III

Morning came, with the Grimfowl announcing the rising of the sun. I yawned and opened my eyes. The beds at the Inn were not the most comfortable, but for some reason I had slept extraordinarily well, with no nightmares for once.

I paid the Innkeeper fifty gold pieces and exited the Inn. I immediately returned to the castle.

"By what business do you enter the castle?" Asked the soldier at the gate.

"I'm here to see Nina. We're leaving today to save the world."

The soldier eyed me over suspicously. "Very well, you may enter." He finally said, and I walked into the castle and up to Nina's room.

She was still asleep, and I could hear her soft breathing as I entered. I looked at her. She was so beautiful, even asleep. I quietly walked to her bedside and knelt there. Just looking at her filled my heart with the love I'd had for her for years.

I gently ran my hand through her long hair, and she smiled in her sleep. Then I leaned forward and brushed my lips across hers softly, and she opened her eyes.

"Now THAT"S a wake up call." She said with a grin.

"Good morning, beautiful." I said to her, smiling.

"Mmmm, good morning to you, too." She smiled as well. "I wanna sleep for a little while longer…why don't you join me?"

I was instantly nervous as hell. "Well, um, er uh, ahhh, umm… I don't know…ummm…"

"Oh come on, I just want you to hold me for a while. I just need your arms around me."

I sighed. "Okay." I climbed under the covers next to her, and she instantly flung her arms around my waist and held me tightly.

"Gotcha." She whispered with a giggle.

"Ummmm…."

"Shhh. Just hold me." She said, and closed her eyes. I pulled her closer and held her, brushing her hair out of her eyes. In the five years after we parted I never thought I'd be with her again, especially like this. But our Lord works in mysterious ways, as I have learned.

After a few blissful moments of silence, she spoke again. "Kiss me."

"What?"

"Kiss me, Ryu. Like yesterday. I need you to."

I put my arms around her neck and kissed her, and she immediately slipped her tongue in my mouth. I enjoyed it… You'd almost think Nina had had practice kissing guys. We kissed for almost as long as we did the previous day, and then she did something totally unexpected… she started to slip her hand under my pants! I quickly broke the kiss and released her.

"What's wrong?" she asked softly.

"Nothing." I said quickly. "It's just that, well…I don't know…I don't think we're ready to go THAT far yet, you know?"

She nodded. "I understand. Just kiss me for a little bit longer? Please? I've been without you for so long…it's sort of making up for it, you know?"

I chuckled. "I guess." And so we resumed kissing for a while, and then finally I said, "All right, come on. Let's go."

"Kay." She said quietly, and we got out of the bed. "I just have to get dressed."

"Oh, okay. I'll wait for you in the Grand Hall." I said, and went to the door.

"You can stay if you want." She offered.

I laughed. "No, I don't think so." I exited the room, and stopped. Maybe I should have… no. I shook it off and went to the Grand Hall to wait for Nina.

A few minutes later, she appeared. She was beautiful as ever…she had changed into a pink and white dress and a diamond headband. "Ready to go?" She asked cheerfully.

"You bet!" I replied. "But we can't do it alone, just the two of us. We need more help."

"Well, I was thinking…" She began thoughtfully, "Maybe we could get back together with all of our old friends. You know, Bo and Karn and Gobi…"

I thought for a minute. "That's a good idea. After all, we're the ones who know them best, right?"

"Exactly."

"So I guess our first stop is Tantar, right?"

"Right."

"Well, let's go then!"

We stopped by the throne room so Nina could say goodbye to the king.

"Stay safe, my child." He said hoarsely, hugging her.

"I will, daddy. And I'll return, I promise."

After they said goodbye, we left the castle and Winlan as well. We crossed over the long bridge that led to the eastern continent.

"Boy this brings back memories, huh?" I said with a smile.

"Yes, it does." She answered. It seems like yesterday when you and I walked across this bridge for the first time…" She slipped her hand into mine and we continued walking.

After we reached the east land, we began the 7 mile southeastern walk to Tantar. It was mild weather, and the monsters weren't TOO annoying, so we made great time.

After a mile or so we heard a scream coming from a wooded area off to the west.

"What was that?" Asked Nina in alarm.

"Only one way to find out, right?" I replied with a grin, and we went quickly into the woods. We didn't have trouble finding the source of the commotion… a wrinkled old woman stood in a clearing surrounded by four snarling Bullys, which were fiercer cousins of the Bulla. They snarled at her, inching closer.

"No, no! Shoo, beast!" She wailed, striking them with her cane. But they continued to close in.

"I'll handle this." I said, and I drew my sword and inched towards the monsters. I snuck up behind one of them, and plunged my sword into its back. It fell dead. The others immediately turned on me and flung themselves upon me, biting and clawing at my skin.

It didn't last long, because there was suddenly a blast of lightning, and they were gone.

"Thanks, Nina." I said, dusting myself off.

"Some sage advice," She said, coming into the clearing, "Never enter a fight unless you're sure that you can win."

"Sage advice indeed." Crackled the old woman. "I thank you both for saving me life."

"Our pleasure." Nina said with a grin.

"Ah, but I must offer you somethin' in return! Tis good manners! What can I give you in thanks?"

"Let not your heart be troubled." I assured her. "It was nothing. Honestly. We need no thanks."

"Well all right then, if you're sure." She said with a slight frown. "But thank ye again!" And she hobbled off into the woods.

"Our first battle together after 5 years!" I declared with a grin. "How about that?"

"It went just like all the others. You getting in mortal danger, and me coming to your rescue with my magic."

"Hey now…"

She laughed. "Oh, I'm just teasing you! Come on, let's continue on to Tantar."

"Right."

We got back on the main path and continued to head southeast. We stopped to eat at midday, and as we sat together, I felt something binding us…a force that wasn't there five years ago. I couldn't explain it, but I loved it. But the meal passed pretty much in silence, and then we resumed our walk.

Finally, at twilight, we reached Tantar, home of the Forest tribe.

"You think Bo will be happy to see us?" I asked.

"I'm sure he will be." Replied Nina. "Come on."

We entered the city, and of course since it was dark, there weren't many people on the streets. But the lights were on in the chief's hut, and so we climbed the steps and knocked on the door.

"Who goes there?" came a voice from the inside.

"We're looking for Bo." I called.

There was a brief silence, and the voice replied, "Come in."

We pushed the door open to see a hunter seated on the big chair, but it wasn't Bo. It was Terry, the hunter we had helped get married near the beginning of our quest years ago.

"Chief Bo isn't in right now." Began Terry. "But if you should come back in the morning, he should…" He paused and stared at us. "Do I…know you?" He asked slowly.

I smiled and said, "Remember about, oh I don't know, 5 years ago, when your river had gone dry? And some kid came and brought the water back? Remember him?"

Terry stared at me again. "…Ryu? Is it you, Ryu?"

"Yes sir, that's me!"

"Well why didn't you say so! Come on in, make yourself at home!"

"Well, actually, we're not staying long." Said Nina. "We just need to speak with Bo."

"Ah, Bo…the new chief." Said Terry.

"Really now?" I said, surprised. "Bo's the chief now, huh?"

"Yup. But he's not here right now. He's off hunting with the rest of the men. He should be back by sunrise though."

"Ok, we'll come back then." I said, and Nina and I turned towards the door.

"Wait just a second!" called Terry, and we turned around again. "Did I mention how great it is to see you again?" he asked with a smile.

"Great to see you too, Terry." I said, and then we left the hut.

"I guess we should make camp outside the village." Said Nina. I silently agreed.

That night, Nina and I sat in front of the roaring campfire, arms around each other. Despite the dangerous quest ahead of me, all I could think of was her at the moment. I knew it was love before…now it was becoming passion, almost desire. I had never felt this way for anyone in my life. I never knew the presence of one person could give you this feeling. But she did.

Finally, she broke the silence. "Ryu?"

"Hmmm?"

"This is…gonna be our last night alone together."

"Yeah."

"And I think before this night is over, I need to show you my feelings for you."

I was silent but intrigued at the same time.

"Come here, Ryu." She said softly.

I moved next to her, and we kissed, finally not having to hold back. The instant I pulled back, she pulled me right back in. And you know, one thing led to the other, and boy what a night it was! (I'd detail it to you, my children, but this is a PG-13 fic, so I can't! V_V ---M.J.)

I awoke an hour later in Nina's arms. "Geez, you showed me your feelings all right."

She giggled. "Silly..."

"I love you."

"Likewise, my sweet Ryu." She wrapped her arms around me. "Let's go to sleep, and tomorrow we'll talk to Bo in Tantar."

"Alright. Goodnight, Nina."

"Goodnight. I love you."

"I love you too."

Soon we were both fast asleep under the full moon and the watchful eyes of the Dragon Lord. Some memories fade away, but this is one that would not.