Chapter Text
Rachel panted, her grip tightening around her war hammer as fiends surrounded her and Shinsuke. Their grotesque forms blocked every escape route, their glowing eyes filled with murderous intent. The two warriors had fought tirelessly, but their bodies were reaching their limits.
Rachel clenched her teeth. So this is how it ends...
She turned to Shinsuke, the Dragon Clan ninja who had fought by her side ever since the death of her sister. He had saved her more times than she could count. His presence had been her light in the darkness.
"Shinsuke..." she whispered, voice trembling. "Since you've started helping me after the death of my sister... I've always loved you."
Shinsuke's eyes widened slightly, then softened. Without hesitation, he leaned in and pressed his lips to hers—a brief, desperate kiss amidst the chaos. When he pulled away, he smirked.
"You always pick the worst times, Rachel."
Before she could respond, he grabbed his grappling hook and fired it, latching onto a ruined pillar. With a swift motion, he wrapped an arm around Rachel's waist and launched her away from the battlefield. She hit the ground hard but safe, her eyes widening in horror as she saw Shinsuke turn to face the horde alone.
"SHINSUKE!"
Her scream was drowned out by the monstrous roars. The last thing she saw was Shinsuke fighting to his last breath before the fiends overwhelmed him.
Then, darkness.
Shinsuke's consciousness drifted in the abyss. His body no longer existed, but his mind remained. He had no idea how long he floated in the void. Minutes? Hours? Eternity?
Then, light.
The next thing he knew, he was surrounded by warmth. His limbs felt weak, his vision blurred. It took him a moment to realize—he was lying in someone's arms.
He tried to move but could only manage a slight wriggle. What... happened?
As his vision cleared, he saw a beautiful woman with long dark hair and striking red eyes gazing down at him with a soft smile. Beside her stood a young man with spiky blond hair and piercing blue eyes.
Shinsuke's mind reeled. He had seen these two before. In another life, in another world.
Wait... No. It can't be. Have I... been reborn?
The spiky-haired man, Cloud, leaned over and ruffled Shinsuke's tiny head. "He’s got a strong grip. Looks like he'll be a fighter."
The woman, Tifa, chuckled. "That’s because he takes after his father."
Shinsuke—now Anakin Lockheart—stared at them, his mind racing.
This world... is different. But my skills, my memories... they're still intact.
Months passed, and Anakin grew quickly. By the time he could crawl, he was already testing his balance, eager to regain control over his body. One day, as he dragged himself across the wooden floor, he was suddenly lifted into the air.
Tifa smiled down at him. "Where do you think you're going, little man?"
Anakin glanced past her, watching as Cloud practiced with his massive sword outside. Even without his full strength, Anakin could feel the energy in his father's movements.
“(If this is my new life... I’ll make the most of it.)”
When he was old enough to walk, Anakin began practicing his old techniques in secret. His small body struggled at first, but his muscle memory kicked in. Soon, he was moving with surprising agility for his age.He even learned a bit of magic.
One afternoon, as he mimicked an old Dragon Clan stance, a shadow loomed over him.
"You’ve got some moves," Cloud said, arms crossed. "Where’d you learn that?"
Anakin froze. He hadn't expected to be caught. He hesitated for a moment before smirking. "Instinct."
Cloud raised an eyebrow. "Instinct, huh? Then let’s see what you’ve got."
And so, the training began.
Cloud was shocked. Anakin picked up swordplay like he was born for it—because he was. Every slash, every movement was fluid and precise.
"This kid... he’s a prodigy."
In the afternoons, Tifa would take over, teaching him hand-to-hand combat. With both parents guiding him, Anakin was on the path to becoming something extraordinary.
But in the back of his mind, one thought remained.
“(This world is peaceful... for now. But I know danger is out there. When the time comes, I’ll be ready.)”
The forest was quiet, save for the rustling of leaves and the occasional chirping of birds. Anakin, now six years old, wandered through the trees, his wooden sword strapped to his back. He had been training tirelessly under his parents and wanted to test his skills against the wild.
That’s when he saw her.
A woman stood near a tree, her body covered in scars that told countless stories of battle. She had dark skin, a sculpted face that exuded strength, and a single sharp eye gleaming beneath an eye patch. Her thick, tiger-like tail swayed behind her, and her beast-like ears twitched at every sound. She wore a revealing leather outfit that showcased her toned, rippling muscles.
She looked tired—and hungry.
Before Anakin could approach, a monstrous beast lunged from the shadows, its fangs bared. The woman immediately got into a battle stance, ready to fight.
But to her surprise, a young voice shouted, "HAAA!"
Anakin dashed forward, drawing his small blade in a blur. With a swift motion, he sliced through the monster’s arm, severing it cleanly.
The woman raised an eyebrow, impressed.
Regaining its balance, the creature roared in pain—only for the woman to finish it off with a single slash, her blade swift and merciless. As the beast collapsed, she turned to the boy standing before her.
"That was quite impressive, boy," she said, her tone gruff yet amused.
Anakin, still in awe of her overwhelming presence, couldn't help but admire her. "(Her skills, she was quicker than Ryu..Should be an excellent teacher..)You're amazing! Can I train with you?"
The woman smirked, crossing her arms. "Hmph, very well, but—"
Before she could finish, her stomach growled loudly.
Anakin grinned. "Would you like to come to my home?"
The woman blinked in surprise, then chuckled. "Fine, kid. Lead the way."
Anakin returned home with his new acquaintance, who introduced herself as Ghislaine Dedoldia.
When Cloud and Tifa saw her, their eyes widened.
"It’s been a long time," Cloud said, recognizing her from their old adventuring days.
"You haven’t changed a bit," Tifa added with a smile.
Ghislaine was equally surprised but greeted them in her usual blunt manner. The conversation quickly shifted when Cloud and Tifa thanked her for bringing Anakin back safely.
That evening, over a hearty meal, Anakin pestered Ghislaine with questions about swordsmanship, eager to learn from her. Amused by his determination, she agreed to train him alongside his parents.
One Year Later….
Anakin’s training had intensified. Under Cloud and Ghislaine, he mastered most of swordplay. Under Tifa, he learned hand-to-hand combat. And under Ghislaine, he honed his raw instincts and precision.
One afternoon, as Ghislaine and Anakin walked together, they spotted a carriage under attack.
Three monstrous creatures surrounded it, snarling as they prepared to strike.
Without hesitation, the two warriors leaped into action.
Anakin moved first, dashing between the beasts and slashing at their legs to cripple them. Ghislaine followed, striking with deadly force, her blade cutting through flesh like butter. Within moments, the monsters lay defeated.
As Anakin wiped the sweat from his brow, he thought to himself, “(Not as good as I used to be… but in a year or so—)”
His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of clapping.
A tall man with short brown hair and tea-colored eyes stepped forward, his ever-present smile giving him an air of nobility.
"Well done," he said smoothly. "That was quite the display."
The man introduced himself as Philip Boreas Greyrat. He was impressed by Ghislaine’s skill and immediately extended an offer.
"A bodyguard and sword instructor position at my estate. Two Asura gold coins per month—far more than what you currently earn."
Ghislaine crossed her arms. "Give me time to think about it."
Philip nodded. "Of course. I’ll await your decision."
At dinner…
That night, Ghislaine sat with Cloud and Tifa, explaining the offer. The two hesitated but ultimately agreed. "It’s a great opportunity," Tifa said. "We’ll miss having you here, but you should take it."
As Ghislaine retreated to her room, contemplating her next steps, there was a knock at her door.
She opened it to find Anakin standing there.
"Can I come in,master?" he asked.
She nodded, letting him enter.
The boy wasted no time. "Take me with you."
Ghislaine frowned. "Anakin, your mother wou—"
"I already asked her and Father. They said it would be okay. The Citadel of Roa is only a day away by carriage. Please let me come with you."
Ghislaine studied him for a moment before sighing. "Fine. But first—"
She led him outside to the backyard, where she tossed him a wooden sword.
"If you can land a single strike on me, I’ll allow you to come."
Anakin’s eyes lit up with determination as he readied his stance.
The duel began. Steel clashed against wood as the two exchanged blows. Ghislaine blocked every strike with ease, her skill overwhelming. Anakin needed a strategy.
Then, he had an idea.
Ducking under her next swing, he aimed for her exposed arm—but she deflected. Thinking she had won, Ghislaine smirked.
But then—
Her eyes widened as she felt a sudden touch on her tail.
A deep blush spread across her face.
Anakin grinned. "Gotcha."
Ghislaine sighed, rubbing her temples before smirking. "Fine. You can come. But you follow everything I say and visit your parents regularly. Understood?"
Anakin nodded eagerly. "Yes, ma’am!"
She ruffled his hair before turning away, hiding the slight redness on her cheeks.
The Next morning…
Cloud and Tifa stood by the carriage, ready to say their goodbyes.
Cloud knelt down, placing a hand on Anakin’s shoulder. "Be careful out there," he said.
Tifa pulled her son into a warm embrace, kissing his cheek. "Come back and visit, okay?"
Anakin smiled. "I will."
With that, he climbed into the carriage beside Ghislaine. As the wheels began turning, taking them toward the Citadel of Roa, a new chapter in his life had begun.