Breath of Fire IV:

Dreams and Tears

Written by Yurameshi the catboy

All Characters and images, belongs to and are copyrighted by Capcom.

Just to set the record straight before hand, this is a story set in areas not on the game......well almost not on the game. I'm using one or two small areas of the game but nothing very big. For anyone that has played the game then you know what I mean and for those who have not but are going to then you might see one or two spoilers. Oh and for anyone that has read The Island Passage and liked it then you might like mine too. I modeled it after his and he doesn't mind. Me and him are good friends and I got the idea from him actually, Hehehe. Well enough of the legal stuff, on with the show! ^_^

Chapter One: Fears

Ryu

The night sky........it always made me feel calm, just looking at the dark blue sky always put me to peace. I loved to sit and stare at the sky and just think. I've been doing that a lot lately, but why? What was making me think so much? I turned my head slightly and looked to the group sleeping near the fire. I moved my eyes from one person to the next until I stopped and looked at Nina's sleeping form. She was always so cute when she slept. She always had a smile whenever I saw her sleeping; seeing her smile always made me feel better. Just knowing that she and everyone were alright; I really didn't need anything more.

After a moment I slowly turned my gaze back to the sky and let out a small breath. We had been traveling together for over a month now. Nina and Cray were searching for a Wyndian named Elina who was last seen in Synesta but when we got there she was already gone. It must have been hard for Nina to summon up the courage and go looking for her sister despite the danger. Nina always tried to act brave but when something bad should happen, she would always get emotional. It made me sad whenever she cried; for me or for anyone that got hurt. It always made me want to try harder and protect her and not let anything hurt her.

Cray had come along because he was Nina's friend and for the other fact that he loved Elina from what I can gather. Cray always had this tough look trying to be the leader of the group; but deep down I could tell that Cray was a nice person with a courageous heart.

The there was Ershin; she was odd in some ways, but actually caring in other ways. Later we found out that there was actually an Endless inside the robot armor. Deis, as she called herself explained that she was only half endless, much like myself, and that when she was summoned to this world she was sucked into the armor known as Ershin for some reason. I have to say though that she is some what of a flirt at times, and a powerful fighter in battle. But otherwise, she's ok to be around.

Then came the Grassrunner named Scias. There was not much to say about him at first, being he hardly spoke, was a mercenary for hire, and an excellent fighter to boot. Later on we found out that Scias was not all that we thought he was. We first thought he was betraying us by telling his hirers what we were doing; but to everyone's surprise he turned on them and helped us fight off there minions in battle. Scias truly was a strange character, though I will admit he is a nice guy when you get to know him.

Then came Ursula; brave right to the very end that's for sure. She seemed so used to everything that has happened around us, and always one to make the first move when planning an attack. She looks as if she has been trained by the best in the art of war. She fears no one...well from what I see anyway. She doesn't seem to like close range fighting at all, being that she uses a gun instead of a sword. Despite that she is a deadly fighter when in battle. She has the perfect combination of power and magic that make her even more deadly. She's good to have around in battle, but otherwise not very social at all.

At any rate....these are the friends I came to know and respect; and I have tried my best to keep them all alive; and I'll continue to do it too.

I felt a calm breeze pass by me and it made me shiver a little as the breeze ran through my shirt. I slowly lowered my head to the ground and let out another small breath.

I then raised my hand and brushed some of my hair out of my face and sighed softly still not feeling tired. I had been up like this every night for the past few days; aimlessly staring up at the night sky. So many thoughts had run through my head recently about what my purpose was and what can I do better to keep my friends safe and so many things that still have no answers.

What was making me think like this, and why? It was strange though, because every time I looked to Nina I would start thinking. Was she the one making me think all this?

I slowly turn my head to Nina again and I can't help but smile as I watch her sleep. It made me feel good when just hearing her voice and watching her move.

Then I watched as she moved slightly and her eyes squinting. She started to move around some and let out small whimpers.

I then slowly stood and walked close to her with worry upon my face. I slowly knelt down and placed my hands on her shoulders and shaked her gently.

"Nina wake up, wake up please." I whispered hoping not to wake the others

Her eyes then snapped open and she let out a low scream but to my surprise no one awoke. She laid there for a moment just staring at me before she finally managed to speak.

"Ryu........is that you?" I just looked at her for a moment. "She must not be all awake yet." I nod slowly and I continue to look at her.

Then before I can make another move she throws her arms around my neck and buries her face in my shoulder and sobs softly. I didn't know what had happened but I was going to do the best I could to calm her down.

She did not speak a word now as she cried uncontrollably now. I almost started to cry myself but I had to refrain from it for her sake, I couldn't let her know that it was a weakness or anyone else.

I slowly move my arms around her neck and place a hand on the back of her head and the other just below her neck and I stay like this while gently rocking back and forth in hopes of calming her down. I could feel my heartache as I heard and felt her crying. It made me wish more and more that the problems that we suffer would just leave her alone, she has such a fragile heart and I don't want to lose her.

After a few minutes passed I felt her grip around my neck loosen and her crying slowing down now. After a moment of silence I managed to speak but in a whisper.

"Are you alright Nina.......please tell me what's wrong." I slowly moved my hand through her hair and I sit and wait for a response.

After a moment that seemed like hours she slowly lifted her head and stared at my face. I stared back into the depths of her hazel brown eyes and I felt for a moment that I could lose myself in those beautiful eyes. Her cheeks sparkling from her tears and she had a mix of a scared and sad look upon her lips. It took me a moment to find my voice and speak.

"Please tell me what's wrong Nina..........please."

Nina

I just sat there and stared into his sapphire blue eyes while my arms were still around his neck. He looked so worried for me; so worried that I wondered if I should tell him.

He was always so caring to me..........but never like this. This is the first time he's been this caring before. I found it hard to turn away from those eyes; those eyes.....I felt so lost in those eyes. It made me feel warm and complete whenever I looked into those beautiful sapphire eyes.

I continued to stare into his eyes and remaining completely motionless for what seemed like an eternity but only a few moments. I snapped out of my trance when Ryu placed his hand on my cheek. He parted his lips slightly and spoke but only above a whisper.

"Nina........are you alright." Those words ran through my head several times. Was I alright? Should I tell him what happened in the nightmare?

I finally managed to turn my head from his penetrating stare and looked off to right. "I'm ok.......thank you Ryu." I couldn't tell him.....not yet anyway. Maybe when the right time comes I'll tell him, but not now.

I turned my head slightly and looked at him again. All I saw was the face of an understanding person; he already knew that I didn't want to tell him yet. How did he know? Ryu did not speak another word after I did; instead he just held me a little closer to comfort me.

I couldn't help but smile as he did this; it made me feel so much better that he was so close now. So many times when I felt sad, I wanted Ryu to hold me just like this. But I couldn't because I was scared that he would find me weak and to emotional to be a proper princess. Cray seemed to act like that towards me many times when I was a little younger, though he never showed it.

But after meeting Ryu and getting to know him, I saw what true kindness was. He never raised his voice at me or called me names. Not once did he ever speak badly of me, even when I wasn't around he never spoke one word of cruelness to anyone, not even our companions. I know because if he had one of them would've told me......right? No, he's to kind for that.....he would never do anything like that.

Ryu

What's wrong with me; why am I acting like this? I've never felt like this before. It felt so strange while I was holding her. I had never had a chance to hold her like this before. So many times I wished I could be like this with her. And now that she is in my arms; it scares me. Why does it scare me so?

Despite how I felt I had to focus on her and to make sure she is alright. I continued to hold her close and refraining from making any additional moves so as not to scare her, just in case she is still jumpy.

I could feel her hair brush against my cheek and I looked to her again, and I could feel her rubbing her cheek on my shoulder. I stared at her for a moment then I slowly raised my head to the sparkling stars and let out a small breath.

She then lifted her head and stared at me again. She had a small smile upon her face; and seeing that made something loosen on my heart and I felt ten times better that she felt better now. She let out another small breath and smiled a little more content now.

"Thank you Ryu........I feel much better now." Those words rang in my ears and put me more at ease now.

She then loosened her grip from around my neck and I gently laid her back down on the sleeping bag. She tucked her wings behind her as she lied down and she smiled at me one more time as she slowly closed her eyes.

"Good night...........Ryu...." Her words were barely audible as she drifted off to sleep with a content smile and snuggled into the blankets.

I then move beside her and pull my legs to my chest and put my head in my knees.

"As long as she's alright.......that's all I care about." With that one thought I drifted off to sleep without another word.

Chapter 2: Foresights