Author's note:Last of the revisions, which are now completed. Storyline remains unchanged, but spelling, etc were hopefully somewhat improved.

The cloud grew too heavy within seconds, and Touki felt the water reforming the driblets they were used to and her body re-attaining the normal expansion between molecules, growing solid again. Her mind was still linked with the water, but it was not dissolved in it anymore.

As the rain poured down heavily, cooling down the surrounding waves of magma, she found herself next to Ranshou, who was now very weak, and still unconscious. It seemed as if he had also been injured, and she felt the heat slowly crouching through the weak shield. She centred her own energy onto shielding, and lifted him with a little spell in order to transport him to a safer distance, where she might be able to heal his wounds and leave him some time in order to recover his energy.

However, getting out of the inferno around them wasn't quite as easy anymore: when she had rained down, the magma wave had only been approaching Ranshou, but now, it had arrived. She could feel the heat radiating through the shield, and dared not entertain thoughts about an unconscious Ranshou without the shield…. Had he only taken her with him from the beginning on. Their little bubble became more and more endangered, and she could not open a gate out as long as Ranshou was without conscience and powers.

Trying to get through the magma wasn't an option either – they would be burned even if she managed to mobilise the shield, as it would become too thin from the movement. And waiting….she knew she would not be able to maintain the shield for long. The only possible way of escape was to somehow wake Ranshou…

His breath was very shallow, and the pulses abnormally slow. However, she needed his conscience in order to open a gate, which would only form if the energy set free in the process could flow between to adversaries – once it had formed the circle, they would be able to get through. She tried calling his name, softly shaking his shoulders, but he did not respond… A bizarre thought crossed her mind, of old human tales, and the awakening by a kiss. To think about kissing Ranshou in this situation was pure absurdity….but maybe it would work, since everything else would not? Wasn't the power of love unaccountable and mysterious?

Risking her reputation, her feelings, her heart, Touki leant forward and gently touched his lips with hers.

Somehow, the sensation of two pairs of lips touching, desperate as the situation was, over shone the destruction. That single touch seemed to wake all hope in Touki, and energy flew softly circling in barely visible patterns. She had experienced something quite similar when she finally merged with the water, but here the sensation of being in unity with the world was fuller, as it was tinged with a hint of surprise, mystery, undiscovered secrets. But only when Ranshous eyes opened, Touki realised that the presence of another made the difference – it was not a bond between similes, but contraries, and the excitement caused by the differences made the world seem special and joyful and glittering.

Ranshou seemed stunned by the close view of Touki's eyes he first visualized when his gaze had fixed itself. Awakening from the exhaustion, he still felt the faintness in his limbs, and was about to panic when the expression of those eyes slowly calmed the rising alarm. He tried a temptative smile, and Touki smiled back. Needless to say, she was more than relieved to have him back, and have him calm.

Moving closer ever so slowly, Touki brought her lips close to his again, and he responded by rising his head. The first contact was, as before, surprising and electrical, but soon, the initial shock had developed into a passionate understanding. And while they seemed lost in the kiss, holding close, a magical breeze had grabbed hold and transported them upwards as in a spiral, slightly turning them as if it was a platform turning out of the earth.

They managed to ascend high enough to be above the violent waves of heat radiating from the still moving magma, when they heard the gentle swooshing sound of the dragon-like creature that had taken them from heaven to earth. It flew beneath them ever so slightly elevating itself vertically and thereby showing it's extraordinary flight abilities. They finally were able to seat themselves on the creature, not quite an easy task as they did not dare to break direct contact in case this would terminate the effect of the kiss. Touki nearly slipped out of the embrace when the uprising air caused turbulences in their current cooler sphere, but Ranshou was able to hold her and settle her on the dragon, whom he consequently told to get out of the area. This time, the flight was nowhere as peaceful and serene as the first time, as the turbulences and their increased level of adrenaline from their close escape - or their kiss - did not help to handle the situation calmly. However, they managed to return to the island in one piece, and were soon descending from the back down to the sand beaches. The animal, having exhausted itself in the hot air, disappeared into the water immediately, a small cloud of steam coming into existence upon contact with the water.

Lying down on the sand, they first realized how very close it had been - and how narrow their escape. Only in second thoughts, when the truth began to sink in, they realized what their means of escape had been. Love had indeed been all they ever needed, and it had been what gave them the strength and the means to escape. Now, when everything had passed and they had reclaimed their usual space, the closeness they had found earlier seemed distant and unreal – and yet, it had felt right, and this isolation reminded Touki of how she had felt before she had left heaven – despaired and lonely. She turned to face Ranshou, and when she saw that he had watched her the whole time, she moved closer, and laid her hand on his arm. He shuddered, but when she attempted to retreat, he held her close and continued to look into her eyes, searching for a clue which he got when she closed her eyes, snuggled closer and gently kissed him again.

°The End°