Lita
Chapter 28
I want you to be happy

"Elena… are you okay? You appear very pale and have a cold sweat. I believe your body is going through shock. That was a nasty wound and you have been at this for days. The strain may be too much." Tio robotically stated as she re-bound Elena's arm with clean bandages.

Elena looked over at Ryudo. His form cringed in pain as sweat soaked the sheets. "Me and Millenia have to do this. If not us…who else."

They had already considered getting Lita to help but Centeria thought it best not to cross the wings powers in such a dangerous setting. Tio had tried but it didn't work and Roan was struggling with his own horns…

"OH! Roan! How is he Tio? Did it work?" Tio smiled sweetly as she replied "Fine. It worked. The horns in Roan have been made dormant. But he is weak." Elena sighed a sigh of relief.

She looked back at Tio as she asked "Ryudo…his not going to make it if this doesn't work. How long till his body gives up?"

Tio diverted her gaze as she quietly spoke "Tonight…He will not make it through the night."

Elena crawled from her sitting spot to Ryudo's side, a mirror already positioned on his other side. Millenia looked back at her with red rimmed, weary eyes.
Elena nodded and Millenia's expression became determined just like Elena's. "AGAIN!" they both said in strong, unyielding voices as they tried yet again to lay dormant the horns of Valmar.


Ryudo sat in the mist. He had gone through horrible scenes he wished he could erase. Every horrible scene he could recall.
Melfice killing Reena.
Himself killing Melfice.
Millenia getting devoured on the red moon.
Mareg dying.
Elena coughing up all that blood….her cold body.
Tio's tears of oil running down her cheeks as she clutched on to his arm.
Gatta being pulled into the seal.

And then… again and again he saw himself attacking Gatta…and Gatta attacking him. No mercy, no hesitance…and then…..himself slicing Elena's arm. He was going to keep going if they hadn't stopped him. He could see that.

He didn't think that if he lost control he would recall it. He thought he would wake up and just hear of his bad consequences, but he remembered every detail. Every single moment he remembered. He remembered the pain of each cut, he remembered the feeling of his swords cutting shreds into his best friend, He remembered everyone screaming… He remembered the look on Elena's face as his sword made contact with her arm.

Her face was twisted in pure fear and sadness. And Millenia. For a moment he felt Millenia's pain… it was almost as if he cut her too. He heard her scream as Elena did. It was like he attacked both girls in one shot.

And then there was Lita. For a moment he caught the sight of Elena hugging the young girl from behind. He could see her tears slip from under Elena's arms and the white of her bottom lip as she bit it. He silently thanked Elena for covering her eyes but still…Lita knew what was happening. Would she ever look at him the same again?

Ryudo pondered again and again what to do. He could hear the pleading voices of Elena and Millenia as they called out to him, but their voices seemed distant. He could let them in. he could allow the horns to become dormant again but…
…Would he just hurt them again. It was already proved that the horns being dormant would not assure he would not hurt anyone.

But if they were not made dormant wouldn't they be equally as dangerous?

Then that idea came to mind. He could run.

He was obviously unstable no matter what he did. It would be a danger rather than an aid to the defeat of Valmar and Granas. So why stay?

He stretched in the fog and fell backwards so he was lying on his back and staring up at the white oblivion. He could let them seal Valmar. He could smile a reassuring smile and say how tired he was. While they slept he would disappear into the night. Go into hiding yet again. It was so easy.

'Can I tell you something? Man to man?...
When you left them and returned, they warmly welcomed you back with open arms and open hearts. I doubt they would be able to do that again.
Also Lita is emotionally fragile. From everything I've seen of her and everything Tio has told me, I believe she will never recover if you left her…
Please…Please don't run away from us again.'

Roan's words, his pleading, yet determined and manly eyes… They pulled at Ryudo's heart. He felt guilty…but still, feeling guilty is better than hurting his friends. Besides, what good can a blood thirsty Geohound hope for? His life will always be solo.

A little baby face appeared before him, making him jump into a seating position. There was Kori looking at him quizzically. Then with a baby's giggle he disappeared…


Tio explained the little if any progress they made to Yuki. Yuki was obviously tired and wrecked with sadness and yet, as if only recently acquired, she remained positive.

She turned back to see Elena, eyes closed and lips trembling as her clasped hands were before her, almost as if she was praying. On the other side of Ryudo was a transparent version of Millenia, in the same pose but rather than a trembling lip she held a wrinkled brow. And there, sitting on Ryudo's chest was Kori. His eyes also closed.

"Oh Kori! Don't disturb them!" Yuki said as she picked the baby off of our hero. "I'm sorry Tio; I will go back to Gatta and Roan and let them know what's happening."


Ryudo had stood up now, feverishly spinning around and searching for the baby. Was that his imagination?

His mind whirled back on the memory of holding that little boy, and his thought by the fire place…

Suddenly the fog was gathered in a burst of wind and the scenery completely changed. He looked at a cottage on a flower covered hill.

"Lita? Lita where are you?" Elena's voice? He watched as Elena came from inside the house. Her hair was down in all its long, wavy, golden glory. She looked at least 10 years older but he believed she was far more beautiful.

"LITA!"
"Miss Ele! Sorry I am here." Ryudo's jaw dropped as a 16 year old Lita appeared before him. Her hair was cut shoulder length in a bob and she had grown into a lovely young lady. Ryudo felt a sense of pride, like a father almost. She had grown up!

"Miss Milly is right behind me. Is dinner ready already?" Lita smiled as she turned to watch a flurry of red hair appear just over the hill.
"Yep and there is plenty." Elena smiled. They were joined by Millenia, her hair in a shoulder length, wavy style. She was so cute! Ryudo watched as they smiled happily together. Soon even Centeria appeared from the house, apron tied around her waist and bandana holding her hair back.

They were all living happily together. This is what it would be like if he left. They could all have a happy life… They…They didn't need him in it.

"MUM! MUMMY!" Ryudo watched in Horror as a 4 year old boy, with the beautiful clear eyes of Elena, dimples in both cheeks and wavy dark brown hair, ran right into Elena and hugged her legs tightly. And all Ryudo could think was WHO IS THE GUY THAT THINKS HE CAN HAVE ELENA WHEN HE ISN'T AROUND?!

"My little Blade! Did you have fun training with daddy?" Elena asked as she patted his head. Blade looked into his mother's eyes and smiled widely as he nodded.

"Of course he did. His dad is the best Geohound in the world, right kiddo?" Was that…his own voice? He wasn't sure. He turned but the scene was white fog once again.

Why did he see that? He doubted it was a vision of the future as Millenia and Centeria don't have their own body. So it had to be a dream. Was it brought on by the sight of little Kori, the memory of his thoughts as he stood in front of the fire place.

'Can I tell you something? Man to man?
Please…please don't run away from us again.'

Ryudo ran his hand through his hair. Confused yet he felt warm…nice.

"Ryudo!" Millenia called out as she ran to him and slapped him hard. "WHAT THE HELL! WHY WON'T YOU LET US HELP YOU?!"

"Millenia, calm down. We have finally reached him." Elena said as she held back another slap from the obviously distraught woman.

Ryudo smiled slightly as he looked at both of them. He stepped forward and wrapped his strong arms around them, pulling them both into a warm embrace. "I'm sorry. I hurt you both, I hurt Lita, I hurt Gatta, I hurt Yuki…I hurt everyone…"

"No one cares." Millenia said as her frustrated tears ran down her cheeks.
"We will all be happy if you are ok." Elena said as she also teared up.

"I want us all to be happy. You both mean so much to me… as long as you're happy"


Ryudo opened his eyes. Elena had passed out and was now laying down by his side and hugging his arm with her head on his shoulder. His body ached beyond belief. He couldn't even move. But knowing himself, he would force himself to move sooner rather then later.

Tio was leaning over him, looking into his eyes. She smiled, "Welcome back. You nearly didn't make it."

Ryudo's thoughts returned to that world he was just pulled from, everything he had thought of.

"Tio…I'm tired."
Tio smiled sweetly as she stroked his hair. "Okay. You rest. I will go tell the others."

"Okay Tio….….Goodbye."