Memories Of The Past: Yuri's First Friend

Disclaimer: This chapter will take place a few years back before the first chapter. Dairu is 16, Yuri is 15, and Akira is 13. By the way, this is Yuri's Memory: so instead of saying Yuri, I'm saying I.

I walked the streets of our small town quietly. I was used to doing it, I did everyday for about five years. I don't have any friends to play with, I am alone. The only one I have is my sister, but she's not even my age. I sigh and turn another corner. I hear the thundering of feet and Akira rounds the corner. She leans against the wall and catches her breath.

"Yuri, I got a lead." she panted."In the town next over."

"About the stone?" I asked.

"Yeah!" Akira snorted."What else? They say there's a few others there, looking too. We'll have to be careful."

Yuri nodded and started a path to the borders of their town. They only had to walk a little bit to get there, no point in wasting money.

Akira and I walked down the dirt path to the next town over quietly. Neither of us really spoke much unless needed. There are many times when I notice how little I know about her and how little she most likely knows about me. I glanced back to see her following me still and I focus my gaze back on the town that was coming closer to us.

"We have about five miles. Then we'll have to go to the lake by the city. There's a man that lives in a lake house by it." Akira informed me. I nod and take the first step into our sister town. This one was much louder than our own.

Akira led the way to the lake, since I didn't know where it was. She usually would make mental maps of places from books. We get there and Akira pauses to look around. She points out an old shack by the lake side. It was wooden and old, but still stood. We looked at each other, then nodded and knocked on the door. No one answered.

"Maybe he's out somewhere?" I suggested.

"No." Akira disagreed."He's the loner type, he never leaves this house.." I knelt by the door knob and stared at it. It was broken and cracked, as if someone had hit it.

"Break in." I stated. I pushed the door open and walked inside. It was creeply quiet and empty. There were no lights, just unlit candles. I glanced at the floor and did a double-take. I stared down at it confused. There was a large puddle of some thick liquid.

'It...couldn't be.' I thought and looked to see the puddle led to the closet. Akira's hand was on the handle and was about to open it. I grabbed her and pulled her back. She looked at me questionly and I just shook my head.

"Let's go." I say. She nods and picks herself up. We exit the shack. I sighed in disappointment and sit by the lake. Akira lays down beside me and rests her arms behind her head.

"I'll find another." she promised.

"It's fine, kiddo." I say, ruffling her hair. She groans and pushes my hand away. I laugh to myself and stare out at the water. It was peaceful and calm. But things don't always last. Akira and I jumped up as a wave of water wasted over the spot we once were. I frowned and looked to my left. There was a boy there that I didn't know. He glared at us and clapped his gloved hands together.

'So he uses the same trick as me and Akira.' I thought, clapping my hands and making a fire ball. He rasied an eyebrow and made another wave come at me. I dodged and heard Akira clap her hands too. She sent lightning at the waves, blowing them up. But that took all of her time, so it was just me and our attacker. I threw a fire ball.

"What do you want?!" I growled when he got out of the way.

"Information on the stone!" he said."I know you're after it too."

"So? Who says we can't?!" I yelled, and 'yes'ed when I hit him. He flew back and slammed into the lake. The water started to swirl around the spot and he shot out of the water. I gasped. He had water coming from his back and shaped as wings. He was flying.

'Oh shit!' I thought and started moving around so his attacks missed. Throwing my fire up to him wasn't working, seeing to the fact that he easily could hit it with water. I grunted as the water hit her. I held her breath and tried to push it off. I could see the boy from inside the liquid. He was coming forward, but was hit by a static shock. The water fell and I sucked in some much needed air. He had fallen, his alchemy canceling out. Akira stood with her hand still out streached, panting. She grinned at me..

"Nice shot." I said. He was starting to get up, so I quickly made a fire sword and held it close to his neck. He sneered up at me. I said, "Give up."

"Like I'm going to let you go when you work for the man who killed my mother!" he shouts. I look at him questionly and step back. Akira comes to my side and gives him the same look.

"We work for no one but ourselves." I state and add."We wouldn't work for a killer." He looked up at me and looked down in shame. Akira and I turned and walked away. We returned to our home town and went to our house. We laid down to sleep.

The next morning we were walking around town, listening for clues. When I was suddenly tapped on the shoulder, I jumped. I looked to see the boy from yesterday, the only different was his face. It held a kind smile instead of an angry snarl. I tilted my head at him.

"Hello, um..." he started awkwardly."I just wanted to say sorry, you know, for yesterday."

"Whatever." I said."We all make mistakes." He grinned and nodded.

"Thanks. I'm Dairu." he said, holding out a hand.

"This is Akira." I said pointing to her and took his hand."And I'm Yuri." Dairu shook my hand and then Akira's. We ended up walking and talking.

Yuri woke up from her dream. It was more like a memory. She smiled and sat up in bed, yawning. Akira twitched beside her and Yuri shook her awake. Akira's eyes opened and she sat up too.

"Morning." she muttered.

"Morning, brat." Yuri joked. Akira stuck her tongue out at her and they got dressed. They met up with the boys and exited the house to vist their lead.

"Did you sleep well?" Dairu asked Yuri, holding her hand.

"Yeah, I had a dream of you." Yuri answered.

"What kind of dream?" he asked.

"Of the first time we met." she replied.