Author's Note: Yes, Ray is a Dark Dragon descendant, just like Valerie, Yua, and Ryu are Light Dragon descendants. By the time the game starts, the Light and Dark Dragons seems to be in cahoots in order to contain Deathevan, as demonstrated by there being representatives of both clans in the Dragon City (or whatever it was called). At any rate, I decided to do a little canon revision concerning the relations between the two Dragon clans. Namely, they're still at each other's throats. As you will see in this chapter, the Dark Dragons are on the decline, but there's still some animosity between the Light and Dark clans.

And you guessed it--the "Yua, oh, she must be a girlfriend" line at the end is a direct reference to Breath of Fire 1. Oh, allusions. Got to love the cute little allusions.

Chapter Ten: The City of Sails

The next morning was not a good one for Katt. "I can't believe I got that drunk!" she moaned, her voice bouncing off the bedroom walls.

Nina patted her on the shoulder comfortingly. But the Woren continued to wail. "I made such a fool of myself! I can't believe I asked if he was still a virgin. I'm such a jerk."

"I wouldn't worry about it too much," Nina said consolingly. "You know Ryu—nothing ever fazes him. And you know he'd never bring it up or make fun of you for it. He's like that."

Katt smiled weakly. "Yeah, he is like that."

"Um," Nina began uneasily, "you said some things last night…I…I'm only curious and it really isn't my place to pry…but do you, that is, ah, do you like Ryu?" There. It was out in the open. And Katt had no choice but to answer it clearly and distinctly.

The Woren seemed at first taken aback by Nina's frankness. Then she grinned and leaned back against the bed. "Well, I do like him. He's smart, strong, tough as nails. And you can rely on him—that's always a good thing. So sure, I like him—as a friend, definitely. But if you're asking whether or not I'm in love with the guy…heh, who knows? I said a lot of things last night that I shouldn't have." But now I have to worry if those were my real feelings coming out or not, the Woren thought. Yeah…who knows?

Katt turned and looked at Nina. "What about you?"

The Windian was startled. "Me? Eh…what do you mean?"

"What do you think of Ryu?"

"Oh…ah…he's just like you said," she started uneasily. "He is very smart, and strong, and reliable. He's a natural leader, the kind you follow because he sets a good example, not because he barks off orders. But…" she sighed, "but he overworks himself. I'm really worried that something bad might happen to him because of it. You know, I don't think he noticed, but one time I saw him sleeping. He sleeps with his back to a wall and a sword in his lap—he's alert even when he should be resting."

"It's just a sign that he's an experienced adventurer," Katt said. Then a worried look crossed her feline features. "But you're right. He does seem to take things a bit too seriously. I think it has something to do with the fact that his best friend's in trouble right now." Suddenly, worry was replaced with mischief. "But you seem awfully concerned about him," she noted with a wry grin.

Nina turned red to the roots of her golden hair. "It's nothing like that at all! Stop reading into things so much, Katt! Like you're any better; I wasn't the one who got so drunk I started coming onto him."

Katt waved a dismissive hand. "Oh, please. Sure, I made a colossal fool of myself, but hey, it was still a party. And like you said, it's not like Ryu will ever bring it up to haunt me." The Woren glanced at a timepiece on the mantel. "Oh, hey, we'd better get downstairs; Ryu'll want to head out soon."

Katt seemed so composed about dismissing last night's debaucheries that she almost believed it herself. But when she saw Ryu and Sten—or more specifically, Ryu—waiting in the taproom, the Woren veritably glowed beneath her tawny fur.

"G-goodmorningRyu," she said in such a rush that Nina, who had been watching her reaction with amusement, giggled.

But if the ranger noted Katt's embarrassment, he was tactful enough not to mention it. "Good morning, ladies," he greeted calmly. "Shall we be off?"

Yeah, Katt thought, he really wouldn't bring it up.

Sten watched the episode with a grin of wry mischief. While Ryu wouldn't, but Sten would. "Kitty doesn't know how to hold her liquor, aye?"

The Woren threw him a glare so chilling that any other man would have been frozen solid. But Sten's grin never left his countenance. "Wipe that off your face, old man," Katt grunted.

Ryu just shook his head at his comrades' antics and thought, Capitan is really far.

The hike to the port city of Capitan took the bulk of the day. By the time the sun had dipped to the ocean's horizon, the party had finally reached the city walls. The setting rays set the azure waters aflame, a sight that would have inspired poets to their art.

"You know," Katt murmured dreamily, "I've never been to the ocean before. We should go to the beach." She smiled happily at the thought. "I heard Capitan has a nice beach."

"That does sound relaxing," Nina agreed. "We've been on the road for so long. Surely once we catch the thief, there will be ample time to unwind. What do you think, Ryu?"

"I've…never been to the beach before, either," the ranger admitted. "I never really found the time."

Katt sighed and bopped him on the head. "That's because you're always working. Do you even know how to swim?"

Ryu rubbed his scalp. "Yes, Katt. I learned how to because—"

"—some job or other needed it, right?" the Woren finished. She threw her hands up in exasperation. "Don't you ever do anything not related to working? Geez."

"Sorry…" the ranger said dumbly, not really sure how to take her tirade.

"What are you apologizing for?" Katt said. "I mean, you're just wasting your life slaving away for the next gold piece. It's bad for your health, you know. Tell him, Nina, Sten."

"A good work ethic is admirable, Ryu," said the Windian, "but Katt's right about taking a break. All work and no play, you know."

Sten clapped the ranger on the back, "Lad, let's put it this way—ye 'ave two beautiful lasses ready and waiting to take ye down to tha' beach with them." He turned a laughing eye at the girls and smiled when he saw their discomfiture. "Aye, lasses?"

While the girls looked like they were going to pummel the Highlander for his improprieties, Ryu simply rubbed the bridge of his nose tiredly. "Let's just find an inn," the ranger said at last. Suddenly, he smiled ironically and said, "We can get everyone bathing suits in the morning."

His parting words made everyone else blink in confusion. Katt pointed a finger at him. "Did he…did he just suggest doing something fun?" she burbled.

"I think tha' world's going to blow up now," Sten said.

Nina giggled. "Maybe there's hope for you yet, Ryu."

The ranger grinned quietly. "Maybe."

"Well this is very strange," Ryu noted as the party entered the inn. "There's a lot of travelers, even though it's already the end of the trading season."

"They don't look like traders to me," Sten said, noting the variety of weapons hanging from scabbards and belt loops. The bulk of the patrons were roughshod, grimy men in much-scratched armor and helms. Some had fresh bandages wrapped around arms and temples. They had recently seen battle. Many of them gave the party a wicked scowl. "These men look like mercenaries." But there is no sign of fighting anywhere around town, he thought. How did they get injured?

"Nina, Katt," said Ryu, "please check us in the register. I'll ask around to see if anyone's spotted the girl with the bat wings."

"And me?" asked Sten.

Ryu just gave him a look that said everything—you're making sure I don't get stabbed in the back by this lot.

"Ah," murmured the Highlander in understanding. "Well, I'll just be sitting in a corner, then." He let a knife drop into his long fingers—not that anyone noticed it—and took a seat in a darkened segment of the bar.

Ryu went over to the swarthy bartender, who looked at him warily. The swarthy man dropped a hand beneath the counter, presumably to keep his palm on a concealed weapon. The ranger put on his most disarming smile—which was not very good—and said, "Good evening, sir, may I ask you a few questions?"

"Not particularly, no," came the gruff reply. "Strangers aren't much welcome here."

"But you seem to have an awfully large number of them tonight," Ryu countered, gesturing toward the mercenaries, many of whom were still giving him dirty looks.

The bartender shrugged. "They're a necessary evil."

"Interesting words," said the ranger. "Perhaps this will loosen your lips more?" He slid several gold pieces across the bar. Seeing the hard glint of greed spark in the bartender's eyes, Ryu pressed on. "I'm looking for a girl with blue hair like mine and bat wings."

"Aye, I've seen her," the bartender said, pocketing the coins. "It's the reason why everyone's looking at you like they want to stick a knife up your arse. The blue hair and all. That bitch stole a lot of money and caused a lot of trouble. For one thing, she went into the well to escape—and let out something big. Something nasty. It…it came out one night and kidnapped the carpenter's kid. The Donnelley boy. Then it went back under the well. Some mercenaries went in…only a few came back out. We're still trying to get the boy back, but it's been three days…."

"I'm sorry to hear that," Ryu said with uncharacteristic sympathy. "I…know what it's like to lose someone. Do you know where the girl with the bat wings went?"

"She took a boat across the ocean."

Damn, Ryu thought. We don't have money for fare, not for four people. Then he said, "How much are you paying these mercenaries?"

"Uh…about twenty silver a day. It's been hurting us, but everyone here knows everyone—the Donnelley boy is like everyone's son. We're willing to pay."

"Then how about you make sure my friends and I get on the next boat out and we'll get the boy back," Ryu promised.

The bartender scoffed suddenly. "What makes you think you'll have any better luck than a score of veteran mercs?"

Ryu shrugged. "Look on the bright side—you now have four extra blades free of charge. Well, two extra blades, a quarterstaff, and a magical cannon." The ranger slipped off the barstool, heading for the stairs and the rooms above. "So even if we end up getting killed, you'll at least saved yourself eighty pieces of silver." With that, he went upstairs to find Katt and Nina.

He felt a presence beside him and said without turning, "What is it, Sten?" He's good at skulking, too, the ranger thought with no small amount of respect. I almost didn't notice.

"A man with red hair," the Highlander said, stepping out of the shadows. "Over there, by tha' door."

Ryu peered past the patronage and saw the man in question. A dashingly handsome young man, the stranger was both stately and soft-looking, unusual in the presence of so many grim mercenaries. But it was his appearance that caught Ryu's attention. Red hair…the color of blood…why do I feel so…angry? The dark emotions swirled like an uncontrollable whirlpool, threatening to suck him under. Ryu felt his jaw clench, felt his nails bite into his palms…Hate…I hate…but why? I can't stop feeling it. Why do I hate this man? The depth of the unreasoning animosity he felt frightened him.

Then Ryu noticed the man's attire. "Those are clerical vestments," he murmured. He focused completely on the clothing…because he did not wish to explore the strange feeling stirring inside him. Hatred, anger…I see blood when I look at him. It doesn't make sense, it's illogical to hate someone I've never seen before…no, focus on the clothes. There's logic in the clothes, that's a battlefield you can handle, that you can try and make sense of. "Looks like a high priest of St. Eva." Focus on that. Focus just on that.

"And tha' question is," said Sten, "what's someone so high up tha' ladder like him doing in a backwater port city like this?"

"The bartender told me that the thief we're looking for accidentally let something loose under the well," said Ryu. "That means there must be a tunnel system underneath the city, probably cut by erosion. Underground waterways like that can usually hold two to four men abreast. If so, whatever's down there must be big."

Sten nodded in agreement. "Invading troops use such tunnels to sneak past city walls during a siege," he noted. "Though I'm sure ye already knew that, right?"

There's definitely more to this one than he lets on, Ryu thought. Aloud, he said, "Precisely."

"And what does that have to do with the cleric?" Sten pressed.

"I'll explain upstairs," the ranger said mysteriously. "Come on." Then he grinned wryly. "The girls will be disappointed; we won't be getting bathing suits tomorrow."

"I can't believe they're out of rooms," Katt whined.

"Well, you saw how many people were downstairs," said Nina. "It shouldn't be surprising at all." Suddenly, she blushed. "I admit, though…I'm not…looking forward to sharing a room with two men."

"Afraid Ryu'll get too much of an eyeful, eh?" the Woren said with a grin. Then she struck a pose, thrusting out her considerably larger bust. "Afraid you don't have anywhere near as much to show, eh?"

Nina glared at her and hugged herself—pointedly crossing her arms over her smaller chest. "That's not it…well…not all of it. No, it has nothing to do with it at all! It's just improper, that's all. Men and women shouldn't sleep in the same room until marriage."

"You're such a prude," Katt said with a smirk. "You really are a princess. It's not like we're all in the same bed or anything. And besides, we're talking about Ryu and Sten here. Sten's just an old man who goofs off and Ryu's…well, he's a stone statue."

Nina looked at the Woren sideways. "Um, Katt…I knows I asked this before. But you and Ryu? Sorry…it's just that you seemed very excited all of a sudden, about him staying here, I mean."

Katt sighed and leaned against the wall. "Like I said, it's not like I'm in love with him or anything," she said. "But you never know. It might work out that way. Life's funny like that, you know? I mean, he's so distant about everything—I guess I wouldn't mind having a calming influence like that in my life. Besides," she added with a mischievous grin, "it'll be fun to play with him a bit."

"O-Oh," the Windian said with a note of disappointment. Well, if she likes him…I guess I should back off. It's not like I can compete with her, or anything. I mean…she's slim, more outgoing, and bigger where it counts. I mean, she's so pretty. I really can't compete. N-not that is matters! she thought hurriedly. It's not like I'm in love with Ryu or anything…and now I'm having a conversation with myself! What's wrong with me?

"You seem pretty flustered," Katt said, watching her. "You all right?"

Nina came out of her reverie and forced a smile, though her face was still red. "S-sure. Yes. Perfectly fine, ha, ha."

"Uh-huh. Right. Sure you are." Katt grinned crookedly and shook her head. "You know, I don't mind prudes, nobles, and princesses, but I can't stand people who beat around the bush or just plain simply aren't honest with themselves. Maybe I'm just not very subtle, but I really believe it'd be better if you just say things straight out." She pointed a finger at Nina, which startled the Windian. "You, for example. Just say you like him already!"

"B-but I don't—"

"I said 'be honest!'" Katt insisted.

"But I really—"

"Come on, its not like I mind competition or anything. Makes it more fun, I think."

"But it's not—"

"But you think about him a lot, right?" Katt said with a wink. "It's the same with me. So just say you're interested, ne? Come on," she urged.

Nina finally threw her arms up, exasperated. "Fine, if it'll make you stop teasing me, then I'll say it. I'm not going to say I like him, but I will say that he interests me, okay? He interests me a lot!"

That was when both girls heard a knock on the door. Nina slapped a hand across her forehead—considering how loud she spoke, there was no way whoever was behind the door could not have heard her. And she had a good idea of who was behind it. Sure enough, when the door opened, Sten and Ryu walked in, the former with an amused smirk and the latter with a face stonier than usual.

"Hello awkward silence," Katt muttered.

"Katt," Nina murmured, burying her face in her hands from embarrassment, "remind me to kill you in your sleep."

It looked like Sten was having a heart attack, so hard was he trying not to laugh.

Ryu, of course, took it all in stride, with his usual calmness. Nina briefly wondered just how he was able to do that. "A situation's developed," Ryu said. "It seems the thief we've been chasing has fled by boat across the ocean. If so, the frog city of Simafort would be the next place to check out—it's the only sizable city nearest to the ports. But ship fare is pretty steep. That's why I offered our services to help around here. It seems the thief accidentally released something in the tunnel systems under Capitan. Whatever it is, it kidnapped a small boy. We have to save him."

"This is serious," Nina murmured, her embarrassment vanishing in the face of such dire news. "That poor boy…."

"Yes," Ryu agreed with such strong conviction it made everyone blink. They had never heard him sound so…passionate. "So everyone get some rest tonight. We check out the tunnels in the morning." Then he looked around and noticed that there were four beds. He rubbed the bridge of his nose and sighed. "Don't tell me they ran out of rooms."

Katt grinned mischievously. "Then I won't. Hee-hee."

A dream. I'm dreaming again.

"Ryu, come on."

Okasan…she has such beautiful wings. I wonder if I'll grow wings like hers? Bat wings….

"Yua-chan? Ryu, make sure you watch your sister while I get the groceries, all right?"

Of course I will. I always look out for Yua. She needs me.

"Ryu-niisan? I'm hungry."

Then I'll have to buy you something, won't I? How about some pie? There's a pie store here. You said you like cherry pies.

"Ryu-niisan, you have some too."

Thanks, Yua. Yua? Yua! Where'd you run off to? I can't leave you alone for one minute, can I? You're always running off. Wait, who's that she's with? A man with red hair—with wings like okasan's. No one else has wings like hers…is he a relative? I've never seen him before…Yua, come here!

"See? There's Ryu-niisan. He's my brother. Okasan has wings like you, Stranger-san. Hey, do you think we'll have wings, too?"

Yua, you shouldn't talk to strangers!

"But he's like okasan! He's not a stranger."

"Yua-chan! Ryu! Stay away from him!"

Okasan…but why is she looking at that man like that? Like…like she hates him?

"I don't know who you are, but stay away from my children, Black One."

"You seem to have me mistaken for someone else, madam."

"There is no mistake. You're of the Dark Dragon clan—no one else has hair like that—the color of blood. And no one else has wings like that—the wings of dragons."

Dark Dragon clan?

"You really are mistaken. There's no such thing as the Dark Dragon clan. There hasn't been in a very long time. I meant no harm to your children. I am merely a traveler, passing through. Besides…Light One…our kind's time has long passed. We're not a threat to anyone anymore."

"Then you really are…."

"Yes…I really am. But that doesn't matter anymore."

Red hair…bat wings…a Dark Dragon...I don't understand what it all means. Okasan never talked about that man or that day. But she seemed sad when he left, even though she looked so angry when she first saw him. I never understood why; she never said why. Red hair…bat wings…a Dark Dragon. What did it all mean?

Dark Dragon….

Ryu awoke slowly. "I'm drifting again," he murmured into the sunshine spilling onto his face. "I can't stay in the present anymore…okasan…Yua." He shook his head, clearing the cobwebs. Focus, Ryu. Right—first things first. Bathroom. He walked to the bathroom door and was about to turn the knob when it opened. From the other end of the threshold, Nina let out a squeak of surprise.

"Oh…uh…g-good morning, Ryu," she stammered, looking away. I didn't know he sleeps shirtless. He's…wow…um. "I'll…I'm…I'm finished," she said in a rush, shyly slipping around him.

Ryu just sighed. Complications like this are the last thing I need, he thought. If I were Bow, I'd at least have something witty to say. Oh well. It can't be helped.

When he finished his morning toilet, he threw on a shirt for Nina's sake. She already looks like she's about to have a hernia, he thought, no reason to throw more monkey wrenches in the machinery.

"Um, Ryu," Nina spoke up suddenly.

"What is it?" he asked.

"About yesterday. You seemed very determined to help the boy."

Ryu's face went stony. "Is that a problem?" he asked guardedly.

"N-no! That's not it at all!" the Windian said hastily. "It's a very noble thing you want to do. But…you seemed very pensive afterwards. Do you want to talk about it?"

"No."

Nina looked hurt by his gruff response. "O-okay…sorry I asked," she whispered.

Ryu sighed, feeling a bit guilty. "I apologize, Nina. I'm…not used to talking about it. There's someone I knew, once. Her name was Yua."

Nina felt something shatter inside. Yua…a girlfriend, maybe? she wondered in disappointment. But he said there was no one waiting for him…. "Yua was your lover, then?" she asked quietly.

She was startled when he laughed aloud. Ryu clarified, "No, no she wasn't. She was my little sister. A little fireball who always got her big brother into so much trouble all the time. She was the best little sister ever."

"Was?"

"Do you remember that story I told you?" he asked. "About the little boy and his kind father and his curious little sister?"

Nina's eyes widened in sudden realization. "You…that was about you, wasn't it? Then…your family…."

"I lost them," he said in a cold voice. "And I've been looking ever since. But…it's hard to find something when you have no idea where to look. I…I don't want anyone else to have to go through that."

"Ryu…." On impulse, she clasped his hand. He blinked in surprise; he had not expected her to be so bold. Nina smiled up at him. "I'm sure you'll find them someday. You're a hard worker, after all. Surely you will—if you work at it hard enough."

He smiled back and squeezed her hand. "I'd like to think so."