A Piece Of My Past

It fell silent, feeling him behind me. I bowed my head and clenched my fists, letting the tears fall.

" That was your brother, he nearly killed me in front of everyone. " I choked out, my body trembling.

" You think I planned this, don't you Nikku? " he asked bitterly.

" I don't know who is at fault anymore! " I screamed turning around to face him.

Even though the tears were blurring my vision I could see as his eyes widen. I should have been ashamed for showing a demon how vulnerable I was, if he used it against me I would let him. His eyes softened and I tried to turn away but a soft, gentle hand held onto my arm and before I could even breath his lips were on my forehead and I was wrapped in his massive chest. I was so shocked by the gesture that I wanted to pull away but before I could my head decided to speak.

' Don't push him away Nikku, he may very well be your salvation. You don't need to push everyone away, just because you lost Asika and the others ' it said.

' But what would that mean for my future as a Hashira? What good would putting my faith and trust and even love to a demon? I'll just be hurt and betrayed, thats the only thing that will happen from opening up to him. ' I asked trying to find some kind of reason to keep my heart locked off from the world.

' Let them go, Nikku. You couldn't have saved them, they were past saving. You need to let them go. ' it said too soft and gentle.

I was made of glass, glass that was breaking very slowly.

I was launched back in time when I was friends with demons, when I never questioned my loyalty towards demons, and when I never knew demons would be what I hunted in the future..

I was in the mustang again, my friends who were indeed demons and humans, together, and happy at that. We were heading back from the party, the others were drunk but I wasn't. We walked through a back road surrounded by trees. After my parents died I was left alone but Asika's parents were very close to ours so they took me in. Me and Asika had grown very close and I viewed her as my sister and we even had matching sister necklaces. Her parents let her do anything she wanted and they let me as well so we decided we would go partying.

I wasn't paying attention, but Asika was. We were all laughing and talking when someone appeared in the middle of the road. Asika squinted to see what or who it was so she could ask what it was doing in the middle of the road. She walked up to him but when I tried to protest, she waved me off. I could feel that something wasn't right and I hushed the others so I could strain to hear what she was saying. Then out of nowhere a second one appeared beside the other one out of thin air. Asika stumbled back and she only had time to scream before a hand sliced through her throat.

"No! " my voice screamed tears coming down in waves.

In their sadness and fury two more of my friends charged at the two. They stood no chance as the two lunged quicker than lightning. Kate was pierced through the skull and Ryan was impaled through the stomach.

They now prowled towards us now and I took all I had to keep me from bolting through the forest and into the familiar alleys of the city that was just a block away. Now that they were getting closer I could see them better.

One was tall and had red eyes and jet black hair. His mouth was that of a laughing hyena. He prowled forwards and Lily and Kyle shuffled in the deep mud trying to put some distance between them and the ever nearing demons. The second demon was blurry but then I recognized him. Those blue eyes, white hair and wings. I scrambled to my feet and stood even though the fear was consuming me and even though I knew how this would end. I stood in front of my last remaining friends and looked the demon in the eyes. He continued to prowl closer and closer but I planted my feet and stood my ground.

" What a brave little creature, you are. " Shokan muttered, amused.

" Stay away from my friends! " My child voice screamed.

" How cute, the little hashira protecting her demon and human friend. Whats your name child? " the red eyed demon said not even three feet away.

"Asahi Fenikkusu. Now, step back." I yelled.

They only got closer and closer to my friends

"Don't hurt them, take me instead! " I screamed through tears.

" No, Nikku! " Kyle and Lily screamed in unison.

" Take me. Take me and let them go! " I yelled again.

" Oh, little human you all saw us attack so you all must die. " Shokan said now inches from my face running his finger along my bottom jaw and then wrapping his hand around my throat. Even though I knew this was a memory I tried to change what I was doing but I did the same thing I did back then.

" Run! " I managed to choke out.

Kyle and Lily took off and ran as fast as their legs could carry them.

" Kill them. " he said to the other demon. The other demon flew through the air at incredible speed towards my fleeing friends.

" No! " I screamed thrashing and clawing. Then something burned on my torso and I screamed with renewed rage. I reached out with my hands that were red with small flames that engulfed my small hands. I reached out and clutched at Shokan's arm that was around my neck.

My flames spread over his arm and he released me. I had no time to catch my breath survival was all I was thinking of at the moment. I wanted to go back and fight him, I wanted to claw his eyes out, I wanted to avenge Asika, but this was a memory and I couldn't control what would happen.

I took off slipping and sliding in the slick mud while trying to follow my friends.

I ran so fast, so hard, and I still wasn't fast enough.

I squeaked as I saw the demon who now had a hold of Lily.

I choked on my tears as I heard lily beg and plead.

" Please, I won't tell anyone I promise. I'm sorry. " She cried.

The demon laughed like it was just a game that he was playing. He knew he was winning and that made him even more scary.

Without another thought the demon bit into Lily's throat and tore it out. Blood splattered on the nearby tree and I had to bite my lip to keep from screaming. I knew the familiar iron taste and knew that my lip was split open.

The demon threw Lily's limp body to the ground as if it was nothing. It ran through the forest quickly catching up with Kyle and I ran after him my body so heavy but moving as if it was made of air. I caught up with him quickly. I lunged at the demons back but he smelled me and turned around catching me by my throat and chucking me into a tree and crashing to the ground.

My hands managed to pick me up off the ground Adrenaline rushing through my veins as I ran at the demon. My eyes were burning weather it was becuase The eyes were wide but then he countered my fire with a punch to my face.

My nose cracked and I screamed. Another punch to my stomach knocking my breath out and another punch to my jaw bone. I was on the floor but instead of dealing with me he went for Kyle. I grabbed the demons ankle willing the flames to come out but they didn't come and that earned me a deep gash on my thigh from his jagged claws.

" You little pest, I'll deal with you after I kill this boy. " He smiled showing rows of razor sharp teeth.

I climbed to my feet again and the demon roared in annoyance.

" How many times do I have to hit you for you to stay down? " it hissed.

" I will never stay down." I screamed as I bolted past him to Kyle.

I yanked Kyle to his feet and half dragged him as we ran through the woods and towards the city. At first I only heard one set of footsteps but as we were halfway to the city a second set joined the first. I risked a glance back and sure enough Shokan was also chasing us. I picked up my speed and Kyle stumbled trying to keep pace.

" Come on hurry up, Kyle " I yelled.

" I'm trying! " He yelled back.

" You can't run forever hashira! " Shokan yelled.

" We can't outrun them, Asahi! " Kyle yelled.

" We don't have to outrun them we just need to get to the city where people are! " I yelled as the lights of the city became closer and brighter.

" I won't make it! I will slow you down, Asahi! " Kyle yelled stumbling and falling. I yanked him up again and sprinted again the city's border so close.

The footsteps were so close now and I ran faster even as Kyle stumbled to keep pace.

" I won't leave you! " I screamed.

" You're getting tired little girl, you're not going to make it! " The red eyed demon yelled as he lunged. He nearly got hold of Kyle's shirt sleeve but came up short as I sped up.

The city was now fully visible and I was almost there when Shokan caught up and grabbed hold of Kyle, jerking him out of my grip. Kyle landed on his knees and I looked back to see that Kyle's face was serene. He knew he was going to die and would take it without fighting. His face was peaceful as Shokan plunged his hand into his skull. Kyle slumped to the ground and I screamed at the demons I screamed at fate, I screamed at all the things I lost today, I screamed for Asika, I screamed and began to fracture like glass.

Then I was running again. In the memory I was running not for survival but to make it safely so my friends deaths wouldn't be in vain. I went into a full sprint barreling into the lightly crowded streets of the city. The last part of the memory before the memory skipped ahead was looking back at a furious Shokan. The memory skipped and zoomed and stopped when I was taken in my Basu.

" I am so sorry about your friend's little one, but now you have a reason to fight. You can become a Hashira the mark is there. It's your mark. " he said.

" My sister Asika, she's back there, they killed her. She had on a necklace, the other half of this. " I cried holding up my half heart necklace.

" I'm sorry little one, her body was gone when we got there but the demon responsible left this behind. " He said holding the bloodied necklace.

I cried out as I clutched her half of the necklace in my hands. Bosu held me close to his chest in the memory. I didn't know the memory had faded until I could control my body again and looked to find myself not in Bosu's arms but Asaki's. I leaned in letting the tears wash over me and for the first time since that day I let a demon get close and hold me tightly.