"Millenia?" asked Ryudo, tapping on the door of Millenia's cabin.
No answer came through the door. Ryudo pushed the door open slightly. Millenia was still there, thankfully, so Ryudo gently closed the door. He walked back over to the others and sat down.
"She's sleeping," he said quietly.
"We'd better check on her once in a while to make sure she doesn't disappear again," said Roan.
Elena sighed and rested her head on Ryudo's shoulder. She half closed her eyes and gazed off into thin air.
"I wish we could do more," she whispered.
"We're doing all we can," said Ryudo, putting his arm around her.
"But what if…what if this doesn't help and…she said herself that she might only just make it back. She can't hold on much longer." Said Elena, biting her lip.
"I know it's hard, but it's the only lead we have. If this doesn't work…we'll just have to think of something," said Tio, showing a determination that was very rarely seen in her.
Ryudo smiled at her and looked around at Millenia's closed door. He was hoping harder than ever that this was just some joke or something and Millenia would suddenly burst out, laughing at how silly they were for believing her. When Millenia had been taken by Zera, Ryudo would've given his own life to get her back, and he would do the same even now after all these years.
"Why didn't she mention anything before?" asked Roan.
"I guess she just didn't want to admit what was happening. She was in denial," said Tio.
"I feel so helpless," said Elena, "She's practically family…I don't want her to disappear."
"None of us do," said Ryudo, "But for now there's nothing any of us could do. We're just going to have to wait until we get home and sort things out then."
Impatience welled up inside Elena as she leant against Ryudo. How long was this boat trip going to take? The longer they took; the less chance Millenia had of recovering.
"This is worse than waiting at the doctors," groaned Ryudo, "At least at the doctors you know you're going to get a result after the long wait. Can't this hunk of junk go any faster?"
"I can ask the captain," said Roan, standing up.
"Not right now," said Ryudo and Roan sat down again, "Right now we need to just try and relax."
"Relax?" said Elena sitting up straight, "How are we supposed to relax at a time like this?"
"Well what can we do?" asked Ryudo.
"We can try to talk to Millenia, we can give her support. We can even pray to a dead god if we have to, but we're not going to just sit around and do nothing!" snapped Elena.
"Millenia is asleep and I doubt that Granas can hear us right now," said Ryudo, "So just back, try to get some rest and relax. We're no good to Millenia if we're exhausted from lack of sleep and worry."
Elena sighed yet again. She knew that Ryudo was right. There was nothing they could do expect try to relax. After all, the more normal they acted, the less chance that they would upset Millenia and themselves. Getting themselves in a state would just make Millenia panic even more than she already was.
"Maybe one of us should stay with Millenia at all times. Just so that we can tell when she disappears and…she'll have someone with her," said Roan.
"Good idea, we'll take turn staying up and keeping an eye on her," said Ryudo.
"Perhaps she wants to be alone," said Tio quietly, "She hasn't spoken to us…maybe she doesn't want us near her."
"That's ridiculous." Said Elena.
"She didn't want to tell us in the first place; otherwise she would've done it sooner," said Tio.
"Well we're not going to leave her on her own even if she doesn't want us to be with her," said Ryudo, "She needs us, we're the ones who're going to keep her in this world and if she doesn't want our help, we're going to give it to her anyway!"
"She probably didn't tell us before because she wasn't sure and she didn't want to make us worry," said Elena.
They were all silent. None of them seemed to want to mention that whether or not they were worried was probably Millenia's last priority. She had never been much concerned about what she said to them before, or whether or not it would be hurtful. Perhaps the reason Millenia didn't want to mention it was because she didn't want their help after all. Was Tio right? Did Millenia want them to stay out of this and leave her alone? It had crossed all their minds at one point or another, but Tio had been the only person to say her thoughts out loud. Either way, Ryudo was right; they weren't going to give her up without a fight.
"It's getting late," said Elena, "We should get some rest. Who's going to take first watch?"
"I'll do it," said Ryudo, "I'm used to staying up late."
"Alright, the rest of us will get a decent night's sleep so we can be ready to take over," said Elena.
"Come and wake me up when you get tired," said Tio, "I'll take the second watch."
Ryudo nodded waited while they all walked off to their separate cabins. Elena turned to Ryudo.
"I'll leave the door unlocked for you," she said before disappearing behind it.
Ryudo sighed and walked into Millenia's room. Her back was faced to him. She was still fully dressed and it looked as though she had fallen asleep quickly. He sat down in a chair on the other side of the room.
What Ryudo didn't know was that Millenia wasn't asleep. She hadn't been asleep since last night. She was too scared to sleep. If she fell asleep there was a chance that she might not wake up solid or visible and that frightened her more than the idea of not waking up at all.
She was breathing gently, trying to look as though she was sleeping still. She knew that Ryudo wouldn't go to sleep and that he probably wouldn't take his eyes of her until his watch was over. She had heard everything he had said through the door and she had had no idea that he was that determined to help her. It was actually a relief to know that he believed her and was willing to help, especially after the way they had argued down at the lake in Mareg's village. She guessed that he was feeling guilty, but it wasn't his fault…
A couple of hours later, Millenia had eventually drifted off and Ryudo decided to go and get Tio. He was having trouble staying awake. He knocked gently on Tio's door. There was the sound of movement as someone scrabbled out of bed. Tio appeared at the door. Her face was blank and it was obvious she had been asleep.
"Sorry to wake you..." he yawned, "…but I can't keep my eyes open any longer."
"It is alright, you go and get some sleep," said Tio, heading for Millenia's room.
Tio pushed the door open and watched Ryudo go to his own room before closing it and sitting in the chair next to Millenia's bed. Millenia rolled over onto her back as she slept. Tio gently brushed the red hair out of her eyes.
"Sleep well Millenia, you're going to need your strength," she said quietly.
Millenia muttered something in her dream…and then she was gone. Tio started panicking, running her hand over where Millenia's head had previously been.
"She's gone," she shouted into the main cabin and the doors of Ryudo and Elena's and Roan's cabin.
"What?" asked Roan.
"She's gone!"