Ren's Family Adopts Nora

A sigh escaped the young girl's mouth as she lay on the cold cot in what was once a loud, busy orphanage. Being the only orphan left, she had resided herself to a quiet life. Not one couple had thought about giving her a chance. She sighed again, rolling onto her side.

"Nora. There's some folks here to see you."

She sat up quickly, her heart beginning to pound before she remembered all the times she had heard that. She got off the cot and made her way to the main hall.

Looking up, the young girl was greeted by a couple wearing typical oriental clothing. She smiled softly, doubting a couple like them would be interested in her. "H-hello."

The woman bent over, smiling at her. "Why, hello little girl. What's your name?"

"N-Nora." She looked away slightly as a slight blush spread to her cheeks. This woman seemed so nice that she wasn't sure what was going on.

"Is this the only one?"

She almost winced at the man's words. It was every other potential adoption all over again.

"Y-yes, she's the only one still here."

"Oh, but dear, she's so cute and quiet. Nothing like Ren."

Ren? Who was that? She tilted her head slightly, looking between the faces of the two before the woman looks back to her.

"Would you like to come with us?"

Color filled her face as she slowly nodded. She thought she'd never escape this place, but here was her salvation! She lunged forward, the woman was surprised but caught her as she stood up. Her tiny arms held onto her sides as she was held in the air, too short to reach all the way around. She wasn't aware of the man signing for her and receiving her adoption papers as she clung to the front of the woman.

It was only a quick car ride to their house. Nora sat in the back seat, taking in the sights of the streets zipping past. She had never been in a car before, at least not that she remembered. When they arrived, she hopped out and followed her new parents into the house slowly.

"Ren, we're home. And we have a surprise."

She turned her attention from looking around the house as the sound of feet running down stairs caught her ear. She hadn't realized they had another child.

"Oh! What'd you get me! Oh.."

He stopped immediately upon seeing her in the doorway. He studied her before looking at his parents.

"Who's that? What'd ya bring me? What's for dinner? Can I watch TV?"

The father sighed, crouching down.

"Ren. This is your new sister, Nora."

"Nora? What kinda name is that."

Her face turned red and she turned her eyes towards her shoes.

The woman bent over, patting Nora's shoulder as she addressed her son.

"Now, now. Be nice. She's part of our family now."

She took a step forward then took it back. She brought her hands to her chest as she stammered out, "H-hi. I'm N-Nora."

The boy sighed. "Hey."

Things between them weren't easy. At least, not at first. It took nearly a year, but eventually Ren no longer felt that Nora was intruding on his life, and Nora finally felt like she was part of the family.

Over time, her shy, quite demeanor rubbed off on him; and his boisterous behavior took an effect on her. Ren was soon seen as the calmer or the two, while Nora become known as the loud, hyper one.

It wasn't until they were about 10, when they were hanging out in Ren's room that they discovered their future.

"Hey Ren, what's that a poster of anyways?"

"Oh. They're these famous Hunters that fought in the war."

"Oh. Why do ya have it?"

He was quite for a while before looking at her, "I've always wanted to be a Hunter, but I don't think I can."

"Why not?" She jumped onto his bed and lay on her stomach, tilting her head at him as her feet rocked back and forth.

He stood from the toys on the floor and moved to sit on the corner of the bed, "I can't run very far.. I have weak lungs.. I wouldn't want to be a burden to my team."

Nora frowned then smiled, "What if I was with you? We'd be unstoppable!"

He smiled at her idea, "I'd like that."

Just like that, they decided to become Hunters. Their training was tough. And though Ren was never able to fully overcome his shortfall in athleticism, he studied harder than anyone at mastering his Aura.
Things were different for Nora, however. She could hardly wrap her head around this "Aura" stuff, but she more than made up for it by being a physical powerhouse.

When it came time to construct their weapons, it didn't take much to see what influenced their designs. Ren's were simple and plain, reflecting his calm and peaceful soul. Nora on the other hand, constructed a behemoth of a weapon, capable of utilizing her strength to the max while also creating quite the 'bang.'

Finally, they graduated from the training academy. By the time they were done, their personalities had grown so far apart, no one would have been able to tell that they were the same children from back then. But despite that, they had never been closer.