catch up.

" Hey Ean "

Shu said, looking at Ean who was sitting in front of him on a wooden and small chair.

His eyes were cold and his expression was void of emotion, he had a scar on his right cheek, and bandages covering his left eye

" Hello Shu "

He replied, as the two just sat there awkwardly, Shu didn't feel the need to apologies for what happened before, and neither did Ean

" What happened to your eye? "

Shu questioned making Ean sigh a little whilst leaning back a bit, thinking about what to say just to nod to himself before looking Shu straight in the eye

" I forgot "

He replied, making Shu smile a little as he would then stand up, stretching his hand out to him

" I missed you bro "

Shu said just for Ean to smile in return, grabbing onto Shu's hand, both of them standing up immediately and hugging each other with one arm

" I missed you too "

Ean replied patting Shu's back while he did the same; the two stayed like that for a few seconds before backing away, staring at one another

" Wanna go out for a walk? "

Shu asked just to receive a small nod from Ean who decided to take the initiative and walk out of the living room, into the road that connect all entrances of the houses and other entrances in the small village

" So what did you do when you were out? "

Shu questioned, walking out of his small house, slowly closing the door behind him to then walk beside Ean

" I fought a lot, my wife and son got attacked everyday so I couldn't sleep much, I built a strong sense of awareness due to my lack of sanctuary energy "

Ean explained, as Shu just scratched the back of his head a little, looking up at the blue sky which was once covered by an alien invasion

" You must've gotten your sanctuary energy back right? I wouldn't be able to tell, as I am right now I can't sense anything, I can't even generate a shield of sanctuary energy; and if I force myself too much, I might just make my current situation worse "

Shu explained just to be stared at by Ean who would then turn his attention to a few people pulling out some potatoes off of the ground

" You have it bad, but knowing you you'll find a way to get through it, right? "

Ean said trying to encourage his old friend just for Shu to smile a little

" Maybe, maybe not, I'm not sure, I feel empty for some reason, like I'm missing something "

Shu gripped his hands into fists, curling them tight whilst attempting to use his sanctuary energy once again

" Have you ever felt like your sanctuary energy is just clustered up, stuck in one place and you can't get it to move? "

Shu questioned as Ean just smiled a bit, looking back at his younger self, thinking of the question Shu had just asked him for a few seconds

" Yes, before meeting you and before taking that sword my sanctuary energy has always been stuck in place, the sword you gave me helped me release it "

Ean said as Shu smiled in return, patting his friend's back, proceeding to spread his arms wide yawning out to the air.

As these two talked, Ayami and Petra decided to catch up.

The two women were in the kitchen, Petra was sitting down, looking at Ayami who was preparing some tea; the steam coming off of the tea she was making sent out a nice scent, which Petra complimented with a small nod and smile.

" Here it is, hopefully it isn't too sweet "

Ayami whispered slowly carrying the tea over to Petra who gladly took it, bringing it to her mouth, and taking a sip of it, getting a small look from Ayami, basically asking her if it was any good

" It's perfect "

She replied making Ayami smile in return, as she would then take a sip of the tea herself

" Well, I doubt your lives were any good throughout the invasion, so I won't mention anything related but, is your son well? Are you well? "

Ayami questioned with visible concern in her eyes and face, but also a hint of interest and curiosity

" I'm well, my son almost got killed but he's also well, but as for my husband—- he's physically okay, mentally he has become rather stiff "

Petra replied which Ayami open her eyes up a little, finding that somewhat interesting

" Well my husband has become more open since the invasion, although he isn't like he was when he was younger he's better than before; not that Ean isn't any good, but— "

" I know what you mean, so don't worry about it— let's talk about something else besides our husband, yeah? "

Petra questioned, to which Ayami nodded, completely agreeing, they both knew that if the conversation went as it was already going it'd become awkward

" I've always wondered, since you're a swordsman, is it possible for you to train me? When the invasion came I wasn't able to fight due to my lack of good martial arts knowledge, I'm rather strong when it comes to the use of my wind but without it I'm pretty weak "

Ayami explained, receiving small nods from Petra who was slowly but steadily drinking her tea, finding it very pleasing to the tongue

" So just in case something like this happens again, can you train me? "

Ayami added, as Petra simply placed her cup of tea down on the kitchen table

" Of course, but you'd have to ask Ean for some pointers too; although I have more experience in swordsmanship than he does, he quickly surpassed my level "

Petra said, receiving a small look from Ayami, which basically translated to her needing Petra to drink her tea a little faster

" How about we go to our small garden after we finish with this tea? I've been growing some plants whilst reconstituting "

Ayami suggested, getting a small nod and quiet laugh from Petra.