Lita
Chapter 21
50/50

Ryudo looked down at the bed beneath him, his hands on the thin blankets that donned it as he held himself up and to his shock he saw the beautiful Elena between himself and the bed. Her hands nervously covered her mouth as her small voice whispered his name, stuttering as she tried to regain any composure she could find. Ryudo couldn't move. He knew he should get off the bed and apologise, after all it was an accident; but his body was paying no heed to his brains desperate pleading.

His face was so hot he was sure the steam from his blush was fogging his mind. How did this even happen?

He recalled Lita excitingly jumping up and down whilst she held on to his sleeve tightly. Millenia was standing next to Tio, whispering in her ear. Tio nodded robotically as Millenia giggled and skipped off into the bedroom area. Bakala's loud voice called out the approaching Grana cliffs, instructing that everyone holds on to something.

"Lita, come and sit by me." Tio called out as she slowly lowered herself to the floor beneath the table. Lita abandoned Ryudo's arm and fell in front of the automata; giggling excitingly as Tio pulled her close with one arm whilst the other held the table leg. It didn't take long for Roan to join them and that left our hero standing alone and confused.

As he looked into Tio's eyes he silently asked her why she had taken the kitten away from his side. Then the extraordinary and most unbelievable thing happened. Tio smiled almost slyly as she nodded toward the bedrooms and playfully winked. This was the last person he expected to convey that look.

Despite his shock he casually walked to the door of the bedroom and looked into the room. Millenia sat on the bed and giggled as she waved at him.

"Take care of our girl." She said as a light enveloped her. The pieces fell together in Ryudo's mind and he fought the goofy smile off of his lips.

The light dispersed and Elena opened her eyes, blinking a few times as if slowly waking from a dream. Ryudo watched her long lashes caress her skin each time her eye lids closed. Her crystal clear eyes finally seemed to take in her surroundings and as they rested on Ryudo a mixture of warmth, longing and hesitance crossed them and a sudden sadness overwhelmed them. She turned away from his gaze and looked to the port hole, her eyes not focusing on the scenery that lay beyond it.

Casually Ryudo ruffled his hair, contemplating what he should do, as he walked to the bed. As he fell gently beside her he found himself at a loss for words. Desperately hoping the right words would tumble from his mouth he allowed it to fall open but Elena's words interrupted him.

"I'm sorry. I don't know why she made me come out. She's been stubborn and refuses to spend more time out then me." Ryudo raised a very confused eyebrow.

"Why are you apologising?"

"Because… no matter how much I try you guys don't get to spend much time together." Ryudo smiled. She was hoping to help him and Millenia. She always put others before herself. Ryudo didn't know whether he was happy about that or whether he wanted her to be a little more selfish.

"Elena, the thing is…" But he was unable to finish the sentence. His words followed his stomach as if they flew up his throat. Lita squealed like a child would on a roller coaster whilst Roan tried to withhold the scream that threatened to spill from his lips. He failed as did Ryudo and Elena and as they fell from the Grana cliff Ryudo's body acted by instinct; pushing himself and Elena on the bed, he desperately grabbed the bed frame, holding them both down so they would not fly up and hit their heads on the bunk bed above them. They screamed, their lungs ached and their throats became hoarse until the jerk of the ship alerted them to the flight of the 50/50. The wind caught the sales and the air was released from the pump…

….so he remembered what happened. Yay Ryudo! But now he was faced with the growing urge to remain where they lay, the urge to just hold her close and let all his true feelings flood from his mouth. Although would that be so bad? She would finally know! Millenia would be sure to tell her she had it all wrong. They could be happy….

"MISTER RYU! WE'RE FLYING LIKE MISTER BIRDY!" When Lita stepped into the room she saw Ryudo sitting at the end of the bed anger written on his blushing face as he punched the wall. All the way on the other side was Elena, also blushing as she straightened her clothing and fixed her hair.

It only took a second for his body to move from Elena's and he cursed Lita ruining the moment yet again!

"MISTER RYU! LISTEN TO LITA!" Lita yelled as she stamped her foot.

"KITTEN I AM NOT IN THE MOOD FOR A TANTRUM!" He snapped back. Lita giggled as she turned from his anger and looked out the window again. His eyes met Elena's and they both flushed red before avoiding the others gaze.

The rest of the trip was awkward. Ryudo was both relieved and frustrated. Relieved that he no longer had to man the pump but frustrated because when he finally had a minute to tell Elena what he felt it had been ruined yet again! He spent the rest of the trip sitting at the table, drinking Tio's tea as Lita sat on his lap, drawing pictures of everyone she met and the numerous flowers they saw. He was sure he would be stuck there for many more hours.

Roan watched silently as Ryudo's face scrunched up in frustration, grumbling beneath his breath before his expression relaxed with a defeated sigh. As he lifted the cup to his lips Roan sat his down as he spoke calmly

"Did Lita ruin a moment? We tried to hold her back." Ryudo spat the tea out; Lita sat still on his lap, covered in tea and saliva, with a slight twitch to show her sudden discomfort.

Roan was shocked at the reaction and tried to hold back his amusement. Tio, who had been busily cleaning the tea pot only a few feet away, was quick to run to Lita's side, dabbing her face with the tea towel as the young girls lip began to tremble.

"We will do better next time." Roan calmly commented as he took another sip of tea, hiding his smirk behind the cup.

Elena stood on deck, the fresh air clearing her mind. But every time she closed her eyes she saw Ryudo looking down on her. His eyes were trying to say something to her…

Her eyes flung open for the hundredth time, her heart raced and the smell of sweat and sea water from his body came flooding back to her senses. With a groan of embarrassment she collapsed to her knees and pulled out a compact mirror.

Millenia's face came into view, her smile stretched from ear to ear. "So… still a lil excited are we?"

"N-N-NO Millenia! I just…it was so…. But it was an accident… we didn't…"

"Elena just calm down. I told you that Ryudo doesn't love me that way…" Elena rested her back to the railing of the ship and allowed her shoulders relax.

"But you didn't see what I saw."

"What did you see?" Millenia enquired, her curiosity peeked. Elena shut the compact and held it to her heart. She loved Ryudo, she always had. But that love meant that she preferred him to be happy, if him being happy didn't include her then so be it.

She recalled how tightly Ryudo held her… Held Millenia before they had swopped places. And despite the fact she wanted them both to be happy she couldn't tell Millenia it was she Ryudo had held close. He held Millenia so tightly. Why else would he hold her like that if he did not love her?

Was she selfish by not telling her best friend why she felt Ryudo loved her? It's like her brain wanted to tell her but her heart shut her mouth, longing that if Millenia didn't find out she wouldn't re-gain the love she previously had for Ryudo.

Opening the compact she looked into Millenia's worried eyes,

"M-Millenia… Am I a selfish person?"