A/N: I do not own scryed or any of it's characters. Only Ayame and future OC's. I'm really sorry it took so long to get this posted but I re-wrote it about seven times before I liked what I read. I hope you guys like it too! Once again forgive me for the delay.
Chapter 3: Equivalence.
Cougar sighed heavily as he removed his hot pink shades to reveal his dark narrow eyes. This was getting complicated for no good reason. Ryuhou was alive but Sherice was not in excellent shape right now due to her unforeseen interference. They didn't have the time to go back to the Other Side nor take the risk of taking her there in her current state. He had to take them to the only doctor he knew around here that could keep her alive until her Alter Power recovered itself. He just did not think he could face her again after all this time. He had not been able to let go of the part of him that loved Mimori Kiryu more than his own life: not like Sherice had done with her love for Ryuhou. He knelt by Ryuhou and picked him up over his shoulder with ease.
"Damn it Ryuhou, you couldn't just make her happy could you. You had to chase after an unattainable love rather than live in the unconditional love Mimori offered you." He said with a lopsided smile while replacing his shades over his eyes. Akira glanced over at him with sympathy.
"We need to go Cougar. Kazuma doesn't exactly like me after the beating I gave him so you should do the talking. This will put a wrench in our plans but we have no choice." She said looking at the wrecked base with distain. Cougar forced a smile on his face.
"Of course Akira-san! I'll get us there in no time!" He chirped in his bright tone. Akira tisked as she waved her staff in a circular motion causing a portal to open on their right. Hannish passed first with the unconscious Sherice in his arms. Their two toned haired leader stepped forth second but she paused as she passed Cougar.
"You know that you don't have to come with us if you don't feel you can face her. He can give you solace as he gave it to Sherice." She said bluntly while looking away from him. Cougar smiled down at her.
"What makes you say that Akira-san?! You worry over nothing. Plus, these feelings make me feel more alive than anything. I'll keep them thank you." He replied airily adjusting Ryuhou over his shoulder and walking towards the portal and entering it.
"You're the only man I know who can smile with a completely broken heart Straight Cougar." She said to herself with a small smile as she followed her team mates.
It was a dark and cloudy day today in the Lost Ground and Kanami Yuta knew that this was not a good sign as she gazed at the sky.
"Kanami-chan get down from there! You have done more than enough for today dear. You can go home now. I'll get my good for nothing son to get that hen!" Called the kind woman who owned the farm she worked at. Kanami snapped out of it and looked down from her position on the roof. She had been chasing the chickens and one of them had ended up on the roof somehow. She waved down at the woman and informed her she would come down in a minute. When she was sure that she rendered the house, she fixated her emerald gaze upon the errant hen.
'Come here. It's time to go back. You're chicks will catch cold if you don't.' She told the hen in a stern tone. The hen immediately complied and hopped into her arms. Kanami grinned in victory and descended the ladder safely. She put the hen back in the hen house and grabbed her belongings from the farmhouse.
"Obaa-san! I'm leaving!" She called into the house. Surprisingly, the woman's son came to send her off. His name was Hanzou if she was not mistaken. He was a year older than she was and he was cute but she was not interested. That didn't mean he wasn't though. He handed her a basket full of pastries from his mother and looked at her with embarrassment.
"Kanami-chan, may I walk you home?" He asked with a bright blush on his face. She regarded him for a moment. She knew what was going to happen, every guy had been doing it since Kazuma had allowed them to talk to her now a days. However, she accepted anyways.
"Sure, why not." She said with a smile. They walked together while making polite small talk until she took the right path instead of the left one.
"Don't you usually take this path home Kanami-chan?" He asked pointing at the one that led to her house.
"Yes but I'm going to be helping Kazu-kun's girlfriend clean out her house. She has not been there in a while so she asked us to help her. Thank you for walking me Hanzou-san." She replied with a perfect bow. She turned to leave but he gently grabbed her arm.
"W...Wait! Kanami-chan..will you-I mean...will you go out with me?!" He shouted with a fierce blush. She looked at him with kind eyes and a gentle smile.
"Sure." She said with her brightness smile. His face lit up.
"You mean it?!" He asked excited.
"Of course that is, if you can defeat Kazu-kun in a fight." She added in her kind voice. Hanzou's face fell.
"Ka...Kazuma? You're actually serious about that condition?!" He exclaimed. She coolly removed his hand from her arm and her smile now held a hint of complete and utter conviction.
"If you can't defeat him, then you'll never have a chance with me Hanzou. That's my only condition until then we shall remain acquaintances. Please excuse me." She said bowing politely once more and leaving towards Mimori's house leaving a defeated young man in her wake.
"Perhaps you were a bit too harsh with that young man." A soft voice said up ahead. Kanami looked up and saw Mimori standing there with many grocery bags. Kanami grabbed two and started walking with her, shrugging her shoulders at Mimori's words.
"It's a simple condition. If they can't be men about it then they have no chance." She replied matter-of-factly.
"Honestly Kanami-chan. None of them can ever hope to defeat Kazuma." Mimori pointed out trying to get the younger girl to lighten up.
"That's exactly my point." She replied with that bright smile. Mimori frowned but didn't comment any further. There was no winning with a determined Kanami.
"By the way, why did you buy so many groceries?" She inquired.
"Tachibana and Cammy are coming over to help as are Elian-san and Urizane-san. So I thought I'd cook a big feast tonight. After all, it's like we are sort of having a reunion if you think about it." Kanami thoughts turned inwards. Those words brought on that same premonitory feeling she had had this morning. Her bright green eyes looked up at the dark sky while they walked along the road to Mimori's house.
"A reunion..." She muttered to herself lost in the flurry of errant emotions she was sensing around her.
"What was that? Are you even listening to me Kanami-chan?" Mimori asked a bit peeved. Kanami recovered quickly and held her head high as she walked passed the older woman.
"I wasn't, I was thinking up ways to steal Kazu-kun back." She replied serenely. Mimori's cheeks puffed with anger and Kanami giggled.
"We are quite happy if you want to know." Mimori supplied with anger. Kanami was her friend but she would fight for the man she had grown to care about.
"That's nice. Keep it that way and don't kill him with your barely passable cooking skills and he might not leave
you for me." The young beauty said with that unnerving smile. Mimori sighed. There really was no winning with this girl.
"And that's the last of it!" Kazuma exclaimed tossing the last garbage bag into the sky of the newly cleaned and de-weeded Kiryu household's back yard. He leapt after it and destroyed it with a single punch causing the garbage to fade into non-existence.
"Honestly, it's a wonder that idiot can see anything with that one eye. Let alone function with that one busted arm." A deep nasal voice asked his former comrades as he munched on a slice of watermelon. He sat on the back porch of the home in a pair of beige shorts, a ripped green shirt that looked more like a vest but with his large stomach left exposed. His narrow eyes watched Kazuma land and grin like a maniac. He ran his free hand through his tied up brown hair with irritation.
"Damn it! That guy frustrates me almost as much as Ryuhou!" He exclaimed spitting some seeds out of his mouth.
A chuckle escaped the handsome young man leaning against the railing.
"Oi! What's so funny Tachibana?" Tachibana Asuka smiled.
"He may frustrate you but that guy...he makes us see that life is worth fighting for no matter what is in your way. Even with restrictions upon yourself you must fight. I rather think you admire him like you do Ryuhou Urizane." Asuka replied with a grin. His slim form garbed in a simple pair of dark brown slacks and a purple dress shirt leaned casually adjacent to the railing. His short purple hair shifted slightly at his change in position.
"No way! I respect Ryuhou this guy is a total idiot!" Urizane pressed while munching on his watermelon.
"I think Tachibana is right. You have a soft spot for Kazuma-san as well." The person sitting on his left side said in his quiet yet all knowing tone. His hair was still parted at the middle but he had let it grow out and the base was tied with a white ribbon. His features had matured over the years and he wasn't as tall as Urizane but his aura made up for it. Urizane's frowned as he spit some seeds out.
"Not you too Elian! Come on buddy." Urizane cried. Elian just smiled soflty.
"What's got you so worked up about him anyway?" Tachibana asked exasperated.
"I just can't see what the hell she sees in a man like him. I mean, he's...such a fool! Both he and Ryuhou are idiots when it comes to women." Urizane mumbled quietly. Tachibana and Elian shared a look with a small smile.
"That may be so, but just admit you admire Kazuma however dumb the guy may be so that we may all move on with our lives and you can get over your soft spot for Mimori-san. I did and I'm happier for it." Tachibana said with a smug smile. Urizane grunted and watched as Kazuma destroyed a large rock with a showy punch. Cammy called them in soon after, Tachibana joined her along with Kazuma right away to help set the table. Elian remained seated beside his best friend.
"Maybe...it's time you moved on Urizane. Taking your frustrations out on Kazuma-san is not an adequate replacement and now Tachibana thinks you're in love with Mimori-san." Elian pointed out.
"Maybe...But those idiots they're both so alike it pisses me off. Also, when you've loved someone for as long as I have, it's hard to let go." He admitted looking at the last piece of his watermelon with gentle eyes.
"I would have given her the last piece that day..." Elian smiled and placed a gentle hand on his large friends shoulder.
"I know."
Lunch passed without much incident other than Kazuma and Urizane being at each others necks and Mimori forgetting to put sugar in the cake she baked much to her horror and Kanami's amusement. They retired to the recently dusted and cleaned living room to sit and chat. Tachibana sat with his arm around Cammy, Elian sat with Urizane while Kazuma sat with Kanami and Mimori on either side of him. Mimori donned her glasses as she cleared her throat to gather their attention. She received it immediately. Mimori Kiryu was a figure of hope in the Lost Ground and her activism demanded respect.
"I'd like to use this opportunity to get reports from everyone about the state of the areas you've been living in to see where we need to distribute more funds and such." She explained turning on her mini-computer and donning her glasses.
"Tachibana, how is the reconstruction of the city?" She asked. He sat up a bit straighter and his features turned slightly serious.
"Reconstruction of the city is going as planned. The schools have been rebuilt along with the banks, offices and commercial districts. Housing is in its final phase and Inner who requested to live in the city have gone through the transition fairly easily. People are more independent and aware of the prejudice they upheld by living within the privileged city."
"Also, many of the people who resided in the city but remained in the Lost Ground have started adopting the orphans, Alter Users and Non-Alter Users alike. Of course we screen test every potential parent but the results have been fruitful so far." Cammy added.
"That's wonderful. Elian-san, Urizane-san."
"The agricultural sector has been flourishing thanks to Urizane's Alter and the Inner's agricultural abilities. The Lost Ground had very fertile lands when you disregard the harsher outlands. The harvest will be very plentiful this season." He briefed quietly. Mimori nodded and took a few notes in her computer before turning her gaze to Kazuma who was starring at the ceiling with his good eye.
"Kazuma?" She called. He closed his eyes and ran a hand through his messy brown locks.
"I haven't kicked anyone's ass since the Mainland's last assault two years ago. All the action I've been seeing is kicking local thugs around and sending the random mainland spy back to wherever he came from. This sucks, big time. Can't you tell me to go and kick those bureaucrat's asses already?" He asked gruffly. Mimori hid a smile as Tachibana and Cammy snickered.
"If you did that then we'd have another war and as much as you like fighting, we can't afford another one. Kanami-chan?" She asked the young woman.
"The farmers like the way they are and don't want to be disturbed. They've built their own lives here. But the people have begun feeling uneasy. They think this peace is not going to last. There is always that fear at the back of their minds." She assessed after a brief moment of picking up the feelings in the region.
"Just as I thought, which bring me to my next subject. I've been expecting this uneasiness. The Lost Ground is flourishing but we are fragile. One mistake on our part can undo all our hard work over the past years. The recent attack on Kazuma that I told you all about further enforced my fears. So tell me honestly what you think each sector needs to become truly stable once more." She informed them. Silence reigned until Elian spoke up.
"We'll need to start exporting our goods. We need to build a strong economy to be able to stand on our own two feet." He admitted.
"I think we also need to start importing as well. We can't produce everything out here Alter power or not." Urizane supplied.
"The Lost Ground was mostly a tourist hot spot and the education system was private. Some of the teachers remained but not enough for the estimated influx of students. Same goes for the hospitals staff. We'll need to hire people from outside or send them out to receive proper training before returning." Tachibana elaborated. "But to do that..." Cammy trailed off.
"We'll soon be in need of a leader or some form of government to complete the Lost Ground's restoration and independence. I understand that. It'll take time to choose a candidate. I thank you all again for your hard work." She said closing her computer and smiling though it was slightly strained. Cammy smiled at the woman who tried so hard to fix such a twisted world.
"Thanks to you Mimori-san." Mimori blushed.
"N-not really. Ryuhou's sup-pplied the funds I just manage them. Plus w-we all work together to maintain our peace." She stuttered with embarrassment.
"You're too modest Mimori-hime!" Tachibana said with a grin.
"I'm not a princess...really Tachibana!" She exclaimed her features frowning. The others started teasing her as well when Cammy tapped Tachibana on his shoulder and whispered something in his ear. He paled and stood up along with Cammy.
"Cammy's...not feeling well, you mind if I put her in one of the rooms upstairs?" He asked Mimori.
"Of course not! It's my fault probably! Cammy-san is the only one who dared to eat that cake."
"Trust me Mimori-san, it's not your fault." Tachibana said with a drop of sweat on his face at her ardent behavior.
"Please, choose any room you like." Mimori squeaked with many bows. She was still bowing when the couple left. Kazuma had to grab her arm and pull her back on the couch before she bowed herself into an early grave.
"Man you're so polite it's almost annoying. Tachibana probably lied. He and Cammy are probably getting frisky in your roo-"
"What kind of a sick mind to you have Kazuma! Tachibana is not like that!" Mimori affirmed.
"Yeah well sorry to disappoint Mimori but Tachibana is married to Cammy and she didn't look too sick to me." Urizane pointed out sharing a rare grin with Kazuma. Mimori reddened and looked to Kanami for support.
"You're going to ruin Kanami's innocent mind!" She accused.
"I've lived with Kazu-kun forever and I'm an Inner. I'm far from innocent Mimori-san." She said in her sugary voice. Mimori popped a vein and glared at her brown haired lover. Kazuma looked at Mimori with curiosity.
"What?!" He asked taken aback by her expression. Mimori sighed and just left the living room mumbling something about getting refreshments. Kanami glared at Kazuma.
"Not you too!"
"This is getting way to personal; I'm going to eat some watermelon. You want some Elian?"
"Sure but I know you won't give me any." He replied following a smirking Urizane out of the living room. Once they left, Kanami rounded on her Kazu-kun.
"You really are tactless. Couldn't you have reassured her that you don't have romantic feelings for me Kazu-kun?"
"Why would I do that?" He asked getting mad.
"Because Mimori loves you but she's still carrying scars from the past. You know that."
"So what if I'm tactless. Your teasing her isn't helping either. I care a lot about Mimori. She should know that without me having to tell her." Kanami took a moment to take in what he said. She stood up and looked out the large windows. Her green eyes were clouded with memories of the past.
"My Alter power always let me know how you felt towards me Kazu-kun so I never asked to hear it because I heard the words in my heart. But Mimori isn't like me. She needs to hear it, to feel safe. To feel closer to you." She explained turning to stare him dead in the eye.
"So when she comes back, you had better tell her."
"No way!"
"Kazu-kun!"
"And why the hell are you doing this? I thought you didn't want us together!" Kazuma bellowed. Kanami took a step back in shock. She glared at him and left in a wake of fury. Kazuma sat there cursing his idiocy when Kanami marched back in dragging a flustered and protesting Mimori behind her. She tossed the older woman on the couch and pinned them both down with her fiery green orbs.
"You two listen to me right now! I might not like seeing you two together but I can get through all that because I feel I did the right thing when I see Kazu-kun smile for you Mimori or when I fell that the wounds afflicting your heart heal little by little every day Mimori. So why are you going to let keep letting little things tear at what you've build together?" She scolded as she walked to the living room door. She whipped her head around and surprisingly flashed a bright and gentle smile towards them.
"You two have gotten yourselves into this mess, so see it through till the end no matter what. After all, it's the type of people you are, right?" She said softly before leaving them alone.
Thoroughly reprimanded, Mimori had a small tinge of red on her cheeks as did Kazuma. She glanced at him just as he glanced at her, causing her to crack a small smile.
"We really have to stop relying on Kanami to fix our problems." She shifted closer to him on the coach and gently placed her hand over his.
"I always wished you would share that closeness you share with Kanami with me but I understand, I'm overstepping my-"
"Don't try apologize. I was being insensitive and stubborn." His hand turned upwards and grasped hers.
"I've...cared for someone other than Kanami three times in my life. One was a man I knew when I was a child , the second was Kimishima and the other was a woman. At least, I like to call what I felt for her at the time was love but I think I grew attached to her feelings for me." He admitted with a sad smile. Mimori's eyes softened slightly as she squeezed his hand prompting him to continue.
"Her name was Terada Ayase. I always forgot her name every time we met though. She was an Alter User like me. Kimishima liked her a lot but she was stuck on me for some reason. I had to fight her and watch her die trying to protect someone she loved: for the sake of her baby brother. It really tore me apart to watch that smile of hers when she died, like she was happy." He turned his body towards her and looked at her with his eye.
"I never wanted to feel that way again. Never. That helplessness was too much for me to deal with. Damn it! What I'm trying to say is I can't really say these things all the time so listen to me carefully." He said all in one breathe. She looked at him expectantly waiting for his words when he pulled her forwards and placed a hard yet gentle kiss on her rosy lips. Mimori's eyes widened and a blush crept on her face but she didn't care as she returned his kiss. She could hear what he was trying to say loud and clear.
His hands began to wander and one found its way under her shirt caressing her waist. Mimori giggled causing Kazuma to frown. He broke their heated kiss and stared at her.
"What the hell is so damn funny?"
"It tickles." She admitted through her spasms of laughter. Kazuma grinned as he pinned her down to tickle her sides as he planted kisses here and there. Her squirming soon caused something to fall out of her shirt, hanging on its rope, gleaming brightly to catch their attention. Kazuma stopped in mid-kiss and sat up, pulling a slightly mussed Mimori up with him. She looked down at her pendant and smiled wistfully before she lifted it over her head and held it in her palm. She closed her eyes briefly and looked at Kazuma with a tender and clear expression.
"I think I may finally be ready to let go of this by the time he comes back." She said to his great surprise and hers.
"Mimori...You don't have to. It doesn't bother me that much." He told her but she shook her head as she placed her hands around his neck and pecked his lips lightly.
"But it does to me. I never thought I could live without this by my side. But I know I can. I loved Ryuhou but I think I'll return it to him when he comes back."
"Better be the only thing you return to him." He growled in her ear as he pulled her into his lap. It was at that moment that Urizane opened the living room door, Elian behind him and Kanami hanging off his arm in an attempt to stop him from coming in. Mimori was thankful that her clothes were still on but it didn't stop her from blushing ten different shades of red and putting as much space between her and Kazuma as humanly possible. Kazuma was pissed off at the intrusion. He was actually getting farther with Mimori than ever and these guys had to barge in!
"I tried to stop him." Kanami piped up as she let go of Urizane's arm.
"Man, I guess it's really you two who wanted to shack it up instead of Tachibana." He teased. Kazuma was about to pounce on him when a scream issued from Mimori. They all glanced at her to see trembling as she stared down at her pendant in a mix of disbelief and fear. Kazuma automatically stood beside her and looked down at the pendant. It was phasing from solid to nothingness.
Urizane cursed out loud as Elian and Kanami tried to reach out for Ryuhou's life force with their powers but they were blocked by an invisible force. Kazuma glanced at them but received nothing but negative shakes of their heads.
"How can he do this to me again...He promised me!" She whispered between sobs. Kazuma glared at the thing in her hands and snatched it from her grasp. He brought it up to his face and glared at it.
"I mean it Ryuhou, somebody better save your life because I plan on killing you myself if you die before she can give this back to you teme!" He yelled at the pendant. They all thought Kazuma had gone off the deep end but to their shock, the pendant stabilized itself and became whole again. A satisfied smirk graced Kazuma's face and he handed it back to Mimori who was at a loss for words.
"What the hell just-What the?!" Urizane exclaimed as bright kaleidoscopic light filled the room causing a blast of power to circle the room. Kazuma stepped in front of Mimori and Urizane in front of Kanami and Elian to sheild them from the blast. When it receeded, Mimori glanced from behind Kazuma and silently mourned her newly renovated living room now in shambles before noticing that at the center of her living room stood three people.
The tallest one was carrying someone in his arms; the second was carrying a large staff and obscuring their view of the person being carried. The third held someone slung over his shoulder. The latter stepped up with a dramatic jump and grinned madly as he adjusted his flaming pink shades.
"Oi Kazuya! Long time no see? Ah! How are you Miss Minori?" He asked the latter with softness in his voice.
"It's...Mi...Mimori." She said with a shocked expression and tears still in her eyes.
"Ah! Suma, suma!" He exclaimed at his mistake.
"Cougar?! What the hell is going on here? We thought you were dead!" Kazuma exclaimed with shock evident on his face. His gaze shifted to the one with the staff and recognized her in an instant.
"You! What the hell are you doing with this trash Cougar? No matter, I've been itching to meet you again Mijyou!" He growled getting into a fighting pose. His eyes gleamed with that lust for an impending fight as he lunged for the woman but Cougar suddenly kicked him in the face, sending Kazuma flying into the far wall with a bleeding nose.
"Ah, these are my teammates. And sorry for not dying but I thought I should bring this back to you." He said dumping the body that had been slung over his shoulder. Mimori ran forwards with a cry as she caught Ryuhou in a clumsy grip. Urizane, Elian and Kanami crowded around her to check on him even if she was the doctor here.
"You didn't have to drop him like that!" Mimori admonished as she checked Ryuhou for serious wounds.
"Sorry, must have slipped my mind that he was injured." He replied grinning. His grin faded as her brown eye locked with his. He took an unconscious step back from her.
"Anyway, I didn't come here for him. I came here for her." He indicated to the injured person in the tall man's arms. "Akira."
Akria moved out of the way and what they saw literally floored Urizane and stopped Mimori's heart for a heartbeat. They couldn't believe what they were seeing. Cradled in the arms of the tall giant was a young woman with long blue hair covered in soot and burnt at some places. Her face was hidden in the man's chest but that was all they needed to know it was her. Akira used this opportunity to her advantage.
"She saved his life when he failed to exit the base as it was exploding. Cougar said you are a gifted doctor. She cannot heal herself because she used her power on Ryuhou. Please, you must help her. She is of great importance to you if you wish for your plans to restore the Lost Ground to ever take fruit." Akira revealed. Mimori could tell this woman was not one to jest about such proclamations.
She swallowed hard. This was too much for her to acknowledge. She clutched her pendant as she starred at the woman who would always surpass her in Ryuhou's heart.
'Sherice...'
A rush of footsteps sounded outside the living room and Tachibana ran into the living room a worried expression on his face.
"I heard some screaming. What the hell is going on here?" Asuka asked looking around the living room filled with strangers and familiar faces.
"C-Cougar!? What the hell? What happened to Ryuhou? No it can't…Sherice?! What the hell is going on here?" He wailed as his mind tried to grasp the situation but failed miserably.
"Your guess is as good as ours." Kazuma said glancing at Akira. She ignored him and looked at a stunned Mimori who was starring at Sherice lost in her thoughts. Akira dug her elbow into Cougar's ribs prompting him to say something.
"Please Mimori-san. Time is precious and her wounds are still bleeding. She needs your help." He urged gently as he placed a hand on her shoulder. Mimori looked at him and glanced at his teammates.
"On one condition: you must explain everything to us. None of this makes any sense but it's all linked somehow. The attacks made on Ryuhou and Kazuma, your recent actions in the Mainland, Cougar-san, yourself and Sherice being alive. It doesn't add up but it fits. I'll treat her under the condition you tell us everything." She said with as much steel she could muster in her shaking voice.
Cougar glanced back at Akira and she nodded her head.
"We had hoped to delay this but we have no choice. Treat her and then we shall talk." Mimori nodded her head and stood up her back straight and filled with resolve.
"Kanami-chan if you would please show Cougar-san Ryuhou's room. Akira-san this way please." Akira followed Mimori with the tall man that carried Sherice out of their sight.
Kanami looked at Cougar along with the others. Kazuma frowned and threw a punch at Cougar sending him flying into the far wall. Cougar recovered quickly and smiled brightly.
"You've gotten faster Kazuya! What speed! What essence!" He gushed with joy.
"Shut up!"
"Kazuma why the hell did you do that?" Asuka asked confused.
"I had to hit somebody. This is way too weird. It's getting on my nerves damn it." He admitted. He looked down at Ryuhou and Kanami saw the turmoil that fought within him. He growled turning away from them as he faced the window.
"This is annoying; I'd rather be planting watermelons. I'm leaving. Elian, call me when they wake up and start talking." Urizane said in a dead paned voice as he left them using his watermelon to warp out of the living room.
"Do what Mimori asked Kanami. Cougar and Tachibana can carry the bastard to his room. I need to be alone for a while." He said with a deep sigh. Kanami didn't press him and she sent a glare at Asuka as he tried to take a step towards Kazuma. She shook her head and left the room with the two men carrying the unconscious Ryuhou between them.
He felt like his soul was bathed in endless warmth. He felt no pain only that warmth that he had felt earlier.
"Ryuhou...Ryuhou?! Ryuhou wake up all ready!" A feminine voice urged. Ryhou opened his wine red eyes and was met with brilliant sea blue eyes that shone with mirth.
"Honestly what am I going to do with you? You didn't have another nightmare I hope?" She prodded gently in her teasing tone. Ryuhou knew it. The way she spoke and smiled.
"Sherrice?" He asked bringing a tentative hand to her face above his.
"Ara! He speaks! Of course it's me silly!" His hand met her gentle face and connected. She was really there. He felt his heart constrict painfully as she touched his hand.
"Oh Ryuhou. You've been hurting yourself for so long. Can't you let go of the past?" She asked gently. He shook his head no as caressed her soft cheek as a tender look entered his eyes.
"What happened? Am I dead?" He asked looking around them. What he saw surprised him. They were in the Tairen household gardens. Alive and in full bloom exactly how they were when Sherice had taken care of the flowers during her stay in their home. Just like when his mother took care of the flowers. He sat up and looked at her. She was dressed in a simple white dress with thin straps. Her hair was longer and reached to her lower back. She looked beautiful.
"You're not dead Ryuhou. As for me…I really am dead in a manner of speaking." She explained bringing her legs towards her chest and playing with her hair with her right hand. He smiled fondly at her nervous habit as he seated himself beside her.
"So where are we if I'm not dead and you are?" He asked. She raised her left hand and pointed at his head.
"We're in your mind. Somehow during the explosion a part of me connected with you or maybe it's the other way around.." Sherice informed him. "I was able to reach you when you almost killed yourself for such a foolish reason." He bowed his head at her harsh words.
"I wanted to see you. I didn't care how I did it as long as I saw you nothing else mattered." He admitted softly.
"I've always been with you Ryuhou. Always." She admitted softly.
"So who is that woman I saw."
"That is me. In that body I have no memory of anything relating to the Lost Ground. I don't know how to explain it. I think that I had to sacrifice you in order to save you back then." She explained looking at the rose bush to her right. Ryuhou watched as she stood up and looked down at him.
"I made a promise to you and I intend to keep it. But you have to let me go Ryuhou. You have to move on."
"I can't. Not after all this. I don't understand any of this but I don't care. " He said standing up to look down at her.
"I'm a big girl Ryuhou, I can take care of myself." She puffed out with a frown.
"I know but I promise, I won't lose you again. I will protect you this time." He swore as he held her against his body. Her blue hair floated in the cold breeze. "I know now…I don't need anything else Sherice. I can face anything to have you by my side again." A small hand rose and gently touched his arm. Ryuhou looked down and found her smiling up at him with tears in her eyes.
"I've always wanted to hear those words..." She whispered. He smiled and gently ran his hands in her long hair.
"Then I'll give you reason never to want anymore." She smiled but it held sadness within it.
"Ryuhou... The me out there doesn't know you because I'm no longer connected to her. The part of me that loved you can no longer resurface. This, right now, is just a fluke. My feelings for you will never resurface again Ryuhou."
"Then I'll find a way...You're here now aren't you?" He started.
"There is no such way. It was a decision I made knowing there was no going back. I accepted that."
"I can't." He snapped anger entering his heart.
"Please Ryuhou…This isn't easy for me."
"You deserve to be free from me Sherrice. You deserve everything in this world."
"What are you really looking for Ryuhou? What do you want from me?" She asked with a sad sigh.
"I want to be with you." He said frankly. Sherice stared at him as he looked at her. She smiled bitterly.
"A little late ne? And?" She prompted. Ryuhou frowned inwardly. She knew him too well.
"...Forgiveness. I want to be forgiven."
"By who? Mimori-san?" She asked with a downward tug of her lips as she took a step back to look away from his eyes. He placed a hand on bare shoulder making her look at him.
"By you."
"I've never thought badly of you Ryuhou. You...you are the reason I exist in this world. You're all I'll ever need. That's enough for me." She admitted holding onto his hand on her shoulder.
"Then don't pull away from me." He said as he turned her to face him and cupped her cheek in his hand. His other hand brushed her hair away from her eyes as he bent down to place a soft kiss on her lips but just as he felt his lips brush her soft ones, he felt an electric spasm of pain course through her body. She crumpled in his arms and he panicked as she supressed her screams of pain.
"What's wrong?" He demanded as she grimaced in pain.
"My body is calling me back. I did just save your life in an explosion. You can't expect me to have gotten out of that easily." She said between harsh breaths. She looked up at him and touched his face gently.
"I'm glad I got to see you again. One last time." She said before she faded away with a smile on her rosy lips. The warmth he craved for faded away and Ryuhou was left alone once again. He picked one of the fragrant blue roses and brough it to his face.
"I won't give up Sherice. Not this time."
Cougar left Ryuhou's room soon after Kanami and Asuka did. He wasn't surprised to see Akira passing by the room. He closed it and faced her.
"Since all the players are here I think it's time to tell them why we're here Akira-san. We're losing enough time as it is. The enemy will take advantage of that soon." He said leaning against the door and pulling out a book. She stopped for a small moment.
"I'm quite aware of that. Sherice should wake up tonight thanks to your precious Mimori-san." She informed him.
"Ah! She is a good doctor I told you so." He boasted flipping through his book.
"I've sent Hannish to get Ayame-chan just in case he shows up which I think he will." She warned as she continued on her way. "So stay alert Cougar. Once we get them into this fight, there is no turning back. Even for Mimori." She looked back and found that he was gone. She smiled and shook her head.
"You're incorrigable Cougar. But I wish I had your courage. To be able to love freely life you do." She murmured to herself before heading back to Sherice's room.
Night was fallen and neither Ryuhou or Sherrice had woken up but Mimori had told them it wouldn't be long until they did. Kanami was comming back from her home with a bag full of things for Kazuma and herself. She knew they'd be staying longer than planned with everything that had occured.
Everything was a mess and her mind was trying to cope with the resent events but all the conflicting emotions in that house made her tired and weary. She had to build herself a stronger wall to be able to act like nothing was wrong but it was hard. Maybe she should ask Elian-san? Kanami look up at the darkening sky and felt a chilly wind pick up.
She recognised it immediately just as a presence suddenly appeared behind her.
A tall and dark figure trapped her in his chilling embrace, his arms snaking around her slim waist. His left hand rose to caress her cheek with his cold hand. Kanami was frozen in place as she dropped her bags, some of the contents spilling out but unoticed by the frightened girl. This boy, his aura was so stifilling yet it drew her into his soul.
"My dearest Kanami. You really shouldn't be wandering out so late. You never know who could be roaming around here." He reprimanded.
"I'm not a child and I can take care of myself. I'd worry more about you." She said pooling her power and flung it at him mind but it didn't affect him the slightest. He just flicked it away with his own mind. Kanami frowned. He should be unconcious after that assault.
"Who are you?" She whispered shakily. She felt his head bend down to the crook of her shoulder and felt his smile. She spied strands of dark black hair as another cool wind blew behind them.
His lips traced the lobe of her ear and his voice whispered into the night air.
"You and I are, we're two of a kind. I've finally found you, my Kanami. I have so much to tell you. Would you do me the honour of dining with me?" Kanami didn't know why but when he asked her to come with him she wasn't afraid. It wasn't becasue she felt his intentions. She could not feel any of his thoughts which upset her but somehow she knew, deep inside her being, that he did not intend to harm her. He needed her for some reason.
She closed her eyes and opened them to look at the house standing a hundred feet away. She couldn't bear to be there right now. Maybe she could get her own answers from this young man. It was risky but something in her soul told her to go with him.
She made her choice.
"It's a date."
Next Time: Ryuhou awakens to find the one he wants to be with is no longer in his reach. Sherice awakens and Akira reveals both their enemy, their purpose and why Cougar and Sherice are alive.What will happen to Kanami on her 'date' with this mysterious young man? The battle looms near and their new enemy strikes where they are most vulnerable.
Next time in The Alter Chronicles: The Word of Evolution...
