JUST LOVE

Chapter Eighteen

Elena sank on the floor on her knees and sighed heavily. "We are trapped... me and Ryudo... together... alone in here." The thought of being trapped and alone with Ryudo in the Birthplace of the Gods both excited and worried Elena. Elena looked at Ryudo, who stood in front of the barricade while he muttered to himself.

"Damn piece of shit... bloody crap hole..." he growled silently as to not offend Elena's ears.

"Ryudo?" Elena called out softly.

Ryudo turned around and tried his best to look calm and cool. "Yeah?"

"What are we going to do now?"

"I don't know... we can't blast our way out so we're going to have to find another way."

"What do you think happened? What about the others?"

Ryudo looked up and examined the ceiling. "The blast obviously came from the outside so my guess is that someone attacked the others but missed and trapped us in here instead."

"The others... I wonder who they are fighting with..."

"I got two guesses..." Ryudo scoffed. "Well, we better get going. We've got to get out of here before we're monster dinner."

Elena stood up. "Ryudo, where are we going? What about the others? What about Lance... and... and Millenia and Melfice, Skye, Roan, and Tio?"

Ryudo looked a bit irritated on the account that Elena mentioned Lance's name first. "Lance is a big boy, he can take care of himself and same with the others." The Geohound walked over to her. "Look, I don't know where we're going but we have to get out of here, it's dangerous."

"Okay," Elena sighed and looked at the barricade ahead of her. "Lance, Millenia, everyone please be careful," she thought.

"Come on Elena, let's go. It's dangerous here," Ryudo suggested and started to walk away.

"Coming," Elena replied and caught up with him.

"This place is crawling with monsters so stay close to me and don't fall behind."

"Understood." Elena eyed each shadowy corner nervously. She kept hearing scurrying and grunting noises in the pile of rubble. She hoped that the monsters would leave them alone. And if the monsters did attack, she also hoped that she and Ryudo could fend them off.

"Don't move," Ryudo whispered all of a sudden as he heard something move from behind them. He unsheathed the Granasaber and turned around slowly. Elena got behind Ryudo and took out her Guardian Staff. A Death Doberman stalked out from an adjacent corridor and leapt towards them but Ryudo dispatched it with Tenseiken Slash in mid-air.

"I do not like this place." Elena sank on the ground and let out a sigh. She was tired from walking and from the monsters they had fought earlier. Ryudo did not look tired though, not even in the least. He was a Geohound, and surely he must have been in worse conditions or situations.

Ryudo eyed Elena. "You look tired. We should find a place where we can rest."

Elena faked a smile and stood up. "Oh no, I am fine. We should keep moving."

Ryudo did not reply and put a scowl on his face. He pushed Elena down to the ground and swung his sword forward as an Emerald Bird appeared behind her. "Get down!"

Elena shrieked as the tip of the Granasaber barely missed her head. She was about to yell at Ryudo but then saw a dead, bloody Emerald Bird right next to her. She let out another shriek at the gory sight and scampered towards the wall.

The Geohound smirked smugly. "Like I said, we should find a place where we can rest. Don't overdo it Elena."

The Ex-Songstress nodded her head slowly and stood up. "Okay..."

The two searched for a safe place to rest. They were occasionally attacked by monsters but Ryudo took care of them. Elena did not participate in most of the fights, she was fatigued. As they walked, she fell behind Ryudo a couple of times because she could not keep up with his pace. The Geohound had to wait for her to catch up and was forced up to slow down his speed. After awhile, Ryudo found an empty room and in pretty good condition.

Ryudo entered the room and took off his backpack. "This place looks safe enough."

Elena followed him into the room. She sat down on the floor and leaned against the wall. "Do you think the monsters will be able to get us in here?"

Ryudo strode towards her and sat next to her. "I don't think so but if they do, I'll deal with them. Besides, the monsters are the least of our worries. The monsters here are so weak. We haven't encountered any strong ones yet."

"That is strange. The monsters in this place used to give us a lot of trouble."

"Roan told me that it's those Dragons. When those blokes back in St. Heim released the Dragons around these areas, the native monsters weren't able to compete with them for food supply. The monsters were forced out of their natural habitats and moved into areas where food is scarce. My guess is that the critters don't get enough food and often starve. The monsters in this place probably come out and hunt outside but with those Dragons around, it's impossible to hunt without getting eaten. Then, there's also that psycho. He probably destroyed a good number of monsters and not to mention the damn place too when he went mad with power."

"Why would the scientists from St. Heim make such awful creatures?"

"Because they're a nice bunch, they wanted us to have good playmates. Aren't they thoughtful?"

"Ryudo..." Elena scolded sternly at his sarcasm.

Ryudo put his hands up in defense. "How the hell should I know? We came to this place to learn about the Cathedral Knights but instead we get stuck here."

Elena's stomach rumbled before she could answer.

"I'm hungry too." The Geohound reached for his backpack and took out two can drinks and two sandwiches. He handed one of each to her.

"Thank you," she smiled and took a bite out of her sandwich. "I wonder what the others are doing right now."

Ryudo shrugged. "I don't know. Who knows? They could be fighting whatever attacked us or they could be doing the same thing." He took a sip from his drink and then tried to look all serious and sincere. "Elena?"

"Yes Ryudo?"

Ryudo stared at the wall in front of them and kept his eyes there. "Do you think everything will go back to normal? Do you think we could change Gatta and the Cathedral Knights to their old selves? Do you think things will go back the way they were before the Cathedral Knights attacked us back at the Cyrum Festival?"

Elena frowned at Ryudo. She wondered what was up with all of his questions. "I do not know. That is why we are fighting. We fight to help people and for our future." Elena looked up to the ceiling. "...hopefully our future, you and me together," she thought.

"Why did it have to be Gatta and them Elena? Why? I just don't know if I can fight them if we meet them again. If we do meet them, then what are we suppose to do? How are we suppose to win?"

Elena reached out for his hand and held it. "Ryudo, I know this is very hard for you. But, no matter what happens, we cannot give up. We will find some way to save Gatta and the Cathedral Knights."

"What if we don't? What if we have to kill them?"

Elena squeezed Ryudo's hand and gave him a sympathetic look. She knew how he felt. She knew how it felt like to lose everyone, everyone you cared about. "Please do not think that way. We will find a way to solve this problem."

Ryudo smiled weakly. "Okay, I won't."

"Thank you. It pains me to hear you say such things."

He gave her hand a squeeze this time and held it. "I'm sorry, things just look so bleak right now."

"Not to me. We're alone, sitting together, talking, and holding hands, things look bright," Elena said to herself in her mind. She wished she could stay like this with Ryudo forever. "Well I hope that they will not forever."

"I hope so too." Ryudo faced her and gave her a charming smile. "Thanks for listening." He gave her hand another squeeze. "You look tired. Take a nap or something."

Elena put her hand on her mouth and yawned softly. "I think I will." Her feet were really sore from walking and her body was beat from battles. Elena shut her eyes and fell asleep in seconds.

Ryudo still held her hand. He laced his fingers with hers and gazed down on her. He was glad that she did not want her hand back. Holding her hand made him feel special. He felt like he could do anything with Elena by his side like this. He loved her and would be more than happy to spend his life like this with her but not until all of their problems are solved. Ryudo gasped softly as Elena's head slid slowly onto his shoulder from the wall. He sighed heavily. "Elena..." Ryudo rested his head against Elena's and fell into a wonderful slumber as well.

***

Elena woke up from her sleep as she heard thunderous footsteps outside the room. She opened her eyes and found herself in Ryudo's arms with her head on his chest. "Ryudo?" she asked nervously.

"Yeah?" he whispered as he released her from his embrace. The two heard a roar from outside.

Elena leaned against the wall and eyed the door. "What could that be? It does not sound like the other monsters around here. Are we going to be safe in here?"

"Don't worry, whatever it is, it ain't coming nowhere near you. I've always been your bodyguard, right?" he smirked.

"Right," she nodded.

Another roar came but this time it sounded much closer. Elena curled into a tight ball and hoped that the monster outside would not come after them. The monster roared again and then the two heard another one screech in agony.

"What was that? Did it kill something?" Elena asked.

"Sshhh, be quiet."

The two heard a few munching sounds and then a growl from the first monster. To their surprise, the monster started to claw at the door as if it tried to get in.

"Ryudo! It knows we are here," Elena whimpered at the sound of metal screeching against the creature's claws.

"I know. Stay here, I have to kill it before it gets in."

"What? You are not going out there alone. Ryudo let me help you, please."

"No, you stay here. I'll take care of it. I'll be okay, don't worry." He stood up from the floor and gave her a smile. The monster stopped clawing at the door.

"Fine, you win," she sighed in defeat. He was so stubborn, it was impossible to win an argument with him.

Ryudo strode towards the door and left the room to confront the monster outside. As soon as Ryudo stepped outside, Elena heard growls, snarls, and Ryudo's battle cries. Elena fell on the floor as the walls and the floor rumbled a bit from the fight outside. Whatever Ryudo fought was big. Elena clasped her hands together on her chest and wished and hope with all her heart that Ryudo would come back in unharmed.

Time passed slowly as Ryudo fought the monster outside the room. After awhile, Elena heard Ryudo yell out "Sky Dragon Slash" and was followed by a pained growl. A big thud then echoed throughout the halls and into the room. It was silent all of a sudden and Elena wondered what happened now. She was tempted to go outside but decided against it.

If I let go of your hand clasped in mine,
with that, it would all probably come to an end right now.
What I wanted to know, and even what hurts me
even those were left undone.

 The door slid open and a sweaty, panting Ryudo entered the room. He then dropped down to the floor on his knees and panted some more to catch his breath. "Damn... that took... longer than I thought..."

Elena rushed to his side. "Ryudo, are you okay? Were you injured? What did you fight outside?"

Ryudo chuckled a bit. "Oh, I'm okay... it was just a dragon but it was small compared to the others. It took me awhile but I beat it."

"I am glad you are in one piece."

Ryudo stood up. "See? What did I tell you? I told you not to worry."

Even though I should want to wish
for you to find happiness,
I can't, I'm too immature.
I wipe the tears, but they still keep flowing.

 Elena looked liked someone stabbed her in the heart and then stared at the floor. "I am sorry for worrying... it is just that... it is hard not to..." she whispered with a small sob.

Ryudo frowned. "Hey? What's wrong? Was it something I said?"

She turned around. "I do not know what to do anymore."

"Elena?" Ryudo placed his hands on her shoulders and turned her back around but she still stared at the floor. He cupped her chin with his fingers and forced her to look up to him. He saw a small tear escape from her ruby red eye. "What's wrong? Tell me."

Good bye
I love you
more than anyone else.
Even more deeply than the sky.

 "I... I really..." She bit her lips and tried to come up with the best words to say to him. "I really, REALLY care about you Ryudo, more than anyone, even me. I want to help you, support you, be by your side no matter what. But you will not let me. It... it worries and pains me a lot." She took a deep breath and tried her best not to break into sobs. "It hurts to be pushed away."

Ryudo felt like he got hit by a truckload of bricks upon hearing Elena's words. "Elena... I'm sorry."

"Can we become more than friends? If you do not want to, I will stay out of your way forever and not bother you."

Ryudo put his hands on her cheeks. He leaned a little closer to her and looked at her in the eyes. "Elena... the truth is, I want the two of us to be more than friends. You're everything to me."

Elena threw herself at him and hugged him tightly. She had her arms wrapped around his waist and her head placed against his chest. "So why?"

Don't cry.
We'll meet again, right?
But not being able to see you
is something that only I know about.

 Ryudo rested his cheek against the crown of her head while his arms hung limply on his sides. "We're caught in a middle of a war. I'd like the two of us to be together but we can't with the world like this. You deserve better than this. I fight to make the world better for the two of us. And it'd kill me if anything happened to you. Do you understand now?"

Elena looked up to him and nodded her head slowly. "I understand..." she sobbed and broke into tears.

It hurt Ryudo to see the angel in front of him weeping and it hurt him even more that it was his fault. "Please stop..." Elena did not say anything and more tears flowed down her cheeks. Ryudo did not know why he did it but he kissed her passionately on the lips.

This fate that we've chosen...
someday you too will understand its true meaning.
The treasure of memories that we've made
will always live on deep inside my heart.

 Elena knew Ryudo kissed her for comfort but the kiss ignited every single part of their bodies. The hidden and suppressed passion they had for each other exploded out of their hearts. Elena returned the kiss with equal passion if not, more.

Ryudo groaned into her mouth. "Elena... we can't do this..."

Elena tried to pull away but there was an unbreakable force between the two of them that it was impossible to do so.

Ryudo slid his tongue into her mouth and explored every inch of it. When he found her tongue, he flicked at it.

She caught on with what he had in mind. She slid her tongue into his mouth and wrestled with his. Elena's hands snaked up to his head and ran her fingers through his brownish, spikey hair. Elena broke the kiss. "Oh Ryudo..." she moaned and kissed him again.

I thought it was a beautiful thing,
the word called hope.
In an almost painful embrace,
I'm looking up at you.

 Ryudo's hand found its way to Elena's butt and gave it a light squeeze. He leaned closer to her to deepen their kiss. Their bodies were pressed against each other and Ryudo could feel her nipples hardening through her white shirt against his muscular chest.

Elena gave Ryudo a light push. The Geohound fell on his back but took Elena with him so he was on top of her. She broke their kiss again to catch her breath and then started to nibble his ear.

"Elena... we have to stop..." Ryudo rolled on his back and was now on top of her. He planted several kisses on her neck while his hands gave her hips a light rub.

"Ryudo... please don't go..." she whimpered and kissed him again.

Thank you
I love you
more than anyone else.
Even more strongly than dreams.

 The two kept rolling and changing positions until they hit the wall. Ryudo sat up and leaned his back against the wall while Elena straddled his thighs and their kiss continued. Ryudo's hand slid down to her butt and caressed it in a circular motion. He placed his other hand on one of her breasts and stayed there.

Elena finally broke their kiss and placed her head against his chest. She panted heavily for her breath and same with Ryudo.

Ryudo wrapped his arms around her waist to bring her closer to him. "Elena?"

"Yes Ryudo?"

"Will you wait for me? When everything is back in order, will you be there for me?" he asked gently.

She looked up to him, to those emerald green eyes. "Of course, I will always wait for you. I promise. Will you come back for me?"

Hold me.
Don't let go.
But don't utter
even a single thing...

 "I will. I promise." He gave her one of his charming smiles. "Come on Elena, we have to go."

"Okay." She got off Ryudo and stood up.

Ryudo got up from the floor and put his backpack on. "Heh, let's get out of here."

The two left the room and walked side by side. In the middle of their search for their way out, Ryudo took her hand and held it as they walked. Elena did not mind and just smiled at him.

Elena pointed something ahead of them. "Look Ryudo, sunlight!" she exclaimed.

"Yeah, where's it coming from?"

The two followed the sunlight with their hands still laced together. After awhile, the two found the source of the light; a tunnel. The tunnel looked like it was made by a monster. "What kind of monster do you think dug this tunnel?" Elena asked.

"Probably the dragon I fought back there," Ryudo answered. "Come on, the outside world is just well... outside."

The two entered the tunnel and at the end of it, they found themselves in a grassy meadow. The two looked around their surroundings as if they were in awe. Even though they were stuck in the Birthplace of the Gods for a few hours, it felt like they had been there forever.

"What should we do now Ryudo?"

"We should go back to Cyrum," he replied and let go of Elena's hand.

Elena felt like a part of her was lost when Ryudo released her hand. "Come back to me Ryudo..." she thought as they resumed their journey.

Don't cry.
I love you.
Even though we're separated far apart,
I can still live with you.