AN: I'm so, so,so extremely sorry for not updating earlier. Once I got into holiday, I was so lazy, that I almost forgot about this fanfiction! TT_TT *bows head* . Please forgive my foolishness, and accept this chapter as my excuse. NOW, I want to clear something up, and this was probably another reason I didn't felt like writting. Last chapter in my final AN I said my chapter was way too long. Now let me explain it. I know in comparison to other fanfictions, my chapters are small first grade writtings. But considering I start working on a chapter at 9'o clock, usually when I have inspiration, and finish writting a chapter 3.5k words long one hour later, it does seem long to me. Either way, I hope I wont get another wity review considering the leght of my chapters. Now on with the story~

Disclaimer : What was I suposed to put here? Oh yes, I own nothing T_T!

The shadows of her memories chapter 6

Moving on from her mother's death was a hard task indeed. But honoring her promise, would be an even harder one. She was months away from her trial. And her sister's attitude had gone worse and worster. She was glad that when mother died, Zayenn had been there. In truth, both needed somebody to be there, and who could understand better what they were going trough than the other sibling? Altho, it wasn't long before the funeral, that everything had gone back to the way it was, and even worst.

She opened the door to her family's quarters, and met with Zayenn in the living. She watched her sister in the eye, and saw that no emotion could be found in them anymore. No words were exchanged between the two. But after Akyo came from her room, her neck unrevealead, looking for her always missing hair brush, Zayenn saw something hanging from her sister's neck.

''What's that?'' she asked. Akyo jerked her head up, and the necklace she wore was revealed in it's full glory. Zayenn's eyes slightly widened. She could feel something inside her snap.

''What's wh-...'' it was everything Akyo could get out before she had her back pushed in the wall.

''Where do you have this from?'' Zayenn said, her tone low and dangerous, her face dark. Akyo was scared out of her wits, and it was obvious on her face. She looked panicked into her sister's eyes. What was wrong with her?

''Where do I have what?!'' she said, her fears level going higher, seeing the angry flame in her sister's eyes.

''Mother's necklace.''

Silence filled the room. The two siblings watched eachother in the eye, Akyo too scared to break the contact. She had realised the reason why her sister had become so agressive in such a short period of time, and she couldn't help but mentally smack herself for forgetting to take it off, so Zayenn wont see it.

''S-She gave it to me. The night she died.'' she said, finally closing her eyes. She waited for something, anything to happen, and even wondered if she was getting out of this alive.

But instead, Zayenn let go of her, and went into her room, slamming the door behind her. Akyo remained sticked to the wall a few seconds, before she felt her knees give out. Before her last powers were going to leave her however, she walked into her room, and locked the door. She was so scared by this event, that she hadn't got any sleep that night.

The following days, she avoided Zayenn like plague. She would spend the days in her room, and went late at night to train. She started training on her own now. She was gratefull to Zed, for what he had done when she was in a weak state, when her mother died, but she felt like she had to acomplish this on her own. And she didn't wished to disturb him.

However, as days passed, she was getting worried and worried. His search for power was not unknown to her, and the time they had spent toghter had made him forget about his irrelevant quest for more power. The halls of the order hidden so many secrets and so dangerous, in the wrong hands, they could bring the downfall of Ionia itself.

The moon was in the middle of the starry sky, the order itself asleep. But one certain girl, which was now 13, was unleashing attacks upon a training dummy. The staff she had used to train was alike to the one her mother had used. It was sharp on both of it's peaks, and the original had runes on it to help the possesor use his power without having to break the seal.

Unknown to her, a pair of eyes, watched her from the shadows. After such intense training, she became to look more like a ninja. Her strikes were powerfull yet gracefull. Her focused and determined face, told Zed everything he had to know. He was proud of her. He didn't expected her to recover so soon after the funeral. He watched her everynight, following her progress. Over the months they had spent training, she had learn almost all of his moves. She moved just like his shadow, mimicking his style of fighting, but adapting it to her type of weapon.

Akyo gave the dummy one last strike before distancing from it. The slashes she had made were deep, and into critical points, a normal person wouldn't have survived from such an attack. Letting out a heavy sigh, she started going towards the order. Today was the day that over the years, she started to hate : her bithday. Usually when it was her birthday, her mother would make her a small cake, and give her a present. Nothing too fancy. It was the only thing she was so gratefull for. But now that she was gone, no more presents,nor cakes. As she slowly opened the door, she looked around. Darkness and silence was surrounding the living, and no presence whatsoever. She closed the door behind her, carefull to not make any sounds, and then moved to her room. After closing the door, she put her training staff away and really wanted a goodnight sleep. But something on her bed caught her attention.

There was the smallest of boxes, just as big as her palm. There was a piece of paper lying next to it. Turning on the lights, she grabbed the piece of paper and read it. Four words, so meaningless to some, were now making her feel her heart beat again.

''You are not alone.'' she wishpered to herself. As she looked tenderly at the small piece of paper, she turned her head to look at the little black box. She picked it up and opened it.

Inside there was a small piece of rectangle wood, which had carved intricate designs on it's edges, and japaneese simbols. Into the middle, there was the drawing of a stylized tiger. Strange, she was born under the sign of the tiger. She recognized this as being a 'good luck charm' as her mother had once told her. They were made for people born under different signs, and brought them luck whenever they had it with them, and tought at the person who gave it to them.

While looking at the box carefully, she observed another piece of paper in it. Picking it up, her eyes widened in surprise when she landed her gaze onto the words.

'And also happy birthday.' . She was very aware who made her this small gift, but how in the name of the heavens did he knew today was her birthday?! She had told nobody about it, and the only ones that knew were Zayenn and mother. Suddenly her mother's words echoed in her head.

'You are not alone, and you'll never be...' . She smiled. Her mother was always right. She was not alone.

~(o-o)~

Zed opened the door of his room, and closed it with a sigh. Going to bed late so often was starting to take it's turn upon him. He stretched his arms above his head, and cracked a few knuckles, before turning his attention to his bed. However, something on his table atracted his attention. A small blue box, looking extremely familiar, lied on it. He picked it up, and opened it.

A round piece of wood, having familiar symbols on it's edges, had inside a stylized red dragon. Rising an eyebrow, he started going trough people who knew his birthday sign. Aside the master, he had found nobody whatsoever. And he was pretty sure the master wouldn't have gave him a gift without a special ocasion. Looking at the box again, he noticed a piece of paper he hadn't seen before. Putting the box and the charm down, and picking the paper, it was then clearly who had gave him this gift.

He smirked, and had to surpress his chuckles. He really didn't gave her enough credit. Letting out an amused sigh, he put the box along with the charm away.

''You're welcome.'' he said to nobody in particular, before he put the piece of paper back into the box.

~(o-o)~

The next day, while he was in the clearing, he had the pleasant surprise to see Akyo again. He was meditating as usual, when he heard rustling into the woods. He opened his eyes, and looked into the direction of the sound. Not long after, Akyo made her way out of the shadows. She greeted him with a smile, and made her way to him.

''Well,well,well. Look who finally decided to start training again.'' Zed teased, as Akyo rolled her eyes amusedly.

''Just so you know, I haven't been lazy all this time. You'd be surprised to see how much I've improved.'' she said, straghtening her back, and looking expectantly at Zed. He couldn't help but try to contain his laughter. Akyo couldn't help but fake a gasp, and give him a playful shove.

At this Zed dramatically put a hand over his heart, with a sadened look over his face.

''That hurt Akyo.'' he said, and Akyo had to roll her eyes again. She coudln't help but smile. How much she had missed him...

''So, why you stopped coming here?'' he said, all playfullness aside. He looked at her, as her face changed from happy, to slightly sadness. She let her head hung, while looking at the ground.

''Well, you see, the night mother died I had to make her a promise. I promised her that I wont give up fighting. I felt like I had to do this on my own.''

''So you started training on your own.'' Zed said.

''Y-you know that?'' she said a little surprised.

''Of course I know. Do you think I've let you alone all this time because of nothing?'' he said, while looking seriously at her. ''If you weren't doing a good job by yourself, I wouldn't have let you continue your 'solo' training.''

She made a small frown, before her face broke into a big cheshire grin.

''Oh, I see. So you started stalking me again?'' she said in a playfull tone. He shook his head amusedly at her sudden change in attitude.

''I'm glad you're back.'' he said looking at her. ''I admire you for recovering so fast after your loss.''

She turned her head, and looked at the grass, while a sadened smile crossed her lips.

''Mother used to say that those trully brave, are those who can face and conquer their emotions and fears.''

After she finished speaking a comforting silence filled the air. Suddenly Zed remembered something he had wanted to disscuss with Akyo for a long time.

''You know you are just...''

''One month away from my trial. I know...'' Akyo said, still looking at the ground. Suddenly she rised her eyes to look at Zed, and he could see fear in her eyes.

''I'm scared...'' she said. Zed frowned.

''Why are you scared?''

At this, she reached behind her neck, and unclasped the necklace she had hidden under her clothes. She put it in her palm,and showed it to Zed.

''This is something mother gave to me when she died. This necklace is the last 'heritage' to call it that way, shadow borns have. It had been passed from parent to children, from shadow born to shadow born for generations. When mother gave it to me, I understood that she wished that I could become the next shadow born. I'm scared I wont be able to fulfill this promise.''

''You're kidding me, right?'' Zed said. Akyo looked confusedly into his eyes, and saw the seriousness of his face.

''What?''

''How many times do I have to tell you? You're not going to fail that trial. I know you wont. You have improved in almost one year, how much others improve in ten. I trust you, your mother trusts you too. Why are you the only one having doubts about yourself?''

Akyo was stunned. She just looked in Zed's eyes, and stood there like an idiot. He trusted her. She knew he did, but hearing those words out of his mouth were a different story. It had been a mistake cutting off her training with Zed. It had been a mistake beeing away from him. He had changed her life completely since the day they met. Ever since that day, they met into the clearing, she changed. She wasn't so introverted, so closed in herself and scared. Whenever she was around him, she felt like she could move mountains, like the world wasn't so big and scary, and that she wasn't a total weakling.

He had been there, everytime she needed him. He had helped her, and expected nothing in return. Before she met him, she heard all kind of people talking about him, calling him emotionless, scarry and merciless. They were all wrong. He wasn't that way. She couldn't deny he was annoying,stubborn and extremely impatient. But he was also kind, friendly and somebody she could rely on. If she had her doubts before, concerning her feeling for this boy, all became clear now. She loved Zed with all her heart, and nothing was going to change that.

Out of the blue, she hugged him tighly. It wasn't long before Zed returned the gesture, and gave an inward sigh. She was probably the only person in this world, he had opened so much to. Around her he felt comfortable, like he was trully home, and it didn't mattered how he acted. She wasn't going to leave him.

He had been thinking ever since the Lunar Revel about his feelings, about her. About the fact that her smile relieved him, that her voice calmed him, and her eyes snoothed his mind. He hadn't mistaken when he said she was one of a kind. She was the only one that could make him show anykind of positive emotion. She was the light to his darkness. That night when he had found her 'little gift' on his bed, he couldn't help but look at the charm, while laying on his bed. It was then when it hit him. He had involuntarly fallen in love with her.

They let go of eachother, and looked into eachother's eyes.

''I can't thank you enough.'' Akyo said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Zed let out an amused 'hmph' and smiled.

''How about we start training again? You can thank me that way.''

She didn't needed to be told twice.

AN: BAM! Next chapter = TRIAL CHAPTEEER! Sorry, again for not updating sooner! I shall start working onto the emotional bomb! Until next time~