Ruki stared at him confused, but then she snorted.
°Well, if he expects me to cling onto my saviour, then he's gonna be heavily disappointed.°
But something in his eyes made her think that he would want anything but that.
°But if I knew what he wanted it would get somehow boring. Solving riddles is WAY more fun.°
She almost rolled her eyes at her sarcasm. She did this very often these days.
Meanwhile, Aradmon was still looking at them, now wearing a superior grin that seemed to invite Ryo's fists. Gritting his teeth, he tried to keep his cool as good as possible. He wasn't totally succeeding though. The grin widened even more.
"You love her, don't you?"
Now it was to both their eyes to widen. Ryo gulped, fortunately going unnoticed by the cause of his sudden uneasiness.
I would rather get myself castrated by Cyberdramon than saying it in front of her. But there's no denying it either.
The best was good old trick seventeen. Avoid the subject.
"Man, it's probably quite interesting to see what idea of cruel revenge a bloated baseball has."
"I'd slow down my sarcasm, Lover Boy. Well, answering your question: I will get some fun for myself, though I don't think the both of you will find it funny unless you are really heavily into sadomaso. Then I'll kill you with a poisoned arrow which will stop a rebirth. Still interested, sweetie?"
His eyes narrowed and you could see the muscles in his jaw move. This was harder than he had expected. It would have been better if this whole thing had started before he seriously began to hope for Ruki's affection.
"Swear that you won't hurt any being again after my death."
"All right." "Okay. The deal stands."
"Hellooo? I'm still there, dumb asses! And don't expect me to agree with anything. You won't get any more easy escapes from the difficulties of life, Legendary Tamer. This time, you'll keep on sitting on your butt, damn coward."
°Which is really incredibly hot. But it isn't the right time to discuss that topic.°
Easy escape? I'm going through the hardest time of my life for that so called escape! Ah, damn love! Damn stubbornness! Damn evil digimon! DAMN RUKI!
He frowned and looked at her.
"Oh, of course, Ice Princess. I'm doing all this JUST to go and hide of my life. See, actually I wouldn't mind keeping it! But either I would have you blaming me for the destroy of the digital world or my guilt blaming me for your death. If I'm dead, you can blame me for whatever you want but thank God I won't hear it! Hey, try to see it the positive way. You'll be free of me, now isn't that worth a scream of joy?"
°And just WHAT is positive about you not being there anymore?°
"You're such a coward, Akiyama! I always knew you would take the easy way out whenever you get the chance to! But what exactly do you think we'll gain from this? Mercy from this oversized TOAD?"
"HEY!" Aradmon protested furiously. "I'M NO- "
"Oooh, SHUT UP!"
°Wow, now we even synchronize at getting angry.°
The two looked at each other again. Their gazes hardened while both their hearts began to tighten. No one was willing to give in.
"I'll rather get myself killed than having to see Cyberdramon's, Renamon's and your death. It could even save a world, couldn't it?"
"Don't tell be you believe this freak! Why would she let us go? DON'T YOU DARE LEAVE ME, JERK!" The girl shouted at the top of her lungs. She noticed tears stinging in her eyes and frowned.
°Why won't that stupid idiot listen to me for ONCE?! WHY?! Doesn't he see what he's doing to me? . Well, let's see, even I don't know exactly what he's ding to me, but I know damn well that it hurts! I can't take losing him again!°
His cerulean eyes softened and became kind of melancholic.
"I'm sorry, pumpkin. But you won't stop me."
He allowed his gaze to wander over her body once again. One last painful look into her lavender orbs caused a stinging in his chest. He inhaled deeply and finally tore his gaze apart. Then he turned and said almost emotionless:
"Let's get started, baseball."
The green thing smirked nastily and Ruki closed her eyes. For the first time in her life, she was REALLY fearing something. The loss of. well, what was he to her, what had he become? She quite couldn't tell, but she knew she would break down again if he died. But this time she was sure she wouldn't get up again.
Again, she heard the impact of an hard blast with his skin. How soft and vulnerable this skin had to be now. He wasn't the untouchable, unbeatable eternal enemy anymore. He was as human and mortal as possible. Too human and mortal than she could stand.
He did his very best to not let her know his pain. Yet, sometimes he couldn't stop a moan from escaping through his hardly gritted teeth. Why did he do this? Why did he hurt her so much? She heard a slight thud and her eyes shot open, afraid of what she would see. He had collapsed but managed to get himself in a sitting position. She knew he was already half unconscious, but still he never took his eyes off the enemy. He pushed himself up again, closing his eyes in a desperate try to control himself and not break down and give up. He didn't want to give up. And she just stood there, watching him die. She couldn't seem to move, unable to break free of her state of shock and fear. She could only stare wide-eyed. Suddenly, he turned his head. He looked at her. And smiled. So warm and caring she had never seen anyone look at her before.
With that, something inside her snapped. No. she wouldn't let him die. She wouldn't let him down. Never ever. She closed her eyes and concentrated. She took a slow step forward. Immediately, the pressure became harder. It was nagging at her mind, nearly driving her insane the more she moved into his direction. It wasn't long until she thought she would break down.
°No, Ruki. You can't do this to him. You have to go on.°
She reminded herself how strong he was, so deeply hurt and still he had smiled at her as if nothing ever hurt him. As weak as his body might be, his soul was the strongest she would ever know. Another step was done, but slowly she could sense the exhaustion taking over.
She was too weak.
And she hated herself for being weak.
Her eyes narrowed in fear and incredible pain as she saw the energy ball drawing closer and looked at Ryo, silently begging for him to flee.
But he wasn't even trying to get out of its way. He just stood there like a rock, daring the storm to come and try to break him down.
Ruki closed her eyes in horror as the ball collided with his muscular body, throwing it aback. Most of his clothing was ripped up and revealed bleeding wounds all over his body. He was obviously determined to not let the painful groaning erupt from his throat as he hit the ground, but it wasn't at all working. Though, he managed to stand up, waiting for the final shot. He closed his eyes to hide the tears threatening to well up in his beautiful blue eyes.
"I'm sorry. Bye, wildcat. I guess I won't see you again."
Shit, why is my life so DAMN SCREWED? Ooops, correction, why is my life so DAMN MUCH OVER?!?!
°Come on, Ruki, don't cry, you're so close! You can do it. You have to do it!°
Why was it so hard? He had done this thing before. It wasn't unfamiliar. And he wasn't afraid. He was. sad. If only he could have five more minutes, five minutes to make his love understand. He didn't do this to leave her. He tried to save her. But he knew if he looked at her, at her sad and tearful expression again, it would get even harder. For both of them.
So he kept his eyes to him, trying hard to ignore the desperate longing for her lavender orbs, radiating a hidden warmth like nothing else. It wasn't the pain that was getting to him, it was this need. An useless need, but the most powerful one he ever experienced. He couldn't stand it and collapsed on his knees. He was sure his head would collide with the bottom once again, but partly he longed for the embracing darkness unconsciousness would bring him. It was .peaceful.
But suddenly he felt something catch him, holding him close. She couldn't.
"Ruki?" His voice was hoarse, barely over a whisper. He only felt her tighten her hold on him in response. And despite all sadness and pain, he felt happiness shining trough. A small smile found its way to his handsome features. He sat up and pulled her closer. Ruki buried her face into his chest, careful to not touch one of his many wounds. He could feel her smile exhaustedly against his torso. One of her knees slid between his, to make their position comfortable. And surprisingly, they WERE comfortable. Live for the moment, my mom always said.
He probably should have wondered why she was embracing him like this. But he didn't care at all.
For the second time in his life, he was truly happy.
"You won't leave me, Akiyama. I'm not gonna let you."
It sounded more like an unconscious whisper than something she was aware of saying. But nonetheless, that brought him back to reality. An arrow would come soon in order to kill him and if they stayed like that Ruki would catch it instead. He closed his eyes once again, feeling this overwhelming need to blow something up. ANYTHING.
"Ruki. please, let go of me. you would be killed. Please, get out of the way."
He felt her embrace tighten even more. He closed his eyes, debating what he could do.
I would give my life to just hold her like that for longer. But I won't ever give hers.
He sighed, stood up and lifted her up along with him. His one arm slipped under her knees and the other one supported her back while he lifted her up gently and turned around. His body built up like a wall to protect her.
But she didn't seem to be very pleased by that. She just responded with a somewhat annoyed and desperate groan.
"Set me down. NOW! I don't really want to lie here and see you idiot killing yourself ONCE AGAIN! Do you actually think that's funny?!"
He groaned exaggerated, sliding his hand down his face in a fruitless attempt to keep his calm.
"Do you actually think I'm pleased to let myself get poisoned?!"
But yet again, his voice found back to its soft and caring tone. "Try to understand it, Ruki, that's my only choice. I'm saving you at any cost. And Cyberdramon and Renamon. and maybe a whole world!"
The girl snorted. "Oh, get a life, stupid! And you goon could beat me? I don't believe it! You don't really think she'll let us go, do you? Just one question: what if *your* beloved got killed and you were able to destroy both the murders? Would you let one of them get away that quickly? I wouldn't for sure."
°I'm going to tear her apart even for doing so much as hurting you.°
He thought about it. In all his 'I'll protect Ruki' business he hadn't really considered the possibility that the toad was lying. But it was pretty logic.
"Well. Okay, you won. Any ideas for plan B?"
"Soulmon told me if we concentrate hardly we can combine our light shields into one that's more powerful."
"And you've got me annoying you the whole time without being able to avoid me."
°Oh, well, it has a major advantage though. You won't be dead.°
"I think I can handle that, Akiyama. Now we concentrate on being one individual. That helps build up the shield. Or do you think she's gonna shoot us down with pink cotton swabs?"
"Not really. Then let's do it, wildcat!" She flashed him a dirty look which he answered with a sheepish smile. He set her down and took her hand in his. She, now standing before him, leaned back against his broad chest. It was so comforting.
°Nononononononono!!! Concentrate on the shield, not him!°
She heard a hissing sound and opened her eyes. "Oh, SHIT!" She jumped to the side, pulling an absolutely dumbfounded Ryo along with her. And really, the arrow pierced the shield right away.
"Uh.Ruki? Seems it doesn't work. Back to plan A?"
°Never ever. You'd have to go through me first.°
"Uh. I think it does work, I was just, uh. distracted."
".Okay." He seemed a little bit bewildered but let his arms slide around her waist again. She banned Ryo out of her mind, begging for it to work. If it didn't, she would never be able to pay that Soulmon thing back.
She saw the next arrow coming up. She held out her hands, trying to support the barrier with her palms. And the flying object slowed its pace and finally fell down exactly before her feet. A satisfied smirk found its way to both their faces.
Confused, Aradmon cried out: "Oh, why can't you bastards just suffer and die like everyone else? You're so annoying!" Arrow after arrow fell to the ground, unable to break through their protection.
She snuggled closer to him, resting her hands on his again.
"It works." "Okay, you won again." "I knew I would." "You always get the better of me." She stiffened almost unnoticeable before getting her walls back up.
°What the hell was that supposed to mean?!°
They knew both very well that he had placed the ambiguous statement just to tease her. But only one knew what he meant, and the other felt pretty uncomfortable being clueless.
°Okay. 'You always get the better of me'. In which way? And, more important, which way would I prefer? Gah, I really need something like a thoughts reading machine. That guy is a book with seven seals to me. But, hey, that's what fun's about, ain't it? Cluelessness.°
God, if I ever manage to tell her about it, I'm sure I'll get some new Nobel Prize, like 'The Nobel Prize Of Courage' or such. Either she'll immediately strangle me or she'll run and never look at me again. Wonderful, isn't it?
He cursed everyone he could remember being responsible for the fact that Ruki disliked him. The most he was blaming himself.
A/N: Hey, folks, here we part once again. Well, you see, I like reviews, as you might have learned in my earlier chapters, but hey. I can live without them. You won't get me to stop, no matter what you're trying to. But I think I'll end it soon. I'm getting bored.^^'
Muchas gracias, amigos!
°Well, if he expects me to cling onto my saviour, then he's gonna be heavily disappointed.°
But something in his eyes made her think that he would want anything but that.
°But if I knew what he wanted it would get somehow boring. Solving riddles is WAY more fun.°
She almost rolled her eyes at her sarcasm. She did this very often these days.
Meanwhile, Aradmon was still looking at them, now wearing a superior grin that seemed to invite Ryo's fists. Gritting his teeth, he tried to keep his cool as good as possible. He wasn't totally succeeding though. The grin widened even more.
"You love her, don't you?"
Now it was to both their eyes to widen. Ryo gulped, fortunately going unnoticed by the cause of his sudden uneasiness.
I would rather get myself castrated by Cyberdramon than saying it in front of her. But there's no denying it either.
The best was good old trick seventeen. Avoid the subject.
"Man, it's probably quite interesting to see what idea of cruel revenge a bloated baseball has."
"I'd slow down my sarcasm, Lover Boy. Well, answering your question: I will get some fun for myself, though I don't think the both of you will find it funny unless you are really heavily into sadomaso. Then I'll kill you with a poisoned arrow which will stop a rebirth. Still interested, sweetie?"
His eyes narrowed and you could see the muscles in his jaw move. This was harder than he had expected. It would have been better if this whole thing had started before he seriously began to hope for Ruki's affection.
"Swear that you won't hurt any being again after my death."
"All right." "Okay. The deal stands."
"Hellooo? I'm still there, dumb asses! And don't expect me to agree with anything. You won't get any more easy escapes from the difficulties of life, Legendary Tamer. This time, you'll keep on sitting on your butt, damn coward."
°Which is really incredibly hot. But it isn't the right time to discuss that topic.°
Easy escape? I'm going through the hardest time of my life for that so called escape! Ah, damn love! Damn stubbornness! Damn evil digimon! DAMN RUKI!
He frowned and looked at her.
"Oh, of course, Ice Princess. I'm doing all this JUST to go and hide of my life. See, actually I wouldn't mind keeping it! But either I would have you blaming me for the destroy of the digital world or my guilt blaming me for your death. If I'm dead, you can blame me for whatever you want but thank God I won't hear it! Hey, try to see it the positive way. You'll be free of me, now isn't that worth a scream of joy?"
°And just WHAT is positive about you not being there anymore?°
"You're such a coward, Akiyama! I always knew you would take the easy way out whenever you get the chance to! But what exactly do you think we'll gain from this? Mercy from this oversized TOAD?"
"HEY!" Aradmon protested furiously. "I'M NO- "
"Oooh, SHUT UP!"
°Wow, now we even synchronize at getting angry.°
The two looked at each other again. Their gazes hardened while both their hearts began to tighten. No one was willing to give in.
"I'll rather get myself killed than having to see Cyberdramon's, Renamon's and your death. It could even save a world, couldn't it?"
"Don't tell be you believe this freak! Why would she let us go? DON'T YOU DARE LEAVE ME, JERK!" The girl shouted at the top of her lungs. She noticed tears stinging in her eyes and frowned.
°Why won't that stupid idiot listen to me for ONCE?! WHY?! Doesn't he see what he's doing to me? . Well, let's see, even I don't know exactly what he's ding to me, but I know damn well that it hurts! I can't take losing him again!°
His cerulean eyes softened and became kind of melancholic.
"I'm sorry, pumpkin. But you won't stop me."
He allowed his gaze to wander over her body once again. One last painful look into her lavender orbs caused a stinging in his chest. He inhaled deeply and finally tore his gaze apart. Then he turned and said almost emotionless:
"Let's get started, baseball."
The green thing smirked nastily and Ruki closed her eyes. For the first time in her life, she was REALLY fearing something. The loss of. well, what was he to her, what had he become? She quite couldn't tell, but she knew she would break down again if he died. But this time she was sure she wouldn't get up again.
Again, she heard the impact of an hard blast with his skin. How soft and vulnerable this skin had to be now. He wasn't the untouchable, unbeatable eternal enemy anymore. He was as human and mortal as possible. Too human and mortal than she could stand.
He did his very best to not let her know his pain. Yet, sometimes he couldn't stop a moan from escaping through his hardly gritted teeth. Why did he do this? Why did he hurt her so much? She heard a slight thud and her eyes shot open, afraid of what she would see. He had collapsed but managed to get himself in a sitting position. She knew he was already half unconscious, but still he never took his eyes off the enemy. He pushed himself up again, closing his eyes in a desperate try to control himself and not break down and give up. He didn't want to give up. And she just stood there, watching him die. She couldn't seem to move, unable to break free of her state of shock and fear. She could only stare wide-eyed. Suddenly, he turned his head. He looked at her. And smiled. So warm and caring she had never seen anyone look at her before.
With that, something inside her snapped. No. she wouldn't let him die. She wouldn't let him down. Never ever. She closed her eyes and concentrated. She took a slow step forward. Immediately, the pressure became harder. It was nagging at her mind, nearly driving her insane the more she moved into his direction. It wasn't long until she thought she would break down.
°No, Ruki. You can't do this to him. You have to go on.°
She reminded herself how strong he was, so deeply hurt and still he had smiled at her as if nothing ever hurt him. As weak as his body might be, his soul was the strongest she would ever know. Another step was done, but slowly she could sense the exhaustion taking over.
She was too weak.
And she hated herself for being weak.
Her eyes narrowed in fear and incredible pain as she saw the energy ball drawing closer and looked at Ryo, silently begging for him to flee.
But he wasn't even trying to get out of its way. He just stood there like a rock, daring the storm to come and try to break him down.
Ruki closed her eyes in horror as the ball collided with his muscular body, throwing it aback. Most of his clothing was ripped up and revealed bleeding wounds all over his body. He was obviously determined to not let the painful groaning erupt from his throat as he hit the ground, but it wasn't at all working. Though, he managed to stand up, waiting for the final shot. He closed his eyes to hide the tears threatening to well up in his beautiful blue eyes.
"I'm sorry. Bye, wildcat. I guess I won't see you again."
Shit, why is my life so DAMN SCREWED? Ooops, correction, why is my life so DAMN MUCH OVER?!?!
°Come on, Ruki, don't cry, you're so close! You can do it. You have to do it!°
Why was it so hard? He had done this thing before. It wasn't unfamiliar. And he wasn't afraid. He was. sad. If only he could have five more minutes, five minutes to make his love understand. He didn't do this to leave her. He tried to save her. But he knew if he looked at her, at her sad and tearful expression again, it would get even harder. For both of them.
So he kept his eyes to him, trying hard to ignore the desperate longing for her lavender orbs, radiating a hidden warmth like nothing else. It wasn't the pain that was getting to him, it was this need. An useless need, but the most powerful one he ever experienced. He couldn't stand it and collapsed on his knees. He was sure his head would collide with the bottom once again, but partly he longed for the embracing darkness unconsciousness would bring him. It was .peaceful.
But suddenly he felt something catch him, holding him close. She couldn't.
"Ruki?" His voice was hoarse, barely over a whisper. He only felt her tighten her hold on him in response. And despite all sadness and pain, he felt happiness shining trough. A small smile found its way to his handsome features. He sat up and pulled her closer. Ruki buried her face into his chest, careful to not touch one of his many wounds. He could feel her smile exhaustedly against his torso. One of her knees slid between his, to make their position comfortable. And surprisingly, they WERE comfortable. Live for the moment, my mom always said.
He probably should have wondered why she was embracing him like this. But he didn't care at all.
For the second time in his life, he was truly happy.
"You won't leave me, Akiyama. I'm not gonna let you."
It sounded more like an unconscious whisper than something she was aware of saying. But nonetheless, that brought him back to reality. An arrow would come soon in order to kill him and if they stayed like that Ruki would catch it instead. He closed his eyes once again, feeling this overwhelming need to blow something up. ANYTHING.
"Ruki. please, let go of me. you would be killed. Please, get out of the way."
He felt her embrace tighten even more. He closed his eyes, debating what he could do.
I would give my life to just hold her like that for longer. But I won't ever give hers.
He sighed, stood up and lifted her up along with him. His one arm slipped under her knees and the other one supported her back while he lifted her up gently and turned around. His body built up like a wall to protect her.
But she didn't seem to be very pleased by that. She just responded with a somewhat annoyed and desperate groan.
"Set me down. NOW! I don't really want to lie here and see you idiot killing yourself ONCE AGAIN! Do you actually think that's funny?!"
He groaned exaggerated, sliding his hand down his face in a fruitless attempt to keep his calm.
"Do you actually think I'm pleased to let myself get poisoned?!"
But yet again, his voice found back to its soft and caring tone. "Try to understand it, Ruki, that's my only choice. I'm saving you at any cost. And Cyberdramon and Renamon. and maybe a whole world!"
The girl snorted. "Oh, get a life, stupid! And you goon could beat me? I don't believe it! You don't really think she'll let us go, do you? Just one question: what if *your* beloved got killed and you were able to destroy both the murders? Would you let one of them get away that quickly? I wouldn't for sure."
°I'm going to tear her apart even for doing so much as hurting you.°
He thought about it. In all his 'I'll protect Ruki' business he hadn't really considered the possibility that the toad was lying. But it was pretty logic.
"Well. Okay, you won. Any ideas for plan B?"
"Soulmon told me if we concentrate hardly we can combine our light shields into one that's more powerful."
"And you've got me annoying you the whole time without being able to avoid me."
°Oh, well, it has a major advantage though. You won't be dead.°
"I think I can handle that, Akiyama. Now we concentrate on being one individual. That helps build up the shield. Or do you think she's gonna shoot us down with pink cotton swabs?"
"Not really. Then let's do it, wildcat!" She flashed him a dirty look which he answered with a sheepish smile. He set her down and took her hand in his. She, now standing before him, leaned back against his broad chest. It was so comforting.
°Nononononononono!!! Concentrate on the shield, not him!°
She heard a hissing sound and opened her eyes. "Oh, SHIT!" She jumped to the side, pulling an absolutely dumbfounded Ryo along with her. And really, the arrow pierced the shield right away.
"Uh.Ruki? Seems it doesn't work. Back to plan A?"
°Never ever. You'd have to go through me first.°
"Uh. I think it does work, I was just, uh. distracted."
".Okay." He seemed a little bit bewildered but let his arms slide around her waist again. She banned Ryo out of her mind, begging for it to work. If it didn't, she would never be able to pay that Soulmon thing back.
She saw the next arrow coming up. She held out her hands, trying to support the barrier with her palms. And the flying object slowed its pace and finally fell down exactly before her feet. A satisfied smirk found its way to both their faces.
Confused, Aradmon cried out: "Oh, why can't you bastards just suffer and die like everyone else? You're so annoying!" Arrow after arrow fell to the ground, unable to break through their protection.
She snuggled closer to him, resting her hands on his again.
"It works." "Okay, you won again." "I knew I would." "You always get the better of me." She stiffened almost unnoticeable before getting her walls back up.
°What the hell was that supposed to mean?!°
They knew both very well that he had placed the ambiguous statement just to tease her. But only one knew what he meant, and the other felt pretty uncomfortable being clueless.
°Okay. 'You always get the better of me'. In which way? And, more important, which way would I prefer? Gah, I really need something like a thoughts reading machine. That guy is a book with seven seals to me. But, hey, that's what fun's about, ain't it? Cluelessness.°
God, if I ever manage to tell her about it, I'm sure I'll get some new Nobel Prize, like 'The Nobel Prize Of Courage' or such. Either she'll immediately strangle me or she'll run and never look at me again. Wonderful, isn't it?
He cursed everyone he could remember being responsible for the fact that Ruki disliked him. The most he was blaming himself.
A/N: Hey, folks, here we part once again. Well, you see, I like reviews, as you might have learned in my earlier chapters, but hey. I can live without them. You won't get me to stop, no matter what you're trying to. But I think I'll end it soon. I'm getting bored.^^'
Muchas gracias, amigos!
