Infinite

Chapter 8b - Restful Home

Elixa sighed as she gently lowered herself down onto her soft bed, arms outstretched to either side of her. Her place was small, she did not need much, unlike other girls. Her front door, which she had just closed behind Zephyr, was at the end of a short passage. Pictures up in the passage showed her through her various martial arts years, proud parents standing strongly behind her, at least for the first few. They slowly began to wither away, as did her smile in each photo. First her mother, throat cancer, Elixa's reason for not smoking. Her mother was the reason behind most of her no's.

Her father passed away next. He lasted an additional two photos, two years ticked off in her mind. Two slow, painful years. He was always a strong person to her. A doctor, he was strong of mind and body. He was the one that started her on the course of martial arts. His death took a toll on Elixa. She shook her head to rid the thoughts and turned to her MP3 player and gently pushed play. Somber music of Disturbed - Darkness came ambling through the speakers. Perfect song for her mood, but it was not what she wanted to think about now.

Pressing skip multiple times she stopped on Lacuna Coil - Within Me. The eerie voice of Cristina Scabbia echoed through her room. That was more like it for her thoughts. She let herself get carried off on the rhythm of the guitar. Her mind drifted back to Zephyr. Their walk to her place had been focused on his martial arts history. He was very guarded about it, but she had managed to gather some intel.

Through his years in the town he had done self-defence and ninjutsu. On his time away he had down Wing Chun, Muay Thai, Krav Maga and furthered his training in ninjutsu. It explained how he could control someone so easily, and his strength. His speed was the one thing he was not saying anything about. When questioned, he looked surprised and asked Elixa what she was talking about.

I am talking about the fact that you are there one moment, then not at all. Her mind cursed to the mysterious man. It had been so long since she had lost a fight and the feeling left a bad taste in her mouth. She had to know more about what he did, and she needed to learn from him.

The music switched to the finger picking of Paramore - Misguided Ghosts, and her mind eased. She will learn, and she will surpass him. A giggle caught in her throat. It was a good measure of confidence she had all of a sudden, now that the brain muting Zephyr was gone. She moved to the kitchen, dancing in small swirls to the music and slow tapping on the bass.

She swayed her hips with more grace than she cared to believe she had, and certainly more grace than she had shown in front of Zephyr. Some things still bugged her about him. The scars, these friends, that black bag and its contents. How can someone be so mysterious but seem so open about it. Maybe he was a misguided ghost. Maybe he has a history that he needs to run from? Maybe he needs someone to run to?

Her thoughts were ripped away by the sudden heavy rifts of Demon Hunter - Follow the Wolves. Without thought for a moment, she dropped the knife in her hand that was about to be used in the food making process, and she danced around the small kitchen. Blissfully she allowed the music to consume her. The music then kept with Demon Hunter but turned to the mellower Carry Me Down.

For the first time, she imagined arms around her as she swayed, her arms gently overlapping them. To be encased with strength, and she felt comfort in the thought, she craved those arms now. In her minds eye, she turned and it was Zephyr. Who else would it be. Her mind mocked her.

She sighed, the music continued but the moment was over. She felt her heart drop to think that she was alone in this tiny apartment. She looked around the kitchen, with the small sink, the small island with her food preparations waiting on them. It was so petite, just like her. She knew just outside the only entrance to the kitchen would be the interlinking passageway, at the end was her room, containing her bed and source of music, a cupboard and a mirror. The other end was the front door, with a small room between where her TV and couch lay and waited to be used. The only other room was a small bathroom, directly opposite the kitchen door. Nothing more than the essentials in there with a small bath that doubled as a shower. The once homely place suddenly felt empty. Her solitude was broken in an evening and half a day with Zephyr.

Just then a knock over powered the music, emanating down the passage. Maybe he had come back? A smile spread across her lips. There she was, a little school girl again. Where she would normally turn off the music, she knew he would approve and let it ring through her tiny place. She twisted the door handle and her heart stopped.

"Sensei?"

"Hello Elixa." The smile she shared did not touch her stone cold eyes as she stepped into Elixa's comfort zone, "May I come in?"

"S-sure," She responded, though she was already in the apartment. Elixa had a bad feeling and wished Zephyr would return, though for different reasons now.