JUST LOVE

Chapter Seven : Lost And Found

Melfice's emerald green eyes burned into Millenia's ruby red eyes as if he was mesmerized by them. Melfice shook his head and a frown formed on his face. "Wh... who are you?" he asked weakly.

"Oh my, he's awake!" Millenia thought.

Melfice sat up on the bed. "Where am I?"

Millenia was unable to answer. Her heart beat rapidly, her throat was dry, and her tongue could not move. She tried to speak as Melfice gave her a questioning look but no words escaped her lips. Millenia stuttered something and bolted out of the room. Thirty seconds later, Millenia came back with the whole gang.

Ryudo gasped and his jaw dropped as he saw Melfice wide and awake. "Mel... Melfi... Melfice?" he stammered. The moment he had been waiting for had finally happened but the excitement caused him to freeze on his place.

Melfice looked away as soon as he saw Ryudo. "So, he found me," he whispered to himself.

Elena tapped Ryudo's shoulder. "What are you waiting for Ryudo?"

"I... I'm nervous Elena," the Geohound answered.

Elena gave Ryudo an encouraging smile. "Do not be Ryudo. Come on, talk to him. You have been waiting for this."

"All right." Ryudo took a deep breath and walked over to Melfice. "Melfice?"

Melfice looked at Ryudo with shame in his eyes. "Don't look at me Ryudo. I don't deserve to be near you or anyone else."

"Melfice, what are you talking about?"

"How can you look at me or even be near me? I betrayed you Ryudo, everyone else, and... and Reena... I killed her. And for what?!"

Ryudo tried to reach out for Melfice's shoulder but he slapped his hand away. "Melfice, it's okay."

"All has been in vain." Melfice looked down on his hands, they shook violently.

Ryudo's voice rose a notch. "Melfice! Listen to me!" The Geohound gave his brother a sympathetic look. "Everything is okay. Times have changed."

"What do you mean?" Melfice frowned.

"A year has passed. Valmar had been defeated and the people of Garlan are finally at peace." Ryudo looked away for a second. "Except Gatta," he thought and turned back to his brother.

Melfice arched an eyebrow. "A year had passed and Valmar had been defeated? How?"

"It's a long story." Ryudo sat down on the chair next to the bed. He sighed and told his brother everything that happened in the past year from how he became Elena's bodyguard to all the way how they defeated the wannabe Valmar, Zera.

"I see," was all Melfice could say. He was silent for awhile and then spoke, "What are you doing here now and how did you find me?"

"That's a long story too. You see, I went to Cyrum to visit my friends two days ago. Everything was going so well until Gatta and the Cathedral Knights attacked the Kingdom. He escaped after a battle but we followed him and the chase eventually led us to a church with an underground factory. We found you in a tank at the factory. What were you doing in that tank anyway?"

Melfice clenched his fists and looked at them with disgust. "After I kil... after I let myself get possessed by the Horns of Valmar, I heard a voice calling me. I followed the voice and it led me to St. Heim. A man named Zera appeared to me and told me about the battle between Granas and Valmar. Zera asked me to do a couple of jobs for him like burn down a village in an island that was close to Garlan. The old man was impressed with my skills and brought me to the factory one day. Somehow, he managed to trap me in that tank and that's all I can tell you." Melfice looked at Ryudo and smiled weakly. "You probably don't feel the same but it's good to see you Ryudo."

Ryudo shook his head and put his hand on Melfice's shoulder. "No, I'm happy to see you too. Don't ever say that. What you did was wrong but I forgive you." The Geohound smiled and took his hand away.

"Thank you brother," Melfice said and looked at Elena and the gang. "So, are those your friends? I'm afraid we haven't had a proper introduction yet."

"Oh." Ryudo nudged his head towards Melfice to tell the others to come forward. Elena and the others walked over to the bed and gathered around it to introduce themselves.

"I am Elena. I used to be a Granas Songstress."

"The name's Millenia."

Roan took a bow. "I am Roan, the Young King of Cyrum. I am pleased to meet you."

"My name is Tio."

"Lance."

Melfice chuckled a bit. "I'm thrilled to meet all of you. I'm Melfice, Ryudo's older brother." There was a moment of silence and then the EX-Demon Man's stomach growled in hunger. He smiled embarrassingly. "I guess I'm a little hungry."

"I'm hungry too. Come on, let's go downstairs to the dining room. It's 7:00 AM, they should have the breakfast ready by now," Ryudo said and looked at the others. "How about you guys, are you going to join us?" Everybody except Millenia nodded yes and stepped back to give Melfice some room. Melfice got off the bed and stretched. "Let's go." Ryudo walked out of the room with everyone trailing behind him.

When the group got to the dining room, the food was ready as Ryudo mentioned. Everyone sat down around the table and began to eat.

"This food is great," Melfice commented after he took a bite out of his toast.

Ryudo added more butter on his bread. "I'm glad you like it."

"Ryudo, may I ask you a question?" Tio asked.

"Sure. What is it?" Ryudo replied.

"When do we leave for Garlan to investigate about Gatta?"

"Today, after we finish breakfast," the Geohound answered.

Melfice cocked up an eyebrow. "You're going back there?"

"Yeah, do you want to come with us?" Ryudo said.

"I'll come with you," Melfice nodded and started to ask Ryudo questions about what Garlan might be like now. Elena watched the brothers talk in awe, she had never seen Ryudo so happy before and she was glad that he had relaxed. Millenia ate in silence and shot dirty looks at Ryudo every now and then. Roan and Tio talked about the attack at Cyrum like how long it will take to repair the damage Gatta caused.

Lance was quiet the whole time as well. "Going to Garlan better be worth it," he told himself mentally.

Ryudo finished eating and stood up from his chair. "After we're all done eating, we're going to start packing up. We're going to travel by air. They just built a Skyway Station here in St. Heim not too long ago and that's where we're going after we're done packing."

Everyone soon finished their breakfast and began to pack up their belongings. When everyone was sure they had everything they needed for the trip, they left the inn and headed to the Skyway Station. When they reached the Skyway, Ryudo bought seven tickets and boarded the Skyway.

***

Melfice stood alone on the deck while he watched the clouds and the landscape below pass by him. "Home... I wonder how everyone would react when they see me," he thought.

"You know, you don't have to stand here all by yourself," Ryudo said as he appeared beside Melfice.

"I know... Ryudo, do you really want to bring me along in this trip? What if I go mad again and do the things I did before? What would happen to you and your friends?"

"Melfice, I don't think that would happen."

"I may no longer be tainted by the Horns of Valmar but that doesn't guarantee anything. What if Zera did something to me while I was in that tank? I did kill Reena for power, you know."

"I don't want to talk about this," Ryudo snapped and changed the subject. "Now that you're back, what do you plan on doing with your life?"

"I'm not really sure... maybe continue where I left off."

"You'd start practising your swords skills again?"

"Maybe... heh, why not? Gatta and the Cathedral Knights might be good sparring partners. What about you, are you still going to be a Geohound?"

"Yeah, but just until this whole thing with Gatta ends."

"Sounds like you have plans." Melfice playfully punched Ryudo on the shoulder. "And I bet Elena is somehow involved."

Ryudo looked surprised. "Wha... what? How did you know?"

"The way you look at her. Did you make your move yet?"

"Uh, no. Actually, I was going to at Cyrum but Gatta ruined everything."

Melfice punched Ryudo on the shoulder again and spoke in a playful tone, "That's too bad. Want some advice Ryudo?"

Ryudo punched Melfice back on the shoulder. "No, I don't need your advice," he smirked.

Melfice arched an eyebrow. "Really?"

***

Elena watched Ryudo and Melfice goof around from a distance. "Oh, Ryudo," she sighed heavily. She was happy that Ryudo was back together with his brother but she was a bit insecured at the same time. With Melfice back from the dead, would Ryudo spend more time with him or her? Whatever Ryudo did, she would be fine with it.

"So, Ryudo was your bodyguard for awhile, eh?" Lance said as he appeared behind Elena.

Elena gasped and turned around to face the Ninja. "Oh, it is you Lance!"

"Sorry if I scared you."

"It is okay. I am just not used to people sneaking up behind me. Uh... what were you saying before again?"

"Ryudo was your bodyguard, right?"

"How did you know that?"

"I listened to every single detail Ryudo said when he was telling Melfice about your past... adventures."

"Oh, right."

"How did you do on your journey?"

"I did okay, I think. However, there were times when I let everyone down."

"How do you think you'll do on this trip?"

"I hope I would be of great help and not be a burden to anyone."

"We'll be all right, don't worry..." Lance said to himself and left Elena alone.

***

Millenia stood by a window and watched the clouds pass by. Roan and Tio watched Millenia from a distance and thought what was wrong with her. The two noticed she had been a little distant lately and they had an idea why. The two decided to talk to the red head and approached her.

Roan cleared his throat. "Uh, hi Miss Millenia."

Millenia kept her eyes on the clouds. "What do you want?"

"We just want to talk," Tio said.

"We noticed that you have not been yourself lately. What is wrong Miss Millenia?" Roan asked. "Does it have anything to do with Ryudo?"

Millenia turned around with a scowl on her face. "Why did that idiot leave me for Elena?!"

Roan looked alarmed. "Miss Millenia, please calm down."

"Ryudo loves Elena, anyone could see that. Millenia, instead of sulking here, why not do some thing about your problems?" Tio said.

Millenia smiled wickedly. "You mean I should go up to Elena and tell her to leave Ryudo alone?"

"No, no, that was not what she meant. What Tio is trying to say is that..." Roan trailed off.

"What?!"

Skye, who had been listening to the conversation, answered, "he means maybe Ryudo is not for you."

Millenia glared at the talking eagle. "Are you out of your mind bird?!!"

"He is right, there are plenty of men out there Miss Millenia and one of them has to be for you," Roan said.

"And you will definitely find him one day," Tio added.

Millenia looked at Roan and forked up an eyebrow. "You think so, kid?"

Roan smiled. "I am absolutely positively sure about that."

"Maybe you're right," Millenia sighed and gave Roan a noogie.

"So does this mean you're not mad at Ryudo and Elena anymore?" Skye asked.

"No, I'm still mad at them but just a little bit now," Millenia smirked.

The group then heard a beeping sound and the flight attendant spoke from the speakers, "Attention passengers, we will reach Garlan in a few minutes. Please, go to your seats as we will dock soon."

***

As the flight attendant said, the Skyway reached Garlan in a few minutes. After the Skyway docked at the Station, Ryudo and group got off the Skyway and left the Station. The group stood at the entrance of the Station and observed the town ahead of them.

"Quiet... just like the last time we were here," Ryudo remarked.

"Home," Melfice told himself.

"What should we do now?" Roan asked.

"Look around for Gatta, he might be here. If you can't find any signs of him, ask around," Ryudo answered.

"We should split up," Melfice suggested. "We'll cover more ground."

Ryudo nodded. "Roan, take Tio and check out the West Side. Me, Skye, and Elena are going to the inn and then look around the North Side." Ryudo turned to Melfice. "What about you, what are you going to do?"

"I'll look around the East Side." Melfice answered and turned to Millenia. "Do you want to come with me?"

Millenia looked around and noticed that the only person she could go with was Lance. She had no intentions of looking around with the Ninja. "Sure," she replied shortly.

"I'll just stick around here," Lance said coldly. "If your friend managed to follow us, he's bound to show up here first." Without saying good bye to anyone, the Ninja ran towards an alley to begin his own search.

"Come on guys, let's get going," Ryudo said to everyone. "We'll meet back at the inn within twenty minutes, okay?"

The rest nodded in agreement and left.

***

Lance stood on top of a building and watched Elena leave the Station with Ryudo. He glared ice cold daggers at the Geohound and kept his eyes trained on him until he was out of sight. He did not like Ryudo at all, especially when he was around Elena. "Hmph, he always tries to keep Elena with him. I have to find a way to get Elena away from him," he said to himself and began to look for any signs of Gatta.

***

Millenia and Melfice walked down an empty, quiet street. "Are Gatta and the Cathedral Knights strong?" Melfice asked.

Millenia scoffed. "Well, the Cathedral Knights are stronger than most of the enemies we've faced before. It takes awhile for us to beat them."

"What about Gatta?"

"We've never fought him. Besides, aren't you suppose to know how good Gatta is? You did train together, right?"

Melfice smiled embarrassingly at Millenia's statement. "Well, as far as I could remember, Gatta was just as good as Ryudo but that was three years ago. Who knows what kind of warrior he is now."

"Do you think we'll ever find out what he's up to?"

Melfice smirked confidently. "I'll figure it out."

"Yeah right," Millenia snorted and the two continued their search.

***

Ryudo knocked on the inn's door. There was no answer, for the fifth time. "Damn, I think nobody's home."

"Come to think of it, we haven't seen any of the villagers yet," Skye remarked.

"Where do you think they are?" Elena asked.

"They're here, but they're just hiding. I wonder why," Ryudo answered.

Skye looked up in the sky. "It's getting dark Ryudo, with the inn unavailable, where do you suggest we stay?"

"We can stay at my house," Ryudo replied.

"At your house? That place has been abandoned for more than ten years. Are you sure you want Elena sleeping there?" Skye whispered to Ryudo's ear.

Ryudo walked away from Elena so she would not hear him talk with Skye. "We don't have a choice. Besides, this is no time to get picky," Ryudo whispered back.

"So, Ryudo where are we spending the night?" Elena asked again.

"At my house." Skye took to the air from Ryudo's shoulder. "Skye, tell everyone to meet at my house because no one is in the inn, okay?"

Skye nodded and flew away to get the others.

Ryudo nudged his head forward. "Come on Elena, let's go. My house is not that far from here," Ryudo said and the two began to walk side by side.

When the two got to Ryudo's house, he removed the barricades and opened the door. The door creaked loudly as if it was about to break. Ryudo entered the house. The place was dusty but most of the furniture and appliances were intact.

Elena walked in the house and arched an eyebrow. "This place could use a little cleaning."

Ryudo smiled and chuckled embarrassingly. "Yeah I know, sorry. But don't worry, I'll start cleaning up." The Geohound left and went to the closet room to get things like brooms, wiping cloths, and other things to help him make the house liveable for Elena.