The Inevitable Fate
Chapter 6
Nobody can save the game…it's too late.
Ryo lied on the bed, toying boringly with the remote control, switching the channel from one to another frequently. Most of the stations aired anime in Sunday morning in which he found extremely irksome and annoying to watch. His eyes were already hazing with sleepiness as his gaze transfixed groggily at the screen. It was one of those endless mornings where time seemed to loose its normal pace and hang magically in midday.
He laid back and bit his lips bitterly before shooting another hopeless stare at his bandaged ankle; the feeling of guilt came rushing back to him like a flowing river. Missing school for an entire week was bad enough but when he finally realized his grave mistake, he felt ashamed to attend school anymore. He shouldn't have shout at her, he shouldn't have. And such feeling, he doubt, will ever recede.
It's too late…
He snuggled deeper into the warmed sheets, another morning wasted just like that.
Quiet lazy sunlight began to fight its way into the room through the bamboo reed blinds, which seemed to bounce off the walls and lightened the entire room a little with in its penetrating golden rays, totally ruined the umbratic surroundings of the room. He groaned and shaded himself from the light by shifting slighting to his left but the moment he did that, he winced in pain. Damn leg. The pain was distracting and the only way to relief it was to ignore it. And the only way to ignore it was to shift his attention else where.
And so, like wise, our protagonist switched his attention from that damn leg, to the view behind the windowpane, which was sadly blocked by the damn curtains. Damn.
Birds were chirping excitedly, tress were waving merrily at the awakened earth, saying 'good day to you, human' whenever a stranger walked pass. But all he could see behind the damn curtains were shadows of unidentified flying objects and sickening dancing figures sprawling across the curtains, demanding for attentions. And while he was at it, a sudden exclaim caught his ears and Ryo saw a familiar shadow fell passed his window. [A/N: Sorry, can't help it. Feeling really sick now. Sue me. .]
He shook his head ruefully, knowing too well of his grandpa's antic.
"Ji-san, are you up to that again?"
"What???" came a weak reply.
"I mean," he took in a deep breath, "ARE YOU CRAWLING UP ROOFTS AGAIN?"
A moment passed and –
"I DON'T CRAWL!! I MAKE USE OF THE LADDER PERFECTLY WELL!!!"
Ryo shook his head in desperate..
"I'LL TAKE CARE OF IT! LEAVE IT TO ME!!" Ryo shouted, and his voice to seem to echo throughout the neighbourhood as if saying 'Rise and shine, dear neighbours. It's seven in the morning.'
He laid back, expecting a reply from him. Any moment now. But he heard nothing.
That's strange…
And—
Pant. Pant.
"Ji-san, what are you doing?" Ryo asked in surprise.
His grandpa shot him an assuring smile. "Making sure my favourite grandson don't do anything that would hurt himself."
Ryo smirked, only to be mock by his grandpa again.
"It's good to see you smiling, Ryo. You're scowling almost every moment I thought you have forgotten how to smile at all."
Silence followed soon after his grandpa finished his sentence. Could it be the loss had really affected him that deep? Or the loss of the girl?
He was at lost of words; confused. "I – I…" Ryo began.
A harsh, warmed palm anticipated his words and patted his head gently, offering him comfort and concern. "Yes, my child, anything bothering you?"
Ryo looked into the knowingly eyes and his hesitation seemed to ebb away somehow. That's it, he have made up his mind. He's going to apologize to Rika the next day, and not a single soul shall stop him. "Nothing, ji-san. Nothing at all…"
*~*~*~*~*~*
A guy walked passed, she looked up and furrowed her brow. She buried her head towards the book once more.
"Hey, what's up with you, Rik?" Jeri expressed her concern upon looking at her friend's dejected expression.
Rika merely shook her head, "Nothing. I'm fine."
She raised an eyebrow but did not pursue further the subject. At times such as this, she knew better to leave her alone and mind her own business.
But as for Kazu, he will seize any opportunity he could, just for the fun of it. "Got dump?" he sneered, but was nudged, hard, in his ribs by Jeri who disapprove such attitude towards her best friend. Colors drained from his face and his eyes widened with shock.
"OUCH!! Why you –" And a piece of sandwich was shoved into his mouth.
"Shut up and eat it," Takato clarified. Kazu narrowed his eyes and began to choke.
"Serve you right, Kazu."
"Not you too, Henry!!" He shouted disbelievingly at the tall guy who popped a sandwich into his mouth and shrugged.
The canteen had been fairly empty that morning and crowds of student were slowly dissipating as recess will soon over. Kazu, however, continued his debative session of the 'injustice' he gained nowadays while the rest of the group totally ignored him. But neither one realized the absence of their teammate until Jeri spoke out.
"Where is Rika?"
*~*~*~*~*
He paced out of the class dispiritedly, a hand tuck firmly in his pants and another running through his hair. Where on earth is she? He wondered disapprovingly. It's particularly hard to go and search for her when the sensei refused to dismiss him from his long lectures for not paying attention in the class and it was even worse now for recess would soon be over.
He sighed desperately.
For a brief moment, he was going to give up when –
-- he remembered the note. Plans formulated by his friends. He took it out and read it.
First Alternative:
Okay, leave a letter the in her locker and apologize later. Now that's easy. But heck, not sincere. His eyes went scanning over to the next line.
If first alternative seemed vague, try the second one.
Second Alternative:
Lurk around the school gate and pretend not expect to see her. What friends have I gotten with?
Does that seem the brightest plan or what? ::sounds hopeful:: If not, go read the third one.
Third Alternative:
Pretend to collide into her while pretending doing something else. Apologize on the spot.
If ya still don't like it, sorry mate, we are running out of ideas. That's the best one we can think.
Best? Please! Sigh. Not very convincing but… that's ALL?
Ryo cracked his brain but nothing seemed to more appealing than the last alternative. So, while chucking the paper hastily, he retracted his tracks down the hallway and disappeared around the corner.
*~*~*~*~*~*
She tried hard not to steer her attention away from the book in front of her when she overheard a pair of girls walk gossiping about their favourite idol. She went momentarily out of focused.
"Ryo is cute, isn't he? Oh…his eyes are so wonderful and whenever I look at them, I could feel myself melting into his gaze."
Pah, you think Ryo would fall for the likes of you?
"He's very adoring indeed! Very talented too! What a perfect guy!"
He's far worse than that! He's vulnerable.
She scowled.
Heck, why am I so disturbed?
She couldn't take it anymore. Why is Ryo keep on preying her mind when she has better things to deal with? Why can't she stop thinking of him? And more importantly, why is she so mad every time his fan girl speaks about him? Why??!! She ran down the corridor, feeling quite confused but little did she know, all of her doubts and questions will soon be answered.
BAM!
The book went flying out of her grasp and she fall. It was like a swirling vortex when dim and distant past came churning over. There was no one there to support her, just like eleven years ago…(Check out chapter3) She waited for the pain to invade her figure but—
-- the agony did not come. Instead…
"Are you all right?" …Just like eleven years ago... "I'm sorry, I should have look at where I was going. Do forgive me. Err… Miss, are you all right? Are you hurt?"
She felt dizziness searing her conscience but her savior didn't seem to notice her condition. All the thoughts really gave her a major headache. But slowly, the dizziness gave way and it was then she realized a pair of warm hand was supporting her fallen figure; cemented floor met her eyes. She gave a yelp.
"Sorry!" She quickly got up; her long auburn hair wavered as she did.
"Rika?" came a familiar voice.
Words failed her that moment. She stared into his handsome mien and felt drowning into his gaze. Of all people she could have collided into, why should it be him?
…………
The silent stretched. It was unexpected.
However, she came to her senses and hastily she recollected her book and pushed her way passed him, silently praying for him to evaporate from the spot when a part of her begging her not to go. It was an awkward moment and he was the last person she would like to see by then. But he seemed eager not to let her escape and she felt a tug on her wrist and with a spun, she confronted a pair of blue wonders. The colour of an ocean. It was not a calm ocean.
*~*~*~*~*~*
Oh my…how long have I not update my fic? I'm so sorry, all readers out there. Do excuse me for I was preparing for my mid-term exam. I've got like 20, no, 21 paper to sit and the next paper will be Physic. Sigh. Sorry if you don't like this chapter and like I said before, critics or flames are welcome. I wrote this chap quite a long time ago but left it hanging unrevised. I do hope this will satisfy your taste for a good Ryuki fic for I think my writing is getting worse day by day. Need more practice. Now, to my faithful readers –
Akino Ame – Ken and Daisuke? That's private and confidential. Just stay tune and read for yourself!
Sakura Scout – Thanks for letting me know the Roman Numerals. Sorry and thanks for the review^^.
Jojo – Oh my, it's confusing?
Kookey – I do hope you got it somehow. Thanks for the review!
Angel13 – Lol, you are cute. Thank you.
Arabella Silverbell – I love Ryuki too!! (That's why I am writing this, lol^^)
Bunni – Here I present you with the 6th chapter! Now, is that too late?
MizzKlutz – Thank you for being such a nice friend and a faithful reviewer. Am looking forward to your fic too!!
Evil Queen – You like it? I'm so glad! Thanks for reviewing!
Slyphie Andrella – Thanks for the review. Here you are.