Chapter 22

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Guess what!! If you haven't noticed yet...well, you have ten wonderful chapters to read and the story is now completed. Thanks  AcademyPrincess and consider our deal completed, muahahaha! And thank you for pushing me to write this and to just finish it already. So enjoy, comment, and let me know what you think. I'm looking forward to reading everyone's comments.

In one week, I wrote 14,756 words for you!!! Holy shit...I need a break. (This is also why Nomad hasn't been updated this week.)

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**| Past Sang's POV |**

We were in a clearing in the middle of a park, not many people around. Most were still in bed, only the joggers out.

I would be in bed too but my family went on a weekend trip and left me behind. I didn't mind being left behind, meant I could train more with North.

We eyed each other now.

I shifted, changing direction, and he copied me, waiting for me to make the first move. He always waited for me to make the first move.

I went in for the attack, aiming for what I deemed a weak spot. When I was within reach, North made his move which involved flipping me into the soft grass. I giggled at the move, finding the movement of the world hilarious.

North frowned down at me. "You're weird," he said

I took that as the compliment it was and got back to my feet, remembering the training our instructor, Rainor, instilled in us.

Last year, when we saw that performance, the fighters showing off their skills, I went in and talked to their instructor, somehow managing to talk him into letting us join.

And for free.

I think Rainor saw our wounds, knew we were hurt, and figured we were being bullied. He showed us a couple of moves then and there, and I loved every second of it. But he wouldn't take us in as students.

So I bugged him the only way a child could, with hopeful determination and puppy dogs eyes. All the times I used that look on North since meeting him was good practice.

I wore him down with North's help and he finally caved after two weeks of bugging him.

And then Rainor really trained us and I desperately took in every lesson he taught us.

Now, nearly a year later and I still wanted more. North and I were some of his best students. Then again, we had reason to be motivated. Our family liked to hurt us. But his lessons helped lessen the blows we received. We were still too small to defend ourselves but we could definitely protect the important parts of ourselves.

"Sang Baby?"

I smiled at North. "North Star?"

He snorted and we got back into position. The next half an hour was spent sparring. We practice our kicks, takedowns, breaking holds, and where to inflict the most pain. North learned early on to wear men's protective gear because we were also taught how to fight dirty, how to fight so that we could escape if we were ever in a situation that called for it.

Our instructor didn't normally teach kids some of the things he taught us but he was observant and deemed we were mature enough to learn and in enough danger to need to know.

When I managed to kick behind North's knee with enough pressure to bring him down but not cause any real damage, I rejoiced.

North was a big and had only gotten bigger over the couple years we knew each other. It seemed like every time we met up, he grew. He needed to stop. My neck was beginning to hurt from looking up at him whenever we were chest to chest.

When was I growing to grow taller too?

Finally, we both tired ourselves up, our muscles wonderfully sore. We settled on the grass, relearning to breathe. I looked over at North and grinned from ear to ear.

After a moment, he returned the smile, his eyes lighting up.

"What?" he asked.

"I like training," I said and turned to look up at the sky. "I like knowing I can protect myself, that if I ever need too, I can save myself. Or at least put up a good fight doing it. I feel...strong."

I looked back at North. His expression was soft as he stared at me. "I agree. I like knowing the same thing. And I like knowing that someday I will be able to protect you too."

His words warmed my face.

He wanted to protect me. I didn't tell him because I knew it would insult him, but I wanted to protect him too.

"North," a voice boomed and we both jerked up and turned towards it.

A man stalked towards us, his face twisted in rage. North stilled next to me and my heart pounded,

I recognized North's father now. I'd seen him a couple of times over the years. He was always such an angry man.

His eyes flickered to me and I held back a whimper. I could practically feel his need to hurt something, most likely me.

He never liked me for some reason. I think it's because of my father. The two of them knew each other through business.

"Let's go," he said as he towered over the two of us. "We need to go home. I can't believe you're fucking making me come all the way here to pick up your lazy ass."

I wanted to say something, my own anger rising. Why would he talk to his son like that? North shot me a warning, his expression telling me to remain silent.

He quietly got to his feet and his father grabbed his arm hard. North didn't react but I winced for him. He was going to bruise.

If I knew I could win, I would grab North's arm and yank him away from his father. But I wouldn't win. It would turn into a game of tug of war that would last as long as it took his father to pull him away from me.

His father pulled him further away and my fingers dug into the ground as if I needed to hold onto the ground to keep myself from running after them. It hurt to see North being treated like that. He was the kindest soul I knew.

This wasn't fair.

All that strength and confidence I felt from sparring melted away as I watched North disappear from my sight.

I was still too young.


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