"Heh... how sweet home! Nothing like staying like home! heh heh... shit, this is the worst."

Tomina sighed to herself, rolling around on the floor. She was in the burned-out shell of what used to be the orphanage she grew up in. They had managed to put the fire out before the entire structure had fallen down, and apparently the city was in a debate over what to do with the land. It was cold outside and it was the only place that Tomina could find for shelter. Just her luck: she had to stay in the very place she had run away from.

Tomina shivered, grunting as she tried to make herself comfortable on the hard floor. She slid up to make herself more comfortable, leaning her back against a wall in a corner of the foyer. She closed her eyes, trying to sleep amid the charred rubble over the ground. She was tired of wandering from place to place. But she also didn't want to resort to going into the underground to make meets end. She was confident she could survive there if she tried: she hadn't met anyone who she hadn't been able to beat into submission. But that way of living was less appealing than this. So she endured it, trying her best to survive in a harsh situation.

Tomina looked up when she heard the old doors open. She stared at the figure who walked in with visible confusion. She rubbed her eyes to make sure she was seeing things correctly. Yep, that was a knight walking towards her. The boots boomed across the old wooden floor. This person seemed weaker than her, but she clearly knew her way around a fight. But apparently that wasn't what she had in mind. She then asked her if she needed help setting up a camp. Tomina paused, and then she laughed lowly.

"Well, you would have been useful when I first started traveling around. I've already figured out how to camp. Although if you took me with you to live in your castle, that would be nice. Although a campfire is good enough if you can't let a filthy commoner like me in your home."

Tomina grinned, making a jab at the other person's choice of clothing. She didn't mean any harm by it, although some people took her teasing the wrong way. She couldn't resist in this case: this person's clothing literally was a suit of armor.

"Well shit. And here I thought I'd freeload off an eccentric rich girl. Well you're chivalrous, I'll give you that." 

This was strange. This person was being nice to her. And it seemed like she was going to a lot of trouble for her. If she was up to anything nefarious she could deal with it though. Tomina climbed to her feet, brushing herself off.

"I don't want to stay somewhere with a lot of people. If you're willing to make the structure fireproof I'd be interested. Otherwise, it will end up like this place." 

Tomina gestured around the room, pointing out the charred wood around them. Tomina slipped her hand into her pockets, her red eyes staring at the knight. 

"Normally I'd tell you to fuck off. But that armor isn't just for show. You're strong, I can tell. You won't die if worst comes to worst. Alright, lets go back to your camp. It's been awhile since I've had a conversation with someone."  

"Is that so? Then I guess I shouldn't ask where you got that expensive-looking armor from. If you don't ask, then you can't tell. Sometimes it's better that way." 

Tomina shrugged, following Atsuko out from the orphanage. She wasn't surprised that this person tracked her down like that. What was more surprising was the fact that she was having this conversation to begin with. 

"I've always been able to "sense energy" as you put it. I can just tell how strong people are around me. Most people who can also sense energy tend to turn the other way. Are you hiding your true power? Or do you just believe in the best of people? I haven't ever met anyone with as much energy as me."

Tomina said, a slight smirk on her face. She was proud of her power. It was about the only thing she had to her name. Other than her own clothes and her hat. Tomina was setting a pretty brisk pace. She seemed to want to go faster, but she had to follow Atsuko. So she was brimming with energy as she forced herself to follow Atsuko. 

"Train? I've never had anyone to teach me. Not in fighting anyway. I know some basic things, but I've focused more on survival than I have fighting. I've never come across anyone who I can't handle." 

Tomina even got into fights on purpose sometimes. Or at the very least didn't shy away from heated situations. It felt good to vent her anger by beating the shit out of someone who was annoying her. Not that she was going to tell the knight that. 

Tomina raised an eyebrow, looking at Atsuko skeptically. "So you aren't from a wealthy family and inherited a suit of armor? That shit looks expensive. Did your parents spend their entire savings on that piece or something? Course I can't really judge someone for wearing something their parents left them. I guess I consider wearing this hat an honor too. Doesn't exactly convey that as well as your armor though." 

Tomina tapped the hat on her head a couple of times. It was the only thing she had from her parents. She still didn't quite know how to feel about them. On the one hand, she was pissed that she had been abandoned. But going by the note, it seemed like they were forced to. She hoped it was some life or death scenario and that they cared about her. But knowing her luck they were probably a teen couple who didn't want to take on the responsibility of having a kid. Tomina chuckled at Atsuko's statement, slipping her hands into her pockets. 

"You didn't know what kind of person I was when you first sensed me. Hell you still don't even know my name. For all you know I could be the real criminal mastermind who rules West City." 

Tomina's face got a tinge of pink when Atsuko commented at her. She used to that kind of thing. Aside for maybe one or two guys hitting on her, no one ever threw a compliment at her. She honestly didn't know how to handle it. She reached up with one hand, scratching her cheek and grinning. 

"So you can already tell how scary I can be. Are you trying to convince me to study under you? Cause it's working. If you can get me consistent shelter and food, I'll follow you to the ends of the Earth and sign the fuck up for whatever training regiments you go through." 

Tomina blinked. Did she just hear that right? This person grew up in a monastery? "Wait, your parents didn't even drop you off in a proper Orphanage? They literally left you with a bunch of monks? And why would they leave that armor behind? Are you sure you're not from some well off family? Then again I could be too for all I know. Kinda tough to look back on your roots when you aren't even sure where they were planted."

This person was very mysterious. Tomina had been trying to figure her out ever since she walked in the door. But other than seeming to be a genuinely nice person, this knight was a complete enigma. She didn't have a normal childhood, that was for sure. Another similarity the knight had in common with her.

Tomina blinked, looking at the knight in surprise. Then a grin spread across her face. “You beat me to him eh? He must have been jack shit if you came out of it no worse for the wear. I don’t see a scratch on your armor. So, what’s the guy’s name? And speaking of names, I can’t believe we’ve talked this long and not given each other our names.”

Tomina listened as the other girl explained what she could do for her. This person seemed to have a level head. Which was good. It looked like she was going to have a traveling companion from now on. Hopefully, this person was as strong as she thought she was. She didn’t want to end up hurting her like she had others. Tomina looked around the camp when they got there, folding her arms as she looked around.

“I have heard of building from the ground up. Just don’t get too ambitious and try to turn this into another monastery, okay?” The hybrid chuckled, walking over to one of the logs and sitting on it. Her red eyes watched the other girl.

“I’m Tomina. It’s nice to meet ya, my knight in shining armor.”

Tomina crossed her legs and did something she normally didn't do: shut up and listen to someone. Although with the tale the other girl spung, it was hard not to interject. After all, it was essentially a captivating fairy tail. Tomina reached up, scratching the back of her head when the other girl finished.

"Holy shit. I think I'm glad I don't know anything about my parents. I have enough to deal with without having to worry about whether or not someone is constantly looking to kill me. Knowing my luck they were in debt 5o a mob boss or something. I dunno."

Tomina shrugged her shoulders. If her own background wasn't strange and this person wasn't offering her shelter, she'd call bullshit on all of that. She listened as Atsuko recounted her tale against the crime lord of West City. She snorted at the name.

"Asmo huh? He just sounds like another self important thug trying to make a name for himself. Doesn't seem like the type who can run a crime syndicate effectively. It's not the muscle heads who call the shots in the underworld."

Tomina smirked, her red eyes seemingly glinting as she leaned forward. "As I want huh? Surely you must have your own ideas for developing this place, Atsuko. Are you sure it's a good idea, leaving that kinda thing up to me? I know Jack shit about setting up housing. Although I do know the basics of survival. More than you think too. I've been on the streets for four years. Although learning new ways to make money would be appreciated. I don't like stealing crap just to eat."