Chapter 2: Seles

The raven haired girl stands at the top of a large hill overlooking the burning town of Seles. Her purple eyes drink in the scene before her as she runs down the trail towards the village gates.

"Oh no! My god! Where is everybody?"

She flies down the hills in a cloud of dust, skidding to a halt and leaping over a wooden fence. Upon hearing one - no, two- voices arguing, she runs over to their direction.

"You didn't get enough killing!?"

"Hah! It may be enough if I kill you."

Two Sandorian soldiers are shown kicking at a fallen villager. The young woman reaches for her swords and rushes toward them, jumping in front of the villager as the two soldiers back away, surprised by this sudden attack.

"Oh, a mercenary? Isn't it a little late for you to show up?"

"You will pay, I will make sure of that. Now, tell me why you're here, and maybe I'll be merciful enough to give you a quick death," the young woman growls as she glares warily at the two soldiers. Treating her like a common pest, the soldiers shrugged and laughed.

"Can't you see? We're gonna occupy this area, and these worms were in our way."

"Occupy? Were you sent by the Imperial Army?"

"Even if we were, it's none of your business. You're gonna die soon anyway," mocks the second soldier, drawing his sword. His companion mimics the action, their eyes trained on the girl before them. They rush forward quickly, hoping for a quick kill. The young woman spins out of the way, delivering a hard kick to his side in the process. The first soldier collapses and holds his stomach; the second one aims his sword at dark haired girl, who saw it coming and deflects it with a flick of her wrist. The sword lands on the dirt a few meters away. The young woman quickly spears the soldier in the chest with the sword in her right hand and swiftly turns to the other soldier, burying her large dagger into his neck. She pulls both out and rushes over to the villager lying on the ground.

"Is it...are you...you're Rei aren't you?" he coughs out.

"Yes! It's me! Why is Seles under attack!?" the girl, now revealed to be Rei, asks.

"War...Imperial Sandora...attacked us..."

"What about the truce?"

"I don't know. All I know is, suddenly...troops stormed into the village, demanding for a...a girl."

"If only I had come back sooner..."

The man begins to cough as spasms wracked his body. Then his frame stiffened as he breathed out his final words.

"Usagi...they took...Usagi."

Usagi, no...She was a childhood friend, a sweet, clumsy girl with an affinity for sweets. He innocent smile brought a smile to everyone's faces.

'What could they want with Usagi?' Rei releases her hold and stands, head held low as she murmurs a short prayer, covering his eyes with her hand. She then walks further into the village and sees a figure facedown a short distance away.

"Umino!"

Rushing over to the man, Rei helps him sit up

"That voice...is that you, Rei?" The young woman heaves his arm onto her shoulder and helps him up.

"Yeah, I'm back," she affirms. 'A little late, but back nonetheless.' She checks his wounds, pouring a bit of silvery liquid on the wound.

"It's just a flesh wound, a little bit of Recovery Medicine and it'll be fine."

"I guess...I was lucky. But look at this village. If only you came back earlier...It's about Usagi, too."

"I heard, what's wrong with Usagi? Why did they take her?!" Rei's voice was filled with concern.

"It seems Usagi was their primary purpose." The raven haired woman's eyes widened. The Imperial Army of Sandora came to a remote little village and burned it to the ground because of an 18 year old girl?

"Do you know where they went?"

"I...I heard from the retreating soldiers that they would confine her at Hellena...for the time being," the thick glassed man replied, his eyes trained on the rubble that now covered the village.'So much destruction.' he thought.

"Usagi..." Rei's voice trailed off.

Flashback

"Hey you little punk, don't you run!" the shopkeeper's voice ringing through the market as he chased after a small child, her arms were ladened with fruits stolen from his stall. The dark haired child ran through the crowds, the voice of the shopkeeper fading as he fell behind. 12 year old Rei kept running, her little legs carrying her over to a small alley, and the little girl ducked inside, slowing down as she reached a ratty looking shack.

"Hi Rei! Whatcha got there huh? Huh?" A blonde head popped out of the make-shift door and pulled it aside for the girl to walk in. The excited girl began to run around the little thief, asking questions and staring at the food.

"Usagi! Calm down you little glutton," Rei scolded as she laid the food on a broken table, one of its legs propped up with wooden block.

"Guys, food's here!" Rei yelled, and two other kids scrambled out from behind the shack, laughter in their voice as they race to the table.

"Yeah, this is much better than yesterday," a teenage Umino yelled as he grabbed an apple and threw a meat stick to a little girl with frizzy brown hair. "Catch Naru!"

"Well, it does seem like Rei is getting better," the girl called Naru replied. Rei, satisfied with her day's work, reached for a roll of bread when she noticed one odd thing. Usagi had not even touched her food yet. Usually the girl would be all over the fruits, but today she sat in a corner, eyes watering and lips held in an adorable pout.

"Usagi, why aren't you eating?" Rei asked as she walked over to the younger girl.

"You called me a glutton...Rei is so mean!!" Usagi wailed, tears threatening to spill over her baby blue eyes. Rei rolled her own eyes, then leaned over in a secretive manner. She crooked a finger at Usagi and gestured for her to come closer before pulling out a small bag of candy.

"Here, these are for you. I didn't get much, but well, I know you like these, and... uh...for Soa's sake stop cryin already - HEY!" Rei could only cry out in surprise as a completely recovered Usagi glomped her and thanked her for the sweets.

"Looks like little Rei isn't so mean after all, neh Usagi?" laughed Naru, who had witnessed the whole exchange. Usagi nodded enthusiastically and dug into the food with the older boy. Rei and Naru just looked at each other and for a moment and shook their heads, a fond smile on both their faces.

End Flashback

"Rei you are going to go rescue Usagi, aren't you?" Umino asks, observing the glazed look on Rei's face. He knew that look.

"Yes," came the short reply. Umino sighed. Rei had always been a stubborn little pyro, and if you mess with her family, you sure as hell hope you have a big sword and a large army to back you up. He knew better than to argue with the girl he had known since his childhood days.

"I won't stop you, but be careful. You're going against Imperial Sandora."

"...I know. I'll be careful."

"You can count on us about Seles. There should be enough people who can still move."

"Thanks. When I settle everything, I'll be back. With Usagi."

Umino nodded and smiled. Suddenly two children rush at Rei, a boy attempting to tackle her.

"Go away!" the girl yelled.

"Be gone, Sandorians!" the smaller boy added.

"Stop it children! It's Rei!" Umino yells. The children look at their father and turn to stare at the raven haired woman.

"It's Rei!"

"Both of you have grown up," Rei smiles. She would have never imagined that Umino and Naru had gotten married, but here they were, with a boy, Kenjiro, and a girl, Risa, with Naru's brown hair and Umino's dorky smile.

"Rei! Sandora, Sandora got everybody!"

Risa hugs Rei and pulls back.

"Not everybody."

"What?"

"Not everyone was killed. So you have to help the people in the village. I will rescue Usagi."

"Indeed. Do what you can," Umino encouraged.

"I'll get medical herbs!" said Risa.

"Me too!" Kenjiro piped up. They both rush into their house, then each split up after getting the herbs to tend to the injured.

Umino turned his gaze toward the woman he had helped raise. "We can take care of the village. Focus on Usagi and yourself. Good luck, Rei."

He put a hand on her shoulder and stumbled off towards the town square where the injured were being tended to. Rei was also about to leave when hand touched her shoulder; she spun around to face her old mentor.

Kaioh Michiru had not changed a bit. Her hair was still a gorgeous sea aqua, and that aura of elegance still lingered about her. The dark blue rapier held in her hand was crusted with dirt and blood, matching the blue armored dress that covered her body.

"Michiru, it's good to see you."

"I taught you how to use the sword. I won't be killed so easily," she laughed, her voice soft and demure and her eyes twinkling with amusement. Rei looked down and noticed that she had drawn out her dagger on instinct. She grinned and sheathed her weapon before embracing her old swordsmistress, shaking hands enthusiastically and finally pulling apart.

"We were outnumbered. I couldn't stop them by myself," Michiru's eyes turned dark as she surveyed the desolate village. They are saddened as she talks.

"You already heard about Usagi?

"I have, and... I'm heading to Hellena."

"I expect nothing less, coming from you," Michiru smiles faintly. She knew of Rei Hino's willpower, but could one woman take on an army of soldiers by herself? Rei sensed that the woman has something to say, but interrupts before the aqua haired swordsmistress could voice it.

"I know what you're going to say, but I have to do this myself. The villagers need someone here if the Sandorians attack again," the violet eyed girl said softly. Her mentor opened her mouth as if to say something, but closed it after a second, realizing that her student was right.

"I will stay here until the villagers get better, but I must go on a journey afterwards. We most likely won't see each other again," Michiru says quietly, gazing over the burnt hillside towards the forest.

"Then this is a short farewell," Rei follows her gaze, feeling a wave of nostalgia wash over her heart. The former master and pupil turn towards each other and embrace briefly. Michiru nods and bows. Rei returns the gesture as the aqua haired woman runs to the village square. Rei watches her run until the woman's form disappears from sight. With a long sigh, she slings her bags across her back and heads toward the village entrance.

'Hold on Usagi, I'm bringing you home.'