The Stars Of The Past

*Two Years Later*

I stared down at my target from my perch up top a roof.
The icy wind howled its thirst for blood. The element danced and whipped through my hair, sending the black strands flying. My stilted eyes followed the movement of the person below me. He thought he was being clever.
Sticking to the many shadows that the alley way offered to him. Looking this way and that.
But never looking in the direction where the real danger was.
Up.

I watched silently as my target turned down yet another darkened alleyway and disappeared from my sight. I straightened from my perch and leaped, sailing off the roof and landing on the next one. I leaped from roof to roof as I followed after the man. He suddenly stopped in the alleyway and looked around him. Searching...
Searching...
But not finding.
Up, he never looked up.

He lifted his arm up once he was sure that nobody would pay him a glance and placed the palm of his hand against the alley's wall.

Without a sound or a flash of Magic light, the alleyway brick wall disappeared.
I smiled.
The man stepped through and almost immediately the brick wall closed again.
Impossible for me to even get close.
So that's where you all have been hiding.
I sat back on my hunches.
I would just have to wait for my prey to come back.
With an annoyed sigh I laid down on my back and stared up at the stars that glittered and shined above me.

I let my mind wander, until I was lost in a daydream.
Flashes.
Flashes of colors, symbols, blossoms blooming, a towering building that felt like home.
A bright smile, warmer then the sun, shining eyes greener than the grass itself.

How I missed-

I jerked, ripping myself away from the dreaded images. Laughter still rang in my ears, I shook my head to get rid of it.
Sometimes, I thought about them. I rarely allowed myself to think about him. If I did...then I would feel again. All those horrid emotions would come flooded back. They would overpower and overwhelm the iron lock I had over them. I couldn't allow myself to do that.

I had a job to do after all.

But on nights like these, when the stars were shimmering as they danced overhead, I would look up at them, and I would allow myself to feel. If only just for one moment...I would allow the subdued emotions to conquer.

So, when I looked up at the stars that night, I wondered if my Guild Mates were staring up at the same stars, Wondering, waiting, missing me, as much as I missed them. Are they dancing for you, too?

I bolted upright when I heard footsteps coming from the alleyway below. I looked over the side of the roof and a smile split my lips when my eyes caught sight of the man exiting from the wall. My eyes locked onto his slightly shaking hands. He was holding some sort of Magic using device.
It radiated power.
Mine.

The man's name was Aki Go. He used to work for the Dark Wizard Master or Raiden as I had known him. Nowadays he was just a low life who bought and sold illegal Magic devices.

But, I have heard people talking that he was building something from those devices. It was no secret that Aki had it out for Fairy Tail and the other Magic using Guilds. He might be building something to take out the Light Guilds that he loathed so much.

I was here to stop that from happening.

Swiftly I stood up and threw myself from the roof. The wind whooshed in my ears as my body sliced through the air. Without a sound I landed in front of the man, my cloak settling behind me, and I blocked the only exit.

My prey, trapped.

I slowly stood up from my crouched position and stared at the man from beneath my hood. The man slowly backed away from me and raised his shaking hands in the air. His eyes were already bright with fear.

I chuckled and withdrew my dagger from its place on my belt. It gleamed in the little light that the moon offered as I brought it to eye level.

You mess with the Guilds,
than you mess with me.

He opened his mouth.
I flung my dagger.
A scream filled my ears that cut off abruptly.
Thump

When I had removed my dagger, and cleaned the blood off the blade, I made my way out of the alley that was now a murder scene. I made sure my hood was up before I walked out.
No witnesses.
I sighed as I put my dagger back in its place behind my cloak. There was nothing wrong with this new blade, it just wasn't meant for me. I missed my twin daggers. I missed how right they felt in my hands. But, I had given my necklace to him. Sometimes, without thinking, I would reach up and try to grab my necklace for comfort. A pang of sadness would always hit me when I touched the new necklace that now decorated my neck.

I was reminded of that horrible day whenever my fingers ghosted over the chain.

As I crossed the dark and deserted street I heard a young girl scream. I blinked and looked over my shoulder. My eyes searched the dark streets until they locked onto three large forms and a smaller one. I narrowed my eyes, starting to take in what I was seeing. A pretty young girl was being pushed up against a building by three guys. Even from here my ears could pick up their rude remarks. They were calling her pathetic and saying nasty things about her.
The small girl has tears in her eyes.
She looked helpless.
Lost, even.

I looked up to the stars with a sigh.
More work for me, eh?
I took in a annoyed breath and crossed the street once again. My boots made no sound on the sidewalk as I made my way over to her and her problems. I quietly walked past them. Not one of them even looked up.
Mistake.
Swiftly my hand shot out and wrapped around the first guy's throat. I put a little pressure and he was down before he could blink.

With a shout, the second man turned around, his eyes darted to his friend who lay unconscious at my feet. Then to me.
I kicked out and the bottom of my foot hit the second guy in the center of his stomach. The guy doubled over with a groan, causing the last of the men to look over in alarm. I lashed out at the last guy and punched him in the throat. I straightened, just as the guy fell-unconscious- to the dirt. I brought up my arm and brought my elbow down into the seconds guy's back. As he finally went down, I turned to face the young girl, who had been standing there as if frozen. She was younger than I had previously thought.

Her cheeks were rosy from crying. Her eyes shined with her tears that were still overflowing. She had her small arms wrapped around her petite body. As if this would protect her and keep her from falling apart.

I took pity on her.
I carefully made my way over to her. I didn't want to scare her further. I would have to treat her as if she were a frightened animal. I stood before her with my hood still covering my face. She looked up, her eyes seeming to find my own, and without warning, wrapped her skinny arms around me.

I was so surprised that I didn't have anytime to ward off her advance. I stiffened and stayed perfectly still in her grasp. I could break out of her weak hold if I wished. However...I stayed in her arms. It had been so long since I had had the comfort of another living person near me. Holding me.
If only she knew who she really was hugging.
Killer.
After a moment, I turned away, and her arms fell away to lay limply at her sides.

I looked at her for a moment longer. She will be alright.
I stalked off as thunder boomed above.
"T-thank you..." My steps halted at the small whimper of gratitude. I slowly turned around, my eyes flashing in the street lamp, the only source of light we had. I didn't speak a word to her. So instead I raised my hand in the air and flicked my wrist, indicating that I had heard her. I began walking again, the shadows of the alley offering its protection.

"W-who are y-you?" Once again my feet stopped working and my eyes drifted shut. Who am I? I didn't have an answer for that. I glanced over my shoulder at the young girl and paused.

She...looked so familiar. Her dark green hair that looked almost black seemed to be streaming like ribbons in my minds eye.
The girl's attire consisted of a brown cowboy looking hat and she had two Magic using pistols in her brown boots.
She has had weapons all this time?
I nodded my head at them, a question reflecting in my eyes. She seemed to get what I was asking and also looked down at them with a fond expression.

"I didn't use them because I can't stand to see people hurt...especially if I am the cause of that pain."
I understand.
I blinked and our eyes locked. Her eyes, the color of a deep purple, bore into me.

So familiar...

With a huff I begun to walk away. I needed to leave.
To clear my mind.
To leave this girl, with the familiar air to her, far behind me.
"My name is Asuka!"
I jerked, my eyes widening, my heart stuttering.
I whipped around, my eyes latching back onto the young girl that just shook my world.

She...was Asuka.
Asuka Connell.
My, have you grown.
I gritted my teeth as my heart gave a painful throb. One of my Guild Mates was here.
So close.
So far.
Not good.
I spun on my heel as thunder boomed and cracked along the suddenly greying sky.

I rounded a corner just as lighting flashed, chasing away the shadows.
The rain began to fall. The little icy droplets slid down my exposed skin. Making a wet trail down my forehead, cheeks, and dripping off my chin. I ignored the rain.
Disappear.
Just like the raindrops.
I heard her call out for me but I kept walking.
Get away.
Questions raced through my mind as I hurried on, keeping my cloak close to me.

Was she alone?

Who else was here with her?

What if she saw my face?

Would she recognized me?

Its been so long since she saw me last.

Will she tell the others?

Were their others here?

I hurried down the dark street as more of the hellish rain fell from the sky. In moments I was drenched and shivering.
I hope Asuka found shelter.
I titled my head up and looked at the still glittering stars that were battling to keep their shine against the rain.
The past was catching up to me in the form of dancing stars.
*
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The past is catching up faster then Freya can run.
What more do the stars of the past have to offer?
I dedicate this chapter to Sedieda
Thank you for voting, commenting, and reading!