Ito Ai: A New Dawn

Seeing the girl still coming towards her and afraid of the food she had so desperately searched for all day about to be taken away, Ai shoved the last of the bread in her hand into her mouth, chewed a few times before swallowing it. "You little bitch!"

The girl ran up to Ai and beat her over and over. The day she went to search for food for the first time Ai ended up with two black eyes, a fat lip, bruises all over her body, and a missing tooth. It was the first time in her life that Ai had ever been beaten so badly. When the girl finally left, Ai dragged her hurting body out of the alley and ran away as far as she could. 

"At that time I became a little fearful of people. I mean going through the pains of looking for food and once finding some, having someone try to take it away, I refused to let it go. Although it did give me a stomach the next day... But it was then that I decided to toughen myself up as well. Although I did not trust others, I wished for nothing more than to become stronger. I never wanted to let what had happened that day happen again." Ai looked down at Mai who had tears in her eyes and smiled bitterly. "Why are you crying?"

"Why wouldn't I cry! Ai, you had gone through so much. From the stories I hear it's always about how you were beaten or almost r*ped! I mean..." Mai wiped the tears in her eyes.

"Look… I do not tell these stories as a means of finding sympathy. I look back on them as to how I am now. Although, it does sound strange to say looking, back on, because, in reality, I went back in time when I died but you know what I mean. Get some sleep, I will wake you when it's your turn to keep watch." Ai said as she leaned her head against the side wall of the Bexterra. 

Ai wondered how her life would turn out this time around, there was no telling what would happen in the future. One thing was for sure was that she was not worried about anyone taking advantage of her and Mai. She guessed she owed that girl who beat her up that day since Ai was then wary of other people from that day forward. Once she found food she would run away and find a hiding spot to sit and eat her food in peace. She was afraid she would lose her findings to someone else. 

It took a few months and her first time killing a person to finally move from back alley dumpsters to stores. Her eyes at that time looked dull. With no light in them at all. When people came near her, she would instinctively go on the defensive. In the end, this kind of self isolation actually saved her many times in her first year alone in the apocalypse.

As the moon went high into the sky Ai figured it was around three am and gently shook Mai awake. Mai groaned and lifted her head as she rubbed her eyes. "My turn?" 

"Mmm... "Wake me when the sun's first light shows over the horizon." Ai said switching positions with Mai. Mai was now sitting up and Ai used her lap as a pillow. 

Mai looked down at the sleeping face and faintly smiled. "You must have been tired… You fell asleep right away." 

Mai looked out the window into the darkness and let out a sigh. "If only you did not need to go through so much. I wonder what I had to go through during that time. If I did not die right away I must have become a play thing for someone… I hate to admit it but if not for you telling me all the things you went through and all the training you put me through, I more than likely would have been stupid enough to follow some handsome man who promised me a better life. Reality can be a bitch. But thanks to you Ai… I believe I can survive in this life. Until the day you use me as a shield, I will stay by your side and protect you as best I can." 

Mai did not know that Ai had not fallen asleep yet. So Ai had heard every word that Mai had said. But sadly Ai could not refute that one day she may toss Mai out in front of her. It was also the one thing that scared her the most. A human instinct to survive can overtake many things, this includes familial love. 

*Clink!* 

*Clink!* *Clink!*

*Clink!* *Clink!* *Clink!* *Clink!*

"Ai!" Mai whispered as she shook Ai.

Ai eyes shot open and sat up pressing her finger onto Mai's lips.

*Clink!* *Clink!* *Clink!* *Clink!*

Ai furrowed her brows as she raised four fingers to Mai. Mai's face paled seeing the number of fingers Ai held up. She felt that just one first type machina was a pain to deal with now they had four to deal with! 

"It will be fine. Slowly slide your head down and stay still." Ai whispered softly as she placed her hand on top of Mai's head slowly pushing her down until the both of them laid flat on to the folded out back seat. Mai held on to Ai's hand tightly, afraid that they would be spotted. Ai could feel Mai's hand becoming clammy due to being scared and nervous and did her best to try to reassure her everything was going to be fine.

*Clink!* *Clink!* *Clink!* *Clink!*

*Bam!*

***

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