A while later, well, a rather long while later, just as the sun hit its highest point in the sky and not single speck of white tampered with the bright blue surrounding it, Kagami was bolting down the dirt road in front of her. With every step she took, her wooden sandels clapped against the ground in a fast rythm that couldn't be broken.
"I'm late! I'm late! I'm late!" She snapped at herself, holding a bag of large red apples in her arms. She stumbled a little as she turned a corner, her long messy green hair flying all around her. She just had to put her head down and rest for five minutes. Well those five minutes turned into several hours.
She slowed down just as she came to a large fire pit on a corner. In front of the burning embers and smoke that rose up slowly, a wooden stand with bread stood with an elderly woman sitting in a rocking chair behind it.
"Madame Gure!" Kagami shouted, stumbling up to the woman. She gently set the apples down before putting her hands on her knees with heavy panting. "I... have... mom... bla..." She inhaled as deep as she could, standing up straight. She let the air slowly release from her lungs as she pushed some hair behind her small ears. She went to speak only to have Gure's grey eyes open up wide and stare at her.
"You're late." She spat out, her eyes narrowing a bit as she leaned forward. Her chair creeked just a bit from the change in position and different weight distrabution before it went silent again.
Kagami gave a faint chuckle, smiling wide as she rubbed the back of her head with her eyes shut. Her pale skin made her light brown clothes seem like they were the darkest color ever. "Yea, I know. But I brought you two extra apples!" She reached down, picking up the sack of apples and holding it out. "Two extra apples and you don't tell mom about this."
In an instant, the heaviness in Kagami's arms vanished as the old woman in grey started to dig through the red fruits. She began to pull a few out, sniffing and licking them. While Kagami stood there, a smile slowly forming, Gure munched down on one. The sound of teeth tearing into the skin followed by a crisp chop only made Kagami smile more.
"You're pardoned." She munbled with a mouth full. With the apple in hand, she pointed back to the blazing embers. "On the right, your mother's pots, bowls, and all that is fired and done." She took another bite of the apple. "And her bread she asked for is wrapped up in the cloth from the apples she gave me before."
Gure, as most people from Vytal would say, even though she was up in her age, was known as the on and only Fire Lady. Anything you wanted to be done with blazing heat, she was the go to person. She had been doing it for as long as she could remember. Her mother had taught her, who's mother had taught her and so on. The ways of fire were passed down in her family for generation. And always in this exact spot. The only problem was that she was never able to bare a child herself.
"Thanks, Madame Gure." Kagami skipped around the stand. "But all mom wants right now is dad's tea cup and the bread. I'll come back for the other stuff later." She flashed a smile, looking back at the woman as she starting eating yet another apple. "Don't you be trading her stuff. She nearly cried when you accidentally gave one of her tea pots away."
"Oh don't you worry." She waved her off. "I'm not that old yet." She blinked a few times, smiling as she tapped her chin. "Or maybe I am?" She looked over at Kagami, leaning back in her chair as it squeaked. "I don't particularly remember what I put in the bread your mother asked for."
With a faint chuckle, the young girl walked back towards the stand. In her right hand she held a small pottery cup which had perfection screaming from it. Her other hand held a loaf of bread, gently wrapped up in a brown cloth that hugged it.
"Well, I guess if I don't wake up from poison tomorrow, I'll know who to blame." She started to walk away as the older woman gave a soft laugh. She then glanced back. "Later Madame Gure!"
"Take care, Kagami!" Gure waved at her, smiling gently as she finished her second apple.
That was how days normally went on Vytal. Happy people with friendly conversation. Kagami loved it. Everyone was always so nice and caring.
It was a shame all those smiling memories were about to be torn away.
The young girl froze, blinking a few times as she heard a loud thud coming from behind her. As she glanced back, she saw the one thing she couldn't care less for.
An Atlas soldier was leaning onto Gure's bread stand, swaying a bit from side to side. By the looks and the smell of it, it was completely obvious the man had been drinking something that intoxicated him. Even if it was used as a drink on Vytal, Kagami could tell what liquor smelled like from the years she spent watching these intruders.
"Ya know," The man let out a loud burp, leaning closer towards the old woman who simply scooted away. "General Jim really likes this spot. It's in the center of the whole damn island." He gave a weak chuckle, coughing a bit as he trailed off. "Bet I'd get a good raise if I got ya to hand it over. I'm sick and tired of this stinkin' private rank." He started to nudge a piece of bread. "So why don't ya just move right along?"
Gure narrowed her eyes a little, gulping faintly. "I have worked here my entire life. You cannot just take it from me."
"Like hell I can't." His eyes narrowed as he gripped the edge of the wood. "You either move yourself, or I move ya!" He snapped, only to freeze and look over at the jade haired girl setting the cup and bread down.
"Why don't you pick on someone your own size?" She could be scolded later, but Kagami wasn't about to watch these so called men terrorize her people. Even if she felt like an outcast around them, she loved them. She wasn't going to stand for this any longer.
The soldier smirked, standing up straight as he stunbled towards her. "And what's a little skinny thing like yourself gonna do-" He stopped himself, givig off a loud groan as he dropped down to his knees. Both his hands were cupped around his crotch as he hunched over.
Kagami was breathing heavy as she stumbled back. What did she just do? She just kicked someone as hard as she could. Her eyes slowly went wide as she glanced up at Gure who was staring back with just as wide eyes and a hand over her mouth. As she started to slowly back away, the soldier stood up with a deep groan.
"Why you little..." He flashed his teeth, glaring with one eye shut. Anger was boiling up inside him, on the verge of exploding. Unluckily for Kagami, just seeing her flicked the switch that set off the explosion inside him.
As Kagami looked away from the elderly woman who was now running as fast as she could away, she felt a armored covered fist drive right under her chin. She groaned heavily and shut her eyes, tasting iron in her mouth as she landed on her back with a grunt. When her eyes opened again, she gave off a scream as a boot came crashing down onto her stomach. As it was lifted away, she rolled over onto her side and curled up. She coughed heavily, both her arms wrapping around her stomach tight.
"You'll pay for that. Ya little bitch." The soldier mumbled as Kagami heard the sound of a sword being drawn. A second later, she felt pain far beyond what she ever imagined.
With the first slash, it took her a second or two to realize that metal had just cut into the skin on her back. After that, she cried out and rolled onto her stomach. She went to push herself up, feeling the blade glide across her skin like a knife through melted butter. She let out a piercing scream, her head slamming into the ground as she felt tears streaming down her face.
The third of fourth swipe of the sword were even worse. All she could do both times was let out a pained cry. With the fifth, she started to whimper like a cowaring dog who had just been hit for doing something wrong. She started to move her arms forward, her hands trembling like made as she tried to crawl away.
She stopped quickly though as she felt another deep gash form across her back. Her body just laid there, shaking terribly as she started to sob. At the moment, she just wished she would die. This feeling, this terrible pain that wouldn't go away, she couldn't take it. She felt the blade cut across her skin once more then heard the rushing of footsteps followed by the sound of metal punching metal.
"What in Remnant's name are you doing, private?!" A female voice snapped, slightly winded. As Kagami slowly moved her head to look up, her vision blurred from tears, she saw a woman soldier with long orange hair.
"C-Captain Caesar," The soldier mumbled, his hand over his now cracked helmet. "She attacked first. I was teachin' her a lesson and-" He was cut off, Julia Caesar's fist slamming into his helmet again, causing another crack.
"You reek of alcohol, private!" She snapped, grabbing his sword and taking it as she shoved him away. "We are here to get these people to cooperate, not torture them!" Her jaw clenched. "And I am not having scum like you under my watch!" She pointed away. "Now get out of my sight, civilian." She spat out the last word as the he stumbled away.
She glared at him as he slowly vanished. Afterwards, she quickly looked down at Kagami, holding out a hand. "Hey kid, you alright?" She started to fade from Kagami's sight. "Kid..." Her voice trailed off as everything went black.
A little over a day later, Kagami's eyes slowly started to flutter open. She groaned heavily, placing her palms face down as she went to push herself up. She then stopped, feeling a hand on her head.
"Shhh," Midori's gentle voice filled the silent room which was scented with candles. "Just relax." By the sound of it, even though it was soft and caring, Kagami could tell that her mother was exhausted.
"Mom..." Kagami groaned out, once again trying to move but unable to do so. Her body was burning everywhere.
"Shhh." Her mother repeated, looking into her daughter's eyes with great worry. "I know, it hurts. Just bare through it." She ran her fingers through the light green and wavy hair of her daughter's. "It'll be over soon. I promise. I put some cream on it to numb the pain."
"But... mom..." She groaned again, pushing her face into her bed as her mother cupped her cheek, slowly rubbing her thumb across her face.
"Shhh, Kagami, shhh." Midori slowly pulled her hand away as it trailed down Kagami's arm amd gripped her hand. "You need your rest. Now."
"But... mom..." Her hand slowly started to grip her mother's weakly. "I... kicked... him..."
With a sigh, she nodded back. "I know. And I know it hurts really bad right now. Swords can sting pretty badly." She mumbled, gripping her daughter's hand tighter.
"He... Madame... Gure..." She gulped, clenching her eyes shut tight.
"I know sweetie." Mirdori gulped back, pulling her hand away. "You're a fighter. You were born a fighter. You can't sit back and watch something injust. It's just who you are."
Kagami let out a small groan, slowly opening her eyes to stare at her mother. "I... kicked... him... what... what... happens... now...?" He took her forever to speak. She even got winded just trying to say that one sentence.
"You can't stay here." Her mother spoke quickly before going into a much softer tone. "For you're safety... you can't stay. Those soldiers will only cause you more trouble and the people here will treat you like you don't exist. Your father has already forbidden himself from even coming into your presence." She took a deep breath, sighing as her shoulders dropped. "You have to leave."
She blinked slowly before trying to push herself up, failing completely. "I-I can't... leave... you..." She groaned again, her eyes swelling with tears from fear and pain.
"You have to." She repeated. "For your safety." Her voice began to crack as she choked down tears. "If you... if you won't, I'll make you. You would be better off in Vale. Even if I never see you again... you would be safer there."
"Mom..." She trailed off, feeling her mother's hand press against her cheek and rub it. "I won't..."
"You will." Midori pulled back, reaching down to grab something off the floor. "And since now couldn't be a worse time..." She held up what people not born on Vytal would call a hoodie. A dark green hoodie with a strange white circle on the back filled with markings on the inside. "My mother gave me this when I was younger. It's your's now." She folded it up, placing it next to Kagami's head. "It will keep you warm in the coldest conditions and also keep you cool in the burning sun. It's also very durable." She smiled, struggling to keep the tears from falling down her face. "Now rest. When your wounds are healed, you are leaving. Without me. I have duties here I have to keep to."
"No..." Kagami tried to move again, wincing in pain. "I... I won't... leave... y-you..."
"But you will." She stood up, turning away. "It's for the better Kagami. I'll explain why when you are just a little better. Just rest for now. And remember... you were born a fighter."
"But... mom..." She groaned again, her body giving out as she laid on her bed.
"I will force you if I have to. You can't swim. I will put you on a boat without a paddle, and push you off towards Vale." Her jaw clenched as she wiped her eyes. "I've seen you holding out your hand to the slim part of the land that you can see from here. I know you want to go there. And... you will." Her voice cracked again as she walked out, Kagami's vision fading.