Disclaimers are always fun! I do not own El Cazador De La Bruja, Bee Train, Funimation, or any of the characters! I own nothing! NOTHING I SAY!
Kachie Says:
Jezikial, thank you so much for your comment. I'm so glad it all feels natural so far! Truth be told I was afraid it felt off somehow, but I'm glad you've enjoyed it thus far.
Whelp, here it is everyone! Chapter 4. I'm sorry it took so long, between some real world matters, I haven't had a whole lot of time to think of what to do next for this fanfic. Though I know where it will ultimately lead, I need fillers to think of till then.
But without further aude, here it is the next chapter!
Oh yes, this is Nadie narrating the story.
A Thing of the Past
Chapter 4
I had no idea what kind of Hell I stepped into. But you know I'm glad I did. Finally, I had some goal in life. I could be someone, even if was just a thug with a license. But as time went on I began to gain faster reflexes, more confidence, and all in preparation for that fateful day so long ago.
Days turned into weeks... Weeks into months.. Days, weeks, months, blurred together. Nadie was up just before the first sight of dawn, dragged out of bed, put through a cold shower, and only toast for breakfast. Shoved out the door into the truck Nadie was driven out to their training grounds.
It was like routine, Nadie should have been use to it. But every day Lita pushed her hard. Actually now it felt like she was pushing her even harder. Soon as she stepped foot out of that truck she'd have a fist flying at her. She had to learn to anticipate this. It took a few days but she finally figured out this was how they would start their days now.
Of course Nadie began to catch on faster. Still no expert, far from it, but catching on. "Nadie stop being lazy!" Lita would yell as she would come at her. It didn't feel like it to Nadie, but Lita was using restraint. If she wasn't careful she probably could have snapped Nadie like a twig. Nadie was still this frail little country bumpkin with no idea as to what kind of a world she so eagerly thrusted herself into.
Fists flew, Nadie got pounded, but she began to learn to weave and dodge, and throw her own back at Lita. Nadie began to grow a slight muscle tone by now, her attitude changing as her relentless teacher prepared her for a world of violence, and death.
Ever morning... Sparing.. Then actual hand to hand combat lessons, without the pounding. Then a vigorous work out. Laps around the training course, push ups, sit ups, jumping jacks, you named it, Lita put Nadie through it. After that target practice. Nadie had to go through 15 clips before she could finish. Sometimes she went through a couple extra.
Her aim was getting better and better. It helped that she had some practice before this, but it was casual, no one yelling at her, scolding her for every target she missed. Then there was the moving target practice. This was when Nadie ran through that makeshift building, having to shoot on the run, having to learn to be graceful on her feet.
Every day Lita would go out there, and move the target dummies around. No two days were the same. Nadie had to learn to be observant, then be repetitious. Some days Lita herself would hide away inside the maze, and with paint ball guns they'd round off with each other. Nadie was getting better, but was still sloppy.
After that, more sparring, then lunch. It was a tough life for a young kid. But Nadie learned to adapt. She learned to take the challenge, enjoy it, go with it, learn from it. She was a fast learner. Lita admired the passion. She had improved so much over the months. When Lita said it was enough, some days, Nadie would push for more.
Nadie was determined, and she wasn't sure why. Perhaps it was her way to find a place in life. All she knew was, she was liking some of the changes she had made within herself. Still timid, but getting more confidence, more will power to do what she never thought she could. But was she really prepared to do the real thing? Or would she restrain herself to a life of constant training and never putting her skills to the real test.
On this day, Nadie earned a day off. Or so Lita thought. Nadie took it of course. She was beat, she needed a day's rest. She rarely got a day off out here. It was hell, but Nadie somehow found appreciation in it. Today Nadie spent the day out on the porch with a book and some lemonade.
"I have a job, Nadie." Lita said as she stepped out on the porch, leaning against the front door's frame. Nadie looked up at Lita and watched her silently. "I'll be gone a couple weeks, it's going to take some time to track my target, but that doesn't mean you should slack off." Lita said firmly.
Nadie of course planned to be a bit of a slacker, Lita knew this too. After all the girl was still a kid, it was bound to happen. Nadie just nodded at the woman before yawning. "In a couple months... I'll take you to the bounty office, we'll get you certified... Then I'll take you on a job." Lita said before returning inside the house, closing the door.
Nadie's eyes widened a bit. "Wait!" Nadie shouted as she tossed the book aside as she scurried into the house. "Dont you think it's too soon??" She blurted out feeling nervous suddenly. Lita smirked as she turned on her heals. "You gotta learn someday, Nadie. If you refuse to come, I'll drop you back off in that shit hole town and you can work for drunken customers again." She said.
Her voice deepened, turned dangerous. It was a promise, no empty threat. Nadie gulped as she shrank a bit. She didn't know what was worse. Sticking around with Lita or a bunch of drunks groping her rear every night. She just nodded some in agreement and slumped onto the chair. She'd have to learn life wasn't fair.
Lita was so tempted to use Nadie as bait for this particular case. They were after a sexual predator, what better way to force him out of his hole then to wave juicy bate in front of his eyes. Nadie was an attractive girl. Pretty, big soft eyes, and in the right outfit, she'd have the guys crawling all over her.
But that would be too much, she was sure of this. She wouldn't be that cruel to Nadie. Last thing she wanted was to have Nadie choke up and actually get hurt. So they went about showing a picture, asking if anyone had seen him, and if so where. All the while. Lita would give Nadie a verbal walk through.
Nadie listened hard. She didn't want to screw up. If you screwed up out here, you were as good as dead, there was no second tries. According to Lita anyways. They were up early, they drove and walked all over town, showing this man's picture. So far they had a few leads.
Nadie messed with her poncho slightly, one of two things that were precious to her, the things that survived with her the night of the fire. Her Colt was strapped to her leg, secure and snug in it's holster. She wore a button up cowboy style shirt, navy blue in color, and tight fitting blue jeans, topped off with cowboy boots.
Her mentor picked out the outfit. Nadie sighed and gave a look of annoyance. She didn't mind so much clothing, accept it wasnt usually her style. Way to go, Lita, matching outfits. Cute. Perhaps it was a way to tick her off, if so, it was working. "Come on I think I know where he is." Lita interrupted her thoughts after talking with some club owner.
"Be ready for anything, got it?" Lita said sternly as they climbed into the truck. Nadie nodded quickly as she got into the cab to keep a look out. As they drove off Nadie felt tense. This was it, moment of truth. She had her basic bounty hunter's license. It was nothing more then the ability to catch small time crooks, but could assist higher end bounty hunters, much like Lita.
She gripped the handle of her pistol as she gained a serious look on her face. She tried to calm her nerves, but everything inside of herself felt numb. She was about to get into a gunfight she knew it. She felt it in her gut, like it was a fact. How would she handle this? She ran over a scenario in her head, a simple one. He'd just give up with two guns in his face right?
Yea right Nadie, come on focus.. She thought to herself. She cursed as she looked up at their surroundings. They began to pull to a slow stop outside of some building. Run down apartments maybe. No it was a hotel, she could see the sign by double doors. She hopped out of the truck, her poncho fluttering with the motion.
Lita got out of the cab and looked over at the hotel. "Stay here, in case he tries to make a run for it." Lita ordered as she closed the cab door and began to walk towards the building. She didn't even bother to try and hide her gun, it rested at her hip, clear as day. Like a warning that she would use it, if someone provoked it.
Her walking stride so confident, so full of herself. Nadie gained a new irritated look. She knew it was because she still wanted that sort of confidence but she couldn't help but also think Lita had too much ego.
As soon as the woman disappeared through the front office door Nadie sighed and leaned against the truck. She folded her arms over her chest, dropping her guard. "Really? In case he runs?" she said to herself. Sure Lita gets her all worked up just to sit at the truck. Suddenly there was gunfire filling the air around her.
She quickly drew her colt as she looked around, in search of where it was coming from. "Nadie!" Lita yelled out at her as a big bald man came running from the hotel. Nadie tried to take aim but he pointed his gun at her as well. "Shoot him!" Lita commanded as she gripped at her shooting arm. She had been shot, Nadie could see the blood.
"Damnit!" Nadie cursed as she shot off a couple rounds. They missed, but pissed off the bulky man as he fired his weapon. Nadie felt searing pain hit the side of her stomach as he ran right past her. She fell to her knees as she gritted her teeth as she tried so hard to yell out in pain. But she failed as she let out a loud yelp as she fell onto her side.
"Nadie! NADIE!" Lita yelled out in panic as Nadie's vision blurred. Well this was it, she thought. She messed up, and now she was going to die. Those were the last thoughts in her mind as she passed out.
Nadie's first real gunfight! I wanted it to be as realistic as possible. She's not use to this sort of thing just yet. Stay tuned! More to come.