R e c a p

You think up a phrase, something you've pondered on forever. Thinking aloud, you murmur, "I don't deserve to live."

------------------------------

Sting grabs you by the collar, forcing you to look up at him. Instead of showing any emotion, you stare back at him with the emotionless eyes you'd inherited from Erebus Blood. Still with no sense of feeling, tears leak from your eyes.

"Y-you..." Sting looks at you, dumbfounded. He lets go of your collar, simply walking out before he says, "You've changed."

Without a second thought, you use a secret art you learned from Artemis, "Moon God Slayer Secret Art; Cunning Agility."

With a quick dash, you 'disappear' from the room by flashing through a wall. The constricting feeling in your chest returns, but you ignore it, bottling up your feelings to continue running. It's as if someone is watching you, but you make a run for the nearest place: an empty field where you used to train and hone your powers.

Why not bring back old memories? You ask yourself. Sitting down, cross legged, you close your eyes, remembering the tranquility training your masters gave you.

"Start by releasing as much magic energy as possible."

You can feel the wind whirling around you, spiraling away.

"Take that magic energy you've released, and manipulate it into power––make it forceful."

Focusing the energy, you can feel it almost harden in a shell around you. [1]

"Now conceal your presence, but turn the energy into your element."

Concentrating on the daylight, and the unseen moonlight, you find a balance between the two, shifting the forces back and forth around you. This is the farthest I've ever gotten... I can't stop now.

"Keep that energy going, but focus it into–"

And you fall. Panting heavily, you wipe your sweat, proud of your accomplishment. You lay there, staring up at the dawning sky.

"You seem more intimidating now." compliments a voice. Looking to the side, you see Rogue sitting down next to you. "In a good way, of course."

"Thanks, I guess." You say, readjusting your gaze back to the sky. Honestly, you state, "I haven't seen the stars in what feels like forever."

"Then I guess Sting has been wishing on them for what feels like forever." He looks at you, a curious look on his face. "You've changed since the last time I've seen you... Your presence here feels... really comforting, I don't know why."

"Nmm..." you slowly close your eyes, drifting off into a peaceful sleep.

-----

As (Y/N)'s eyes closed, Rogue chuckled and carried her, bridal style back to his guild. His comrades seemed a bit surprised at the girl's state, but excused it for her somehow serene aura. [2] Rogue slacked off once the door to Sting's room opened, and dropped her abruptly on his bed.

"She's your girlfriend, now do what you want." The shadow dragon slayer stated.

His guild master started to argue but stopped. "Why does it feel like she's radiating... happiness?"

Rogue didn't answer, he just said one thing before closing the door; "She's different now. In a really good way."

--------

Taking one last look at the paper, you put it down, went outside and proceeded to sit down on the soft grass. You didn't really mind that Rogue carried you off to Sabertooth, since you woke up when Sting had already left to do something.

One more time... And like before, you try enhancing your powers, keeping the work load heavy, and the burden pressured. The wind starts whirling, but the leaves and grass stay still. Taking deep breaths in between, you generate access energy, focusing it around you, creating an unbreakable barrier, and a tensive aura. [3] Just... keep... going...

Letting out a breath, you collapse into the ground, breathing heavily as you sweat.

-----

As (Y/N) trained outside, Sting was inside, staring at the paper.

The loneliest people are the kindest,
The saddest people smile the brightest,
And the most broken people are the wisest...
All because they do not wish their burdens upon others.

Focus, release, relax.
Create, then break, and remake.
You must become strong. You must prevail over all.
Protect, and lead. You have suffered, and will suffer the most of all.
And because of that, you must prevent others from walking the same path.

Focus on power.
Release your energy.
Then relax when you are done.
Return when you are strong enough to fight me. I will be waiting...

Do not lose your will.

–A.

Sting thought, Who's "A."? His mind immediately thought the worst. Could it be a former lover? He thought.Or is it a relative? He would have to ask her about this later... or not at all.

So, being the weirdo he was, he rushed off to find (Y/N).

Stepping into a small clearing behind his guild hall, Sting watched as (Y/N) continued to train until she dropped, conscious but sweating like mad. Once she stood up, Sting rushed over, and the poor moon god slayer was pulled into the white dragon slayer's kiss. Sting had never thought a kiss like this would be possible, being so... involved. "Since when did you train?" Sting asked after reluctantly pulling away.

"Since forever," said (Y/N) blatantly. "Besides, I thought you'd said I'd 'changed'."

"I-in a good way!" Sting said, a little too quickly. He thought for a moment before grabbing her hand, and asking, "Can we catch up a bit?"

She looked down, and Sting was relieved to see a dust of blush on her cheeks. "Sure."

The leaves that once swayed left now swayed right; the girl that had once wondered about her future now secretly pondered on death; and the girl's lover had stayed extremely concerned for the girl, constantly wanting to somehow comfort her mental state.

Things had changed.

The only question is...

For the better or for the worse?

A/N - I HAD NO IDEA WHAT I WAS WRITING. I LITERALLY HAVE NOTHING PLANNED.

[1] - Use your Nen, Gon–I MEAN (Y/N) [Hunter X Hunter]

[2] - Oh, look more Nen/Aura usage. [Hunter X Hunter]

[3] - I should really take a break from Hunter X Hunter.

Short-ish, but whatever.
~Em