Chapter 45: Emily's History

Though Rick was getting used to it, that didn't mean he was exactly comfortable with Emily rushing at him, her aura blade slicing. He managed to lean backward and he felt the sizzling edge pass by his neck. Better than wasting his strength on a large dodge, but he couldn't help but think that the slightest miscalculation would leave him decapitated.

If this was a real fight. It was easy to forget that it wasn't, sometimes, with Emily attacking him with that deadly expression on her face. She'd already torn some vicious gashes in the walls of their room at the Recluse's Retreat, despite its heavy reinforcement. Hopefully she wasn't using that much power when aiming for his neck, but it was hard to tell. A real assault from Emily might be even worse than one from Jack.

Which was the point, of course. Since they couldn't invest all his available lucrim or re-purpose his generation rate yet, the best form of training was trying to improve his instincts against a deadly opponent. That was one thing he definitely wouldn't have gotten from another girlfriend.

When they finished he was covered in sweat and had to step away to pull off his shirt and towel himself off. While he was catching his breath, Rick examined his portfolio again.

[Name: Rick Hunter

Ether Tier: 14th

Ether Score: 348

Lucrim Generation: 53,325

Current Lucrim: 53,325]

[Rick Hunter's Lucrima Portfolio

Foundation: 3650 (Lv IV)

Offensive Lucore: 8700 (Lv V)

Defensive Lucore: 21,100 (Lv VIII)

Bunyan's Step: 9175 (Lv VI)

Graham's Stake: 9150 (Lv II)

Lucrim Mass: 1850 (N/A)

Demon Mass: 500 (N/A)

Total Lucrim: 53,325]

It was discouraging that he hadn't made more progress, but he was currently holding most of his assets in reserve. Once the foundation was properly in place, he could build on it quickly... or so he hoped. They planned to go meet Delsin soon, so hopefully they'd make progress there.

When he looked up he found that Emily was watching him, and not with that predatory look in her eyes anymore. Instead she was examining his torso in a way that was not combat-oriented. It made him feel oddly awkward, but in another way it was kind of nice.

"You're improving quickly. Don't sweat the exact numbers." She padded across the room to come stand beside him, smiling softly. Rick nodded, but had a hard time pulling himself away.

"Our sparring has improved the evaluation of the Bunyan's Step Lucore by a stage, even though we haven't focused on it. I guess you were right about normal speed factoring into it."

"Of course I was, but even I don't want to talk about technical stuff all the time." Emily leaned up to kiss him, placing one hand on his chest as she did so. The kiss was soft and warm, and when she pulled back, she didn't remove her hand. "I know you're pushing to the point right before you break, so why don't I offer a little extra incentive? If you finish my hell course, I'll offer you a... more personal reward."

Rick swallowed, since her eyes left no doubt about what she meant. That look and her light touch were putting all kinds of images in his head, but he forced himself to focus. "Emily, that's... as much as I want that, I don't want to mix training and our relationship. It just feels..."

"No, I understand." Though the smolder in her eyes faded, she leaned up to give him a quick kiss, then pulled back. "I thought it was a sexy idea, but I completely get what you're saying. Let's sit."

His knees were feeling weak anyway, so it was easy to slump back against the wall of the room. Emily sank down beside him, leaning against him and lacing her fingers through his. He wasn't sure if he was supposed to say something, but settled for putting his arm around her. It was stupid, but he did it uncertainly, like he expected her to be mad about his arm despite what she'd just suggested.

"Actually, I know you don't need any extra motivation." She smiled up at him, this time more her usual sharp smile. "When something important is actually at stake, you're one of the most driven people I know, and I like that. I just know that all of this is hard on you and I wanted to make it a bit easier."

"Thanks. It's good to know you're thinking of me." And it actually was - sometimes he felt like she treated him as a human weapon. She seemed to treat herself that way, so he thought he could understand, but it wasn't always pleasant and left him uncertain sometimes. Throwing anything sexual into the mix felt like it would just make it completely impossible to think logically.

"I actually really look forward to the day when you catch up to me." Emily squeezed his hand a bit tighter and settled her head against his chest. "I like training with you, but I don't like leading the training. I hope we can get past all that and just be together. Because I do want to be with you."

Rick wasn't sure what to say to that, but before he could get his thoughts together Emily leaned up and kissed him again. This kiss wasn't quick and she shifted fully to face him. His arm slid down to her side for some reason, and whatever he had been intending to do, all thought went out the window when Emily slid up against him. Suddenly she was straddling his lap to kiss him and his hand was on the curve of her hip.

For a moment he just fell into it, hungrily feeling her body against his. But the next moment he was incredibly conscious of the fact that they were alone together in a sound-proof room. That should have excited him, and it did on one level, but it had been a long time since his last relationship. So much of his life had been forced by his circumstances, there just hadn't been time.

If Emily had gone aggressively, there was no way he could have controlled himself. Her kiss became more intense and she bit his lip, hard, but then she pulled back a bit. She stared at him with their faces almost touching, then gave a much softer smile.

"It's been a really long time for me, but I'm not ready. Sorry."

"Uh, that's okay." He put an arm around her back and pulled her closer, then immediately cursed himself as an idiot. Yes, it was a nice affirming gesture and Emily settled against him happily. It also kept her on his lap, which he was going to regret.

He didn't regret that they'd stopped, though. Maybe he was a bit old-fashioned, but he didn't want to throw himself into a relationship too fast. As much as he liked what he knew about Emily, he wanted to know a lot more. Her comment about training him rang true: too much of their relationship was based on issues of power.

"Emily..." He stroked her back, hoping that he wouldn't ruin things. "I never want to push you, but you hardly ever talk about yourself. There are so many things I don't know... I mean, I understand if you don't want to talk about everything, but..."

She was completely still for a moment, then shifted off his lap. Rick worried that he'd offended her, but she moved to sit beside him again, leaning against his side. Since she hadn't left, he put his arm around her again and just gave her space.

"I'm not used to talking about that sort of thing..." Her voice was much softer than he was used to and her hair fell so it was hard to see her face. "I want to, but... Rick, if I tell you something, will you promise not to tell anyone? Not even your sister?"

"Uh... I think I can promise that. Unless it's something crazy that's a threat somehow."

"No, nothing like that." Emily was silent for a long time, then spoke quietly. "Do you know very much about the Southeast Asian front of World War IV?"

Of all the directions Rick had guessed the conversation might go, that was not one of them. He stared down at her, then realized how vulnerable she was being and struggled to answer. "Only a bit. History classes in school almost never got to recent history."

"Then I won't get into the politics of it. What matters is that my parents went off to fight with the rebels, and I do mean they just abandoned us." A tide of bitterness rose in her voice as she continued. "Three children in a war zone and they just left us with a family friend. Not a very good friend in the end, because when the economy collapsed, we were a liability and got sent off."

"That's horrible. Your parents... didn't come back?"

"Given the casualties in the war, I assume they're dead. If they're not, that's worse. Because all of us were put in an orphanage controlled by one of the local mafia sects. Those sects claimed to fight for kin and country, but they didn't care. They used all the orphans as slave labor, either to put together crude munitions or, if you showed any talent, to refine lucrim."

Rick listened in horror. Part of him didn't want to hear, but if Emily was finally being open, he wanted to know the truth about her. When she was silent for a while, he decided it was safe to prompt her. "You said there were three of you? What about your siblings?"

Emily gave a bitter snort. "You'd think that experience would bring us together, but it didn't. We don't talk much anymore."

"I see. That's awful... I feel like even saying that is making light of it." He swallowed as he thought back to their first conversations. "Shit, I'm sorry for what I said, implying that your parents gave you everything. I had no idea..."

"No, it's fine." Emily brushed her hair out of her face and gave him a reassuring smile. "I'm not comparing hardships, Rick, I'm really not. The story isn't actually over. Before we got too old, humanitarian organizations came in and rescued us. I got an excellent education, and because my scores were good, they sent me over to an elite school in the United States. So as shitty as my parents were, at least they didn't curse me into adulthood, like yours did."

All he could do was nod, taken aback by the revelation. Maybe it didn't change anything immediately, but it was crazy for him to imagine that Emily had once been a war refugee. Somehow it made him feel simultaneously closer to her and further away. Before he could think of anything to say, Emily went on, all the warmth from a moment ago draining from her voice.

"Here's the thing, Rick: that mafia sect still exists. When the country industrialized it became a significant corporation, and now it has a huge influence on the government. I can ignore that, but the men who ran the orphanage have attained positions of rank." She pushed away, fury in her eyes cast far beyond him. "They've never once apologized, never even acknowledged what they did in the war. The same man is still in charge."

"Damn." What was he supposed to say about actual war crimes? Rick tried to stroke Emily's back, but now her posture was stiff and unyielding. "So are you involved with activism about this? Trying to make the government acknowledge the war crimes and issue an apology?"

"No. One day I will go back, I will force him to apologize, and then I will kill him."

Rick's throat was unbelievably dry and he stared at her. There was absolutely no hint that she was joking, only a deep fury that he now realized had always lurked underneath her calm. She no longer seemed focused on him, but he felt like he needed to say something or he'd drown in the new fact. "Is that why you have the secret lethal version of your aura blade?"

"That's right." Emily pulled back and softened a bit, returning to her normal calm. "It's also how Granny Whitney convinced me to participate in the tournament: she had detailed information about the current state of the organization. I'm not strong enough yet, but when I am, I'll be prepared."

He had absolutely no idea what to say to that. After a pause, Emily leaned in again and gave him a peck on the lips, though he was too stunned to kiss back.

"You're the first person I can imagine beside me through all that, Rick. I don't want to draw you into a big quest for revenge, but... I can imagine you being at my side, and I want that."

"Emily..." He wasn't sure what to say and just trailed off. Fortunately, she just gave an odd smile and then stood up.

"Sorry, that's a lot to drop on you all at once. And I'm serious about helping you with your problem now. All of that is a long way off, so for now I just want a stable career that can get me closer to my goals. Sorry if that was too much."

Rick stood up and put a hand on her shoulder. "No, thank you for telling me."

Truthfully, though, he wasn't sure if he was glad. His view of Emily before had been incomplete, but it had been easier. He wasn't sure how he felt about this Emily, but it wouldn't leave his mind. The moment when they had been kissing felt like a very long time ago.