Disclaimers are always fun! I do not own El Cazador De La Bruja, Bee Train, or Funimation, nor any of the characters in the show. I own NOTHING! Nothing I say!

Kachie Says:

So it's taken me a bit to get this one going again. Sorry! I've been distracted with real life things, such as job hunting, being sick, aaaaand WoW has a factor to play, I will not lie. So I'm hoping this has caught some interest so far, and do not worry, this is where the fun really begins! I have such dark and twisty plans, but by the time this is hopefully, I will hopefully have it tied well enough to the show.

^^ Hope you enjoy this next chapter!

Nadie is narrating!

A Thing of the Past

Chapter 3

It didn't take much to catch Nadie's attention it seemed. That very night, after her fateful meeting with Lita, she packed only what she needed, and was on the road with the mysterious older woman. She wasn't sure what caught her attention first. The show of strength, confidence, and danger with a gun, the attitude, or perhaps the lifestyle in general. She had never given bounty hunting much thought, let alone becoming acquainted with one.

Lita never expressed what exactly she wanted to teach Nadie, only that it required leaving everything else behind, and moving in with her. Now any sane person would say no flat out, but the way Nadie saw it, her life wasn't going anywhere with what she had, and she had nothing to lose. She had no friends, no family. What she did have was a small time job, that bothered her, a dark past, and an uncertain future. With this decision she could gain something more in life, and perhaps, with herself.

She fell asleep in the car, two hours into their journey. All Lita said was, they were going home. A bounty hunter with a home sounded appealing somehow. As far as Nadie knew of the lifestyle a bounty hunter never staid in one spot for long, and was constantly on the road. Either because the job itself was dangerous and you didn't want to be found, or because it required allot of traveling. Perhaps a bit of both really.

Lita was a quiet woman, which was fine with Nadie. She herself didn't have much to say. Perhaps a good pair, for the time being. Be it just as travel companions, or apprentice and mentor. Nadie somehow knew Lita wanted to teach her the ways of bounty hunting, but she wasn't sure why. Hell, she didn't even know why she accepted. But she did.

The trip itself took all night. They didn't get to Lita's secluded home until shortly after dawn. Her home was decently sized. And quite in the middle of nowhere. Solitude is what Lita usually strived for, if you asked her.

Nadie slowly blinked her eyes open, having spent the whole trip sleeping. She let out a yawn as she stretched in her seat. The older truck pulled up in front of the house before coming to a stop. Nadie sleepily looked around through the truck windows. Lita casually opened her door and got out as she stretched. It was a long drive to be sure, and one could get stiff after a few hours alone.

Nadie followed suit as she climbed out of the truck. Lita reached into the cab and pulled up her duffle bag and slung it over her shoulder as she led the way to the front door in silence. Nadie, too, grabbed her things as she trotted up behind the older woman. "This is where you will be living for now." the woman said as she pulled out her house keys. She unlocked the door and let Nadie in first who slowly stepped inside.

She took a glimpse around her new home as Lita stepped in behind her, closing the door. Lita then walked passed Nadie as she tossed her duffle bag onto the floor. The home was nice looking on the inside. An expensive looking stereo, and nice furniture decorated the place. Old framed photos over a fireplace, perhaps of people Lita knew, or was related to. No TV though, but Nadie was ok with that.

"If you're hungry there's food in the kitchen, help yourself." Lita muttered as she herself let off a yawn. She was tired after such a long drive. "If you don't mind, I need some sleep.." Lita then said as she made her way for a long hallway. Nadie shrugged as she eyed a bookshelf. She normally wasn't much of a reader but what else could she do right? "I'll be up in a few hours, just make yourself at home." Lita then hollered from down the hall.

It was mid afternoon now. Lita wasted no time in showing the girl around her land, which was riddled with obstacles, shooting dummies, and other such things. It looked like a mini boot camp in her large backyard. Well, really she had open range as far as what she wanted to do in the middle of nowhere. A blessing in disguise from the looks of it.

Lita then faced the younger girl, who looked almost lost with what she was facing. "I wont lie, once you accept what I have to offer, and I have a feeling you will, I will not be your most favorite person." Lita said sternly. Her facial expression was that of the most serious looks Nadie had ever seen. Nadie gulped slightly as she eyed the woman. What did she get herself into?

Lita rested her left hand on her left hip. She continued to hold that serious gaze. This was obviously no joke to her. Something she looked to take very very seriously. "What DO you want with me?" Nadie finally asked, perhaps with a bit of attitude. Lita smirked. Good, the young girl just might have what it takes, as far as attitude went. "Nadie, I can tell you have what it takes to be a bounty hunter. No, there is no telling, I KNOW you do." Lita said matter of factually.

Nadie gave her a look of disbelief. She somehow knew it was coming, but it didn't stop her from being surprised anyways. Nadie folded her arms over her chest as she then looked at the woman, almost like she didn't care what the older woman had to say. She never thought about such a career, she wasn't even sure if she had what it took.

Lita watched Nadie, who fell silent. Oh Lita knew she had what it took. It wasn't a matter of first impressions, or anything to that sort. She knew, and that was all that she had to say for it. She had no doubt, in fact she'd be very disappointed in Nadie if she didn't have what it took. Perhaps strange, in the eyes of someone who knew nothing of Lita.

"Nadie, focus!" Lita yelled at her. It was the next day, and Lita was right. She was Nadie's least favorite person. She had her running around everywhere. She held in her hand, her father's colt, but with a clip with blank bullets. Something Lita just so happened to keep on hand. But perhaps she still practiced her skills regularly. Nadie didn't bother to ask.

Nadie fell on the ground, and hit hard. She dropped her gun, which flew a few feet away from her before landing on the dead grass, if you could even call it that. More like patches of dead vegetation. Out in the desert, it was rare to see much of anything green and living.

Nadie grunted as she scrapped up her forearms and knees. She was wearing a pair of gym shorts, and a tank top for this so called training. She was already banged up a little as Lita wasn't giving her a real chance at anything. They started their day early, and began with some work outs, then some basic hand to hand combat routines. Then some free style sparring. Which Nadie had no experience with. To say the least, Lita whooped her butt something fierce.

Lita called it tough learning. Nadie labeled it as an unfair ass kicking. "Pick it up and keep going!" Lita barked as Nadie cursed to herself, slowly getting to her feet again. She felt sore everywhere. She felt sore in places she never knew you could feel sore at. She wasn't even given a chance to patch up her bleeding arms and legs. "Come on! I've been at this all day!" Nadie complained as she slowly stumbled towards her gun.

Lita scoffed as she approached the girl in a huff. Nadie cringed but put up her arms, her hands curled into fists as if thinking she was about to get another pounding. This was pure abuse! "The real world isn't going to cut you a break, Nadie!" Lita shouted as she picked up the colt on the ground and shoved it into Nadie's hands. "Again, from the beginning!" She commanded, her right hand pointing to the beginning of the obstacle course.

It was made into a roofless building, riddled with multiple doors, dead end rooms, and thick wooden dummies, painted up to look like thugs with guns, and civilians. Nadie was forced to run this thing full force and she had yet to finish. There was no floor, just walls and doors, in the middle of the desert, half a mile away from Lita's house.

Nadie groaned as she slowly made her way back to the beginning before turning to face the building once more. Lita shortly joined her outside, having followed her all around as the girl wandered it aimlessly. It was good practice. Nadie had to learn to move quickly, and use her wits, and observation skills. It was hard work, but Lita found it to be the most effective way to become a great hunter.

"Go!" Lita yelled at her, and Nadie snapped out of her thoughts of shooting Lita with one of her blank bullets and quickly began to run in a panic. Into the entrance she went, accidently putting a round through a civilian dummy. Lita gave an inpatient look as Nadie cringed but kept moving. Weaving around the multiple halls and rooms, missing many targets, and stumbling over herself.

Before long and having gotten turned around somehow exhaustion began to get the best of her. Her temples throbbed, as her heart pounded, Lita hot on heals, pushing her to the limits. "Nadie!" She yelled, and Nadie would try to move faster. She didn't have many breaks in the day, but Lita knew it was preparing her for these sorts of events. Bounty hunting was a simple job in Lita's mind, not as mind numbing as her training, but one never knew.

Nadie tripped over a rock poking out of the ground as she screamed out in shock before landing hard once more on the desert floor. She grunted as she again lost her grip on her gun, as she all out fell on her front side, now scraping up her chin. Now she really couldn't get up. She was not use to so much in one day. Lita sighed as the girl panted hard on the ground. Perhaps she was pushing a bit too hard as she thought about it.

Lita picked up Nadie's gun, before tucking it in the hem of her jeans. She then made her way to the fallen teenager before picking her up and getting her back onto her feet. Oh she wasn't about to apologize for pushing the girl to her limits. In fact she was rather impressed Nadie lasted this long. "Alright, lets go get you cleaned up." Lita said, more gently this time.

Nadie only groaned as Lita helped Nadie gimp her way back to the truck. A good hot bath, and a warm meal would do her good, Lita thought. She wouldn't put her through anymore hell today, but maybe some verbal lectures would still be in order. She was a harsh teacher, but Lita learned the same way when she was younger. It paid off though, and she knew it would be the same for the young stray girl, if she could stick with it.

Nadie climbed into the prepared bath for her. There were some special bath herbs put into the hot water, for Nadie to soak in. According to Lita it would not only help clean whatever injuries she acquired, but help her muscles relax. Nadie had to admit, the second her naked body sank into that bath water it felt pretty amazing, despite the stinging sensation in her cuts.

She cringed a bit, though, as she sat in the hot water. But she sank further in as her eyes closed. She was so exhausted she didn't know if she could stay awake for much longer. "I'll start dinner." Lita said just before leaving the bathroom. Nadie usually wouldn't get naked in front of a complete stranger, but she was too tired to make a fuss over it.

Nadie let out a long sigh as she relaxed further. The hot bath felt so good after her long day. She had never felt so dirty before in her life, but she had a feeling this would become a regular occurrence. She already regretted accepting the woman's invitation to this madness. Nadie wasn't even sure if she could take someone's life, and Lita warned her that this would happen more times then not with this job. "It just comes with the territory" she said as if it were no big deal.

She looked up to the ceiling as she tried to wrap her mind around this idea. "What should I do, Mami.. Papi..?" She asked thinking maybe her dead parents would be able to answer her somehow. But there was nothing but silence as she frowned. What was she to do?

It was late night now. Nadie had passed out on the living room couch during Lita's lecture. Lita only sighed in defeat. It was obvious Nadie was worn out to the core. Lita just left her there, and laid a blanket out over her sleeping form. This was hours ago however. Lita just sat on a chair, a fire crackling in the fireplace.

She held a hot cup of tea in her hands. She looked at the girl as she thought to herself. Who knew she'd ever meet her? She knew exactly who she was dealing with. She knew the moment she laid eyes on her. But still, it'd remain a mystery to Nadie. Lita shook her head as she turned her head to watch the dancing flames in the fireplace. She was more use to late nights. Then again, so was Nadie but not after today.

But tomorrow, Lita was going to push the girl hard again. She wouldn't rest until either Nadie gave up, or became good enough to be able to handle herself on her own. It would take time, however. This Lita was certain of. Nadie was thrown into a lifestyle that she was far from use to. A simple waitress thrown into a hellish boot camp. Lita smirked to herself. Well Nadie accepted, she should of expected this would be no walk through the park.

"Get your rest while you can, kid, after today you wont get much of it again for a long, long time." She said as Nadie grunted in her sleep before rolling over onto her other side.

I had no idea what was in store for me. How could I? I was a simple country girl thrown into chaos, and with a teacher from Hell itself. But that was nothing, compared to what I would eventually learn, and come to do.

_________________

So, I know a short chapter, but hopefully it makes sense. Nadie is an excellent marksmen after all, and well disciplined. To go from waitress to a powerful huntress over night just didn't make sense to me, so here she is going through hell. xD

More to come soon!