The Main Guards

Chapter one - Ash

"Fucking Hell." I mutter, stumbling over my damn shoe laces again. I reach down to them and pull. As if hoping that maybe pulling on them hard enough will rip them...but it doesn't as per usual. I roll my eyes and continue down the hill. I take another slow step down the hill to the small hollow Grey and I use for sparring. I smile to myself, knowing that I've beaten him for the first time in years. 

This has been something we've done for the past seven years, our small ten-year-old selves fumbling around in the hollow when we started. It was simply something that to pass the time here and stay in shape. Whoever got there first was safe from conditioning, instructing the other through whatever type of Hell was decided upon. I turn in a circle, remembering when we were younger, back to the simpler times when the only things that mattered were receiving good marks and nabbing food from the market on my way back to the house. 

A loud noise pulls me out of my thoughts and I turn around, hand finding its way to my chest as my heart speeds up. What a surprise,  he wanted to scare the hell out of me, he beat me here, again. Grey's eyes narrow in my direction as a smirk forms on his lips. "You didn't really think that you beat me, did you?"

I bristle, my brow dropping with a glare. "A girl can dream, can't she?"

He has the audacity to laugh at me, head falling back slightly with the action. "Not here they don't."

My frown deepens. "The Main government can't get inside my head, they've already taken everything else."

Grey sighs heavily. "Let's just spar, we don't have long to get ready for tomorrow." 

I give him a curt nod, throwing a hand in his direction as we begin. He jabs his right hand toward my chest as if to knock me back and I counter by swinging my left arm out to block his punch. I twist around his outstretched fist and slam my elbow into his back, knocking him down as he swipes his ankle around mine and struggles to remain on top. I get my legs under me and thrust up, tipping and spilling Grey on my left side. I flip over and stand up fast, arms up, Grey will make the first move. He always does, and when he moves I can make sure to block and drop him. His hand juts out in a left hook and my right hand reaches around his arm, pulling. He lands flat on his ass, I take a hand wrap it around his throat, with one hand poised behind his head, keeping him in the head lock.

"Fine, I cede." Grey mutters with a frown. I take a long look at him and back up.

"I think I'm getting better, fuck I don't know." I murmur casting my eyes downwards. Grey stands stiffly and puts a hand on my shoulder.

"You are, I see it, but you have to believe you can do it because if you don't, you won't ever see it. Trust me as your very best, and very sexy, friend, you are getting better." Grey shoots me a smirk then purses his lips, as I just shake my head, a small smile forming on my face. 

"I have to get home, Nyx can't cook and Kairi is too frustrating to teach." I say in a rush, just remembering myself, that I have a useless older brother and a whiny but lovable younger sister. Grey just nods. "See you tomorrow, good luck and be safe." I say slowly hugging Grey tight, knowing that this could be the last time we ever see each other because tomorrow is the draft and he could be ripped from his family and I in order to protect some prissy, rich Main family. Or if he is really unlucky, the president's family.

~~~ 

 When I arrive home, my brother is yelling and my sister is squealing with laughter. I smile ruefully, and open the door. Nyx is on top of the couch a pillow in each hand, ready to be thrown at Kairi who is behind the cabinet next to the door. Kairi pokes her head up and yells, "I am not deterred easily, I will conquer the tower." She giggles and ducks down again, two small pillows in her hands. 

"Alright, you win." Nyx says with a mischievous gleam in his eyes, "I am dropping my weapons." He drops one pillow and shoves the other up the back of his shirt, slowly getting down and padding over to the cabinet. He inches around and pulls out the pillow, whacking her over the head with it. I dodge them, as she runs after his laughing form, and sit at the table, watching the spectacle. 

After a few minutes I get tired of the racket. "Guys, I am going to make dinner, go get ready, please." I rise out of my chair and head to the kitchen. I decide to make soup since we still have leftover bread from the loaf yesterday. I sigh and throw ingredients together in the pot, then gently set the full pot on the stove and turn it on. I walk slowly to my room, formerly my mother's room, rolling out kinks in my muscles as I go. I rifle through my tiny drawer to find another shirt because this one is stained and ripped from Grey and I sparring. Black, green, and gray. Great, longing for a color, I grit my teeth but of course being the poor sons of bitches we are, this is the best we can come up with. I bitterly curse the Main government for making us live this way. 

I pull on the black tank top and walk back out to the kitchen, noting that Nyx is at the table. 

"How are you, Nyx?" I say steadily, knowing that I can't get into too much depth because of Kairi. 

"I am okay, nervous obviously, but okay." He says back softly. I nod and he puts a hand on my shoulder as I walk by. I grab it briefly and then keep walking. I frown at my soup, its edible. Like a shadow, my sister appears in the hallway and comes into the kitchen to set the table. I spoon soup into bowls and take my seat. 

~~~

After dinner I put Kairi to bed and go sit with Nyx on the couch. "I don't know what to do anymore, Ashes."

He doesn't need to elaborate, we both know that he means about the draft tomorrow. I drag a hand across my face, feeling the weight of Nyx's arm around my shoulders. "There's really not much to do. Despite what we want, what's going to happen, will happen." 

I set my head on his shoulder and we sit in silence, comfortable in each others' strength. My eyelids begin to feel heavy, the muscles of my body drooping as tension leaves their strings. "Ash, you should go to bed, tomorrow will be a long day."

I huff, not having the energy to reply and simply stand from the couch. I mutter a goodnight and head for the hallway that leads to our bedrooms. I'm rubbing my eyes, a yawn escaping my lips when a quiet noise finds my ears from the direction of Kairi's room. 

I crack the door open and peek my head inside. "You okay, kiddo?" I peek in a little farther and notice her shaking form on her bed. Quietly, I slip into her room and sit on the end of her bed. "Kairi, what's wrong?" I try to set a hand on her shoulder but she shakes it off. 

"The draft, that's what's wrong!" She swipes at her cheeks, smearing tears as she speaks. "Nyx will probably be drafted and then it will only be the two of us."

I know her words shouldn't hurt me, but they do. Yes, just the two of us. I've never been her favorite, by any means, but I'd hoped she wouldn't be so distraught at the thought of living with me. "He won't be drawn, Kairi."

"You don't know that!" She sobs, lungs gasping for air as she cries. 

"He won't be drawn." I say again, slowly knowing that it's true because I have a secret, one neither my brother nor my sister know. I hug her tight and her fight leaves, she sags against me silent tears making their way down her cheeks.

"He won't be drafted, I swear it. If he is you can slap me as hard as you want, okay?" I murmur softly. She nods and I lay her down again. I back out slowly and head to my room. No, Nyx won't be drafted, I made sure of that. I flop down and allow myself a bit to grieve at what's about to happen, but I know Nyx will take care of Kairi and he can sort of cook, my efforts weren't entirely a waste. I close my eyes, with visions of my laughing brother and smiling sister, I drift off into a fitful sleep.