even a week ago. She couldn't understand what had come over her. Asuka didn't even cry this much when her best friend Marie left for outer space. What was it about the loss of Lucifer that made her so weak without him?

Lucifer on the other hand, was still hurrying back on his hive to reassure his queen that he was still alive at least. But unlike the day before, he didn't feel so eager about it. he Xenomorph figured that it's just bcause he's been away from the hive longer than he'd ever been, excluding the lab chambers, and that he jus adapted to a new environment in the blink of an eye. But then he stopped running all of a sudden, looking back at the long distance he had run, as well as the distance away that e has left Asuka behind. He thought for a moment.

"I wonder if she'll be alright."

She was far away from him by now, but his hive was still much further. He had done well to repay her back, and even did the extra of xterminating that filthy monster she was bound to. Though Cyrus' murder did also benefit him reatly too. So why did he feel confliced between the two desinations? Was there something missing? Either way, he didn't feel right. Like there was still something left to do even after everything he's done nd more as well as what they've been through together.

He kept crawling towards the hive but barely at a walking pace s he thought through his options. The warrior had no idea what was going hrough his head. Usually, he wouldn't have even let Asuka live.

"She doesn't have anthing else or anyone that needs to pay. Nor does she seem to have any physical or intellectual dysfunctions. She's actually on the more intelectual sie of her filthy species... Nothing like me and my siblings."

Then it struck him.

"Fuck. What if my siblings discover her?! No. That's no longer my concern, but...FUCK."

Lucifer came to a complete stop. He didn't understand what connected him to this human so much. They were just hosts, food, prey, nothing of value. But not Asuka, she was different. Different to him. He took a moment to clear his thoughts and think clearly. A species filled with so much hate could find it difficult to suddenly feel such care towards something so inferior to them. But after a moment of thinkig it over, Lucifer came to the decision that he had to find Asuka somewhere safe to reside in. Away from him and his Xenomorph siblings.

With a hiss of pity towards himself, the warrior bolted in the other direction faster than he'd ever run to hopefully reach Asuka where he left her, not that it was likely, but that would make searching all the more easier. His Queen would have to wait a while longer for his report.

"I'm sorry Mother... Just this once..."

After a long while of crying, Asuka tried to pick herself up off the ground and take a deep breath. It loooks like she was on her own from this point forwards. She told herself that she couldn't rely on Lucifer for everything and that he WAS a wild creature afterall. His decision to help her was probably out of his own benefit mainly.

The lonely girl kept telling herself things to try at detach herself from Lucifer, like he was wild, fearless, that she didn't mean much to him, he has a hive to defend etc. etc. But there was still part of her that just couldn't emotionally pull away from the alien, part of her that just wished she could her his screech as he came back to look for her.

Lucifer has arrived where he had left Asuka. He was sure it was there anyway. All the trees looked the same, but this area had that familiar scent to it.

"Where is she? She couldn't have been caught or captured or-"

He could feel his anger rising and screeched loudly. If anything had happened to her he would tear them limb from limb. He stopped himself again.

"Pull yourself together, it's just finding a human and giving her a safe shelter is all. If she's dead then... DAMMIT. Why do I care so much about this kid?!"

He hit his head against the tree in frustration, but could feel it fading away once he heard what sounded like music to his ears, if he had any.

"Lucifer?!"

Asuka must have heard his loud screeching because she came running as soon as it reached her not too far from where the Xenomorph was. She hadn't wandered very far on account of her long crying session.

Lucifer turned to the familiar face and gently hissed as the long haired human ran into him and wrapped her arms around his armoured body, her tears began to return, but for different reasons. The warrior flinched at first, not knowing this human custom, but knowing it was Asuka, who meant no harm, just let her do it.

"Y-you came back for me Luce..."

He wrapped his own arms around her small figure, figuring it was what you're meant to do in this human situation. People wee so complicated. All Xenomorphs had were simple gestures like hissing and stabbing something through the face. They both released each other and Asuka tried to wipe her tears away, hoping Lucifer didn't see was that upset over his departure or think she was much weaker than he thought.

The xenomorph didn't want to waste any more time and crawled in a direction further away from his hive but also further away from civilisation so neither would ever bother her. He ushered Asuka to follow him by gently pressing his tail against her back as a signal for her to move. The search would have been much faster if he was doing the searching alone, but Lucifer didn't want Asuka out of his sight for a second so he kept at her pace and stuck to the ground in case danger struck.

The two of them walked for what felt like forever, but this time it wasn't so bad because they had each others company.

A little further ahead they both stopped, both hearing the same sound.

"You hear that too Lucifer? Sounds like a waterfall nearby. Maybe a good pit-stop?"

Lucifer hadn't seen a waterfall before, but was eager to find out. As they both heard the noise become louder and less trees, they eventually reached the point where they encountered not trees, but a crystal clear lake with a large waterfall over a rocky face.

"This looks like a good place to rest fr a bit, huh Luce?"

Lucifer zipped off closer to the waterfall, keeping Asuka in his ine of sight, eeling as curious as a cat would upon finding a cardboard box. He ried to touch the running water but then backed away, getting nothing but a wet hand. Asuka headed over to Lucifer and rolled her sleeves up.

"It's just water, silly. Nothing like your blood."

She ran her hands under the water and then leaned her head forward, getting most of her upper torso drenched.

"I did not think that through."

She giggled at her mistake but just rolled with it, walking completely under it, urging the Xenomorp to follow.

"See Lucifer? It's totally fine~"

She turned to face the cliff face to see a large opening behind the waterfall. She walked inside to see it was a large looking cave hidden by the constant water wall. The Xenomorph dashed in after her, making sure nothing was wrong to enter the cave beside her.

"This is perfect. Nobody will bother her here."

Lucifer stood up and began to sign something for her.

"Asuka, you live here now, alright? Nobody will bother you here and it looks safe and well hidden."

The human turned to him in delight and smiled.

"It's perfect Lucifer. Good thing there's a waterfall here or we never would have found it."

Soon after taking a long look at her new home, Asuka's smile faded away and she looked back at Lucifer. Surely this meant he would have to leave again, this time for good back to his hive and to aid his fellow Xenomorphs as he had done before any of this began. The warrior notices her mood change and wondered what was bothering her.

"Change f heart about the cave, Asuka?"

"N-no, not in the slightest. It's just...*sigh* I guess this means you'll have to leave me again..."

That's right. Lucifer told himself he would find Asuka a place to live and make sure she's safe before he finally returned to his Queen and that was it. That was the final thing he would do for her, or was it for himself? Everything he had done was because he had chosen to do them, not because Asuka asked him to do those things. No. This time e had to leave, he had to. She could survive on her own, right?

The alien found himself digging for more reasons and excuses to be with this human for longer, to make sure she was absolutely not going to die. Because taking her to his hive could never be an option.

"... JUST unil she can defend herself and hunt. THEN I'll report back to mother. She'll understand."

Lucifer lead Asuka outside to try and teach her how to catch her own food, such as the fish that lived in the lake and stream further ahead. The human was terrible at this. While Lucifer has caught 5 fish without fail, Asuka has caught nothing. Perfect.

"Guess I'll be staying here for a while then. Fuck. Why do I need an excuse?"

Lucifer began to completely alter his perspective on the situation with Asuka.

"I'll just fetch food for her myself. I'll keep her alive myself. In he meantime, try to figure out what these damn connections with her mean and what's so special about her."

He began to feel more at ease with his decision, watching the clumsy human try to keep her grip on a slippery fish which, ultimately, got away.

After everything they've been through, despite how small it was and short compared to a whole lifetime ahead of them both. He knew that whatever happened, he was never going to forget Asuka, what they did together, or his name she had given him.

"If mother won't understand, then this will be a good place and time to think of a good enough lie to- wait no. That's the worst crime for a hive member. Why would I even consider lying to my monarch?"

He shook the thought off and went over to Asuka, using his tail as a spear to stab the fish she was unable to catch, giving it to her while it hung off his tail.

"Maybe I should just hunt for you. You're just... so bad at this."

"Hey!"

Asuka laughed a little as Lucifer gave her an amused hiss back. They both made their way back to the small cave now called home.

"Wait, hunt for me? Does this mean you're going to stay?!"

She spoke with a delighted tone to her voice, a tone Lucifer could interpret into "she wants me with her. She genuinely enjoys me presence", giving him that extra assurance and convincing for him to stay with her. Because she wanted him there.

"Yeah. I'm not going anywhere this time, Asuka."

For what it was worth, neither could be certain that they would both spend the rest of their days in that cave and living happily ever after. But for what it was worth, they both knew that so far, life was looking good for the both of them. Asuka got her freedom, and Lucifer got something no Xenomorph has ever gotten. A connection beyond an obedient authority.

WELL THEN~

That update took FAR longer than I previously anticipated... XD

Sorry for the wait everyone. University assignments and whatnot as well as needing microsoft word, getting the update, the fic docs became words docs, the trial ran out and I couldn't add, edit or copy and paste what I had done. XD was I nightmare I tells ya. Q_Q

HOWEVER. I stuck in there and kept going, getting much done and hoping all you lovely people continue to read, give feedback and don't feel shy to point out any flaws, spelling errors etc. etc. :3

BUT thanks for reading my Fanfic all the way to the end~

I'm so glad you enjoyed it unless you didn't and I hope you keep an eye out for my next fic featuring a Predator~ ;D

.

.

.

.

Gotcha didn't I? XD

Just kidding~

Stay tuned for Chapter 8: Fight for you. :D

*hint hint* it gets good and a much bigger story from this bit onward. ;3