Zero Valkyrie Chapter 12

THE LETTER

Lilim's foot smashed the heavy bag with a powerful cross kick with such force it made the heavy bag look like it was going to snap in half. After firing a few more hard punches and kicks she leaned on the bag to rest. Beads of sweat traveled down her face, and fell off her wet golden blond hair. She walked over to her bag and dried herself off with her towel. She looked around to see if there was anyone else in the gym with with her. It was only her. It was nice to workout in peace but for some reason it seemed like something was missing. Lilim climbed  into the ring where she usually practiced her fighting. However a few images of her practice bout with Auroun flashed in her mind as she stood in the center. Even though Lilim won fair and square she didn't feel proud of it.

Lilim shook her head to snap herself out of it. "Forget about him," she whispered. "I got work to-do," she said.

Lilim pounded her red boxing gloves together and she got into her fighting stance as if she was ready to fight a real person. She traveled around the ring punching, dodging, and kicking. As the time passed Lilim kept at her workout not hearing her coach Captain opening and closing the door from his office. The blond haired middle aged man saw his student in the ring practicing. Captain stayed silent and studied her movements. Lilim was a good fighter but she still had plenty of room to improve. She barley won her fight with Fiona Adlam The Iron Princess and her fight with Cyrilla The Queen of the Underworld was close to. Captain knew they were even more fighters in the league that were just as strong if not stronger. If Lilim were to have a chance at winning 1st place time he would have to step up her training. The same went for Auroun as well.

("Lilim is looking good but I know she can do better. I think her little fight with Auroun shook her nerves a little. But she did beat the hell out of the guy who idols her. She must feel a little guilty. I think I have an idea on how to help her out.") Captain laughed silently to himself. "Lilim good form. But make sure you shift your weight more when you do that right cross so you can get an extra boost of power."

"Okay," Lilim responded. Continuing her practice.

Captain leaned his head back. "It's a shame that Auroun isn't here. I kind of miss the kid. He makes this place much more livelier," said Captain turning his sights at Lilim. "Don't you think so Azure?"

Lilim heard him but she didn't want to think about him right now. She just wanted to concentrate on her workout. Of coarse that was easier said than done.

"I bet he's all alone right now. He got beaten so badly by you."

Lilim stopped practicing and she leaned forward against the ropes panting.

"Sitting in his home alone and in pain," Captain said in a fake depressing way.

It felt as if a dagger plunged into Lilim's back making her feel bad after she heard that sentence. Was Auroun really at home in pain?

Captain fought to hold his smile back. "I'm sure his man hood is shattered to. Even though it was a fair fight he still lost ultimately in the end to a girl. He never stood a chance. He must think he's the weakest piece of garbage right now and that no one loves him. The poor guy."

Now it felt like ten daggers skewered Lilim's heart.

"Not to mention Lilim you beat up a guy that's only been practicing for a few months where you have been practicing for years. But a win is still a win." Captain nodded.

Now Lilim felt like every person she had fought in the past just stomped all over her heart. She was overwhelmed with guilt now. "Do you really think he's in pain? I mean he seemed fine when he left on that day." Lilim turned toward Captain.

"Yeah I suppose but I guess it couldn't hurt to see how he's doing. I do have to give him this letter. But I have to go to work soon. Could you maybe deliver it to him Lil? I have directions to his place it's not out of your way."

Lilim was hesitant. "Alright I'll take it. But I am just going to drop it off and then leave it OK?"

"That's fine as long as he gets it." Captain smiled as he handed her the sealed envelope.

Before Lilim new it she was standing in front of the door of Aurora's apartment. Lilim was about to knock but stopped herself. She looked around to see if anyone around was watching; there wasn't. She examined herself in the window which didn't give the greatest reflection. Her hair looked messy but she tried to fix it as best she could. She tried spraying some light perfume on to try and get rid of the sweaty smell she had. Lilim then looked to see what she was wearing. She had a sweat jacket and sweat pants. She rolled her eyes when she saw her image didn't get any better. Who cared how she looked anyway? Before she knocked she noticed the door was barley open. She slowly opened it and entered. The lights were on but she didn't hear anyone home.

"Hey Rook...I mean Auroun are you here," she called out. No on responded but somebody had to be home since the T.V was on. Then she finally saw Auroun lying down on the couch asleep. Lilim whispered out to him to wake him up. But he didn't even move. She walked over to him and kneeled in front of him to examine his wounds. His face healed up nicely showing no more bruising or cuts which made Lilim feel a little better. Auroun looked at peace as he was sleeping without a care in the world. To Lilim he looked sort of nice to look at. Without thinking she gently brushed some of his hair on the side. Lilim started to smile but then vanished as she remembered Auroun's beaten body falling to the floor, and the blood traveling down her face from the wound he inflicted on her. She closed her eyes in sadness. (I should of gone easier on him. He wouldn't go down. My fighters instinct got the better of me. And I went all out in the end to bring him down. But he was only a rookie. It was immature of me to use such force on him.") Lilim thought to herself. Auroun slowly opened his eyes to see Lilim kneeling right in front of him with her eyes closed.

Still sleepy from his nap he quietly looked at her. ("Lilim you are so beautiful. I wish you were really here,") he thought.  Auroun was convinced she was an illusion. Made of nothing but his dreams. Nothing but is mind playing tricks on him. But that vanished the moment his hand touched her cheek. Lilim's instantly screamed not expecting for someone to touch her. Auroun instantly jumped and screamed as equally loud. Both of them stood up in a flash.

"What are you doing," Lilim screamed. "Trying to get your way with me!!"

"No," Auroun yelled back. "I was sleeping and I thought you were a dream!!"

"Your an idiot why would I be a dream?!!"

"Cause your standing in my apartment!!"

"I............" Lilim realized he had a point. She did enter his place unannounced. "Sorry about coming in without you knowing. Captain wanted me to check to see how you were doing."

"Oh well I am doing ok. Everything is pretty much healed up." He smiled as gently rubbed his cheek. "I have to admit Lilim you really are one bad ass chick."

That caught Lilim off guard. "What?"

"I won't lie to you. That practice fight we had. Was so frikin intense! It was such a rush fighting you. Is that what you feel every time you fight someone?"

Lilim gave him a puzzled look and shrugged. "I guess."

"Well it was frikin awesome. At first I was scared but when I actually started doing it. It felt like I really belonged there. It was such a weird feeling."

"Auroun please stop," Lilim held out her hand.  "Aren't you mad?"

Auroun thought about it. "Uh why would I be mad?"

"Well cause.....well...............you know."

Auroun wasn't sure what she meant but it finally hit him. "Oh I get it. Yeah I guess we got into it pretty good. Huh? Well I would be lying if I wasn't a little bummed out. But I knew I didn't have a chance in the first place. I guess I just wanted to see how far I could go. For a second there I thought I did have a chance. But it didn't happen." Auroun sighed. "Your strong Lilim. You were the better fighter. I just plain lost."

Hearing Auroun being humble and complimenting her made Lilim feel angry and guilty. She sighed and covered her face with her hand. "God I really do hate you sometimes," she said.

"Huh but..."

"I am only going to say this once. Your a lot stronger than I thought you were Auroun Hazard. You honestly exceeded my expectations. I honestly didn't expect you to fight so hard. For a moment I was actually worried. So if you keep working at it. Maybe just maybe you might have a shot in the Endless League."

Auroun put his hand over his heart not believing what he heard. "Do you really mean that?"

Lilim looked away as her face went a slight red. "Yeah," she mumbled. "So don't feel like a failure ok?"

Auroun was so happy tears almost came out of his eyes. "I don't know what to say. Thank you Lilim that means a lot coming from you. You really are cool you know that?" He gave her a warm happy smile.

Lilim felt like her face got even redder. "Shut up I am not. Well you just take this." She handed him the sealed envelope.

"Whats this?"

"I don't know coach wanted me to give it to you."

"Oh ok thanks."

"It's fine. I should probably get going."

"Ok uh ok. Did you want anything to drink before you go."

"No thanks that will not be necessary."

"Oh well....... ok."

As Lilim walked down the steps away from Auroun's apartment. Auroun called out her name. Lilim turned around to see him leaning on the hand rails.

"Can I ask you something before you go," Auroun yelled to her.

"What," she asked.

"When I get better. Do you think...." Auroun hesitated mustering the courage to say it. "Could I have a rematch with you?"

Lilim looked around in thought. "How about this. If I think you have improved enough to actually be a challenge to me then I'll ask you to fight me."

"Alright that seems fair. But what if we actually go up against each other in the Endless League?"

"Heh that will only happen if you actually start winning matches. Which I don't see happening anytime soon." She gave an evil smirk.

"Oh yeah I'll show you. I'll start winning and the next time we face each other I will be a thousand times stronger than before." Auroun said with his own smirk.

"Oh is that so? Well then you better work extra hard then because I will be even stronger to. Have a good night Zero." She waved to him as she walked away.

Auroun waved back to her. "You to.... Valkyrie." Auroun said silently to himself.

Auroun went back inside to his apartment and closed the door. He sat back down on his couch. He rubbed his eyes and yawned before he opened the letter that . Inside was a sheet of paper with writing on it. It said.

"Dear Auroun Hazard AKA ZERO

I am very proud of you kid. You have progressed well over the past months. And you fought well against Lilim who was much more experienced than you. I'm sure Lilim is just as proud of you. Even though she'll never admit it. But I got good news for you. I actually have your first official Endless League bout. Your going up against Lena The Green Rose. Your fight is right after Lilims. So were going to be working even harder now to get you ready. I'll see ya tomorrow. Get a good night sleep."

"Oh my god I have a real fight scheduled," Auroun yelled. "Oh man I can't believe this is happening? If this Lena person is any where near as good as Lilim then. Oh my god! I have to start working extra hard then! Hey whats this." Auroun noticed there was another sentence on the bottom of the page.

"P.S. I hope you and Lilim didn't make out too much heheheheheh. Your going to have to tell me the details. Your welcome."

Auroun clenched his teeth together. "What the? That son of a bitch," he yelled in frustration.