Disclaimer: I do not own Trinity Blood or any of the characters.

Chapter Seven

Looking Back on Today

"Esther?" Ion woke up the next morning having a sense of Déjà vu with Esther curled up to his side. He looked over to her bed to see the covers tossed about as though she had been in a fight with the sheets. Couldn't sleep…? He thought, smiling lightly, happy that she trusted him like this.

"Esther…" Ion called, shaking her gently. He hated to wake her up, but he knew Father Nightroad would be coming early to get them started with training. "Esther wake up…" Ion called again. With a yawn Esther slowly opened her eyes, blushing as the course of her actions came back to her.

"Oh, Ion I'm sorry I was just… and the storm," Esther immediately began trying to explain herself, but was cut off as he shook his head.

"Esther, it's alright… I understand… Don't worry; I'll take care of you," Ion saidcomfortingly, he was rewarded with a bright smile and a hug. Smiling as well, Ion hugged her back gently. "Come on, Father Nightroad will be here soon."

Nodding Esther got up and grabbed the change of the clothes and prepared for a long day. Ion let Esther use the restroom while he got changed and not even a minute after they were both ready, Father Nightroad was at the door.

"Are you ready to begin?" Abel asked the two young Methuselah before him.

"Yes," Esther said firmly, Ion stood behind her and nodded.

"Very well then," Abel replied with a nod leading to them to the training wing he had showed them just the other day. They started off easy, father Tres was there, and they worked on hand to hand combat. Tres didn't participate much; they were on far too low a level to start beating on metal with out seriously injuring themselves.

Next Abel brought out the weapons, they started with simple swords which Ion seemed to have a skill in, while when they practiced shooting, it turned that Esther had a good aim. They spent hours with the various weapons that could be used.

With a break for lunch, they spent the rest of the day before dinner going over strategy and procedure under certain situations. They then practiced being under scenarios such as what to do if a member had been captured, or held in danger. With that through, they reviewed everything they had learned about weapons and hand to hand combat.

Ion and Esther had had a lot of information thrown at them, but it was necessary if they wanted to be ready to act when a plan had been agreed upon. Esther was the first to wash up, not even feeling like going to dinner.

"So this is how it's going to be everyday for the next three or four weeks," Esther said wearily as Ion walked back in from his turn freshening up.

"I guess so. You don't have to do this Esther," Ion said, knowing this would be the last chance he may have to really convince her not to do it.

"I know, but I want to do this," Esther replied laying down on her bed.

"It's alright." Ion told her. "We can just rest now…"

"Yea…" Esther said, closing her eyes.

"I'll get us something to eat and just bring it up here while you take a nap," Ion said dismissively.

"That would be great… Thanks…" Esther gave a light yawn.

"I'll wake you up in about an hour…" Ion was hesitating to leave her.

"I'll be alright by myself for a little while Ion, stop worrying," Esther said with a gentle smile. Ion blushed slightly at being caught in his over protectiveness, but smiled none the less and nodded.

"Have a nice nap Esther…" Ion spoke quietly, closing the door behind him as he hurried to the dining hall.

Esther sighed contentedly, curling up with her pillow. I can do this… For Grandmother, Mirka, Father Nightroad… …and Ion. That was her last thought before she fell asleep.

Ion entered the dining hall feeling out of place with out Esther, so he settled for sitting beside Father Nightroad.

"Hello there Ion, where's Esther?" Abel was in a jovial mood.

"Oh, she wanted to take a nap so I told her I'd just bring her something up for later," Ion replied looking down at the empty plate in front of him. Abel nodded with a smile, grinning like a fool when the maids brought out dinner. He's so serious when we train, but I never would be able to tell this side of him… Ion also made a mental note to find out more about the transformation Father Nightroad went under, but knew now wasn't the time for that.

There was a large array of food brought out for them, and Ion took doubles of everything asking for an extra plate to take to Esther. The table was full of AX agents Ion had never seen around before, but they didn't pay him much mind, perhaps they would just ask Father Nightroad after he left the room.

Ion almost laughed at how Father Nightroad was inhaling his food like there was no tomorrow. Ion smiled and after finishing his food, excused himself. Abel waved to Ion like a little child as he left. Embarrassed, Ion waved back quickly and hurried back to the room he shared with Esther, after all it had been almost an hour.

Ion opened the door quietly, almost expecting her to be missing, but relaxed as he saw that she was indeed right where he had left her. Though all was not well, she was whimpering and tears rolling down her cheeks. He set the plat of food down on the dresser and walked over to her sitting on the edge of the bed.

"Esther?" Ion gently shook her shoulder. With a small groan she opened her eyes and looked up to Ion still crying. They exchanged a glance before Esther threw her arms around his waist hugging him tightly. Ion frowned but hugged her back. "What happened Esther?"

"I just had a nightmare… of the night my grandmother was killed…" Esther sniffled. Of course… it was no more than three days ago… Ion thought, feeling negligent to her needs.

"I'm sorry Esther, but it's alright now… I'm here. Are you hungry?" Ion asked her, and she nodded wiping her eyes. He got up and brought the plate of food over to her, along with a fork he had taken as well.

"Thank you," Esther said a few minutes later after finishing up the food.

"No problem… Esther… Are you alright now?" Ion was worried about her, and what training would do to her while she was under such emotional stress. At least she wasn't lying and trying to hide what was on her mind from him.

"Yea, I just… I was thinking about it before I fell asleep so I guess…" Esther trailed off, with a small shrug. Ion reached over and tucked her hair behind her ear.

"If you need to talk, you know I'll always be right here," Ion said quietly, trying to bring her comfort. It was still a bit too early to go to sleep.

"There is one thing I'd like to ask you Ion," Esther said, a blush on her cheeks…

Author's Note:

Bruaha, cliff hanger. I don't usually do this, not on purpose, but if I have a slightly suspenseful place to start from it makes it easier to get the next chapter rolling. I mean it' not like I left them hanging off a well cliff, lol. Ok ok, enough crappy humor. I hope you enjoyed. As always review and let me know what you think, thanks to all who have reviewed thus far. Also, forgive any errors that slip my eye.