A/N: The usual disclaimers, but Alvina and Darres (name borrowed from Vampire Game by Judal) are my Ocs. R&R please!
CHAPTER 8Two days have passed since the night Alvina and Cye shared together. They had made it known that they were an item. Kento and Rowan were happy for their friend to have finally settled with someone. Sage and Ryo basked in their victory at finally having something work. But the situation of Alvina leaving the next morning sort of defeats the glory.
The group tried not to think about it. All they did was try to have as good a time as always until Alvina had to board the plane. The group skipped school that day, and their girlfriends joined them, blowing off everything they were going to do and spent the time out in the city.
Sage and Ryo spoke with Kento and he agreed to ask his parents if they could put together a farewell party for Alvina. His parents weren't happy that Kento skipped school, but they agreed to it anyway, happy as well that Cye found someone.
After a day at the park and at the beach, they all gathered up at the over decorated restaurant. They were the only ones there, and together they had a grand old time, playing games, making jokes, basking in Alvina's victory over Darres. Everything was perfect.
The group partied so hard that Alvina couldn't keep up the later it got. She fell asleep in Cye's lap sometime around nine thirty and they all took that as a sign to pack it up and head home.
Once there, Cye carried a sleeping Alvina up to her room. He laid her in her bed and slipped under the covers with her. Salem jumped up onto the bed between them and curled up in a black ball. Cye smiled at him and rubbed his head. He placed a small kiss on Alvina's cheek before drifting off.
Alvina awoke with a new sadness in her heart the next morning. Careful not to disturb her sleeping love, she slipped out of bed and dressed quickly. The sun had not yet risen in the sky, but she had to do something before she left.
She quietly exited the room and made her way down the hall to the stairs. She slipped on her boots and left the house. She broke out in a sprint towards the school, knowing that she would find the one she was looking for there at the soccer field. Why the soccer field, she didn't quite understand why he would be there, she just figured he would be.
The sky turned a blood red in the east as she came closer to the field. A small group of boys, maybe about three or four, sat on the low part of the bleachers. She slowed and walked the rest of the way, the four boys standing now and looking at her with wide eyes. The one who was the most surprised was the tall black-eyed boy.
"Came back for more?" he asked. Alvina stopped a few yards from him and stared dead at him. "Want some broken bones to go with your head?"
"Shut up Darres," she said. "I'm gonna do the talking, and you're gonna listen whether you want to or not. The rest of you beat it. This is between me and him only."
The other three boys looked at Darres. He threw his head to tell them to leave. When they didn't, he turned and glared at them all. Taking that as a death threat, they moved away and broke out in a run to get away. Darres turned back to Alvina who had moved a bit closer to him.
"What the hell do you want, bitch?"
"I only have one question to ask you."
"Well?"
"Why are you afraid of Cye and the others?"
"Excuse me? I'm not afraid of those twerps."
"Don't bullshit me," she said. "You are afraid of them. You wouldn't be so tough around them if you weren't. There is a specific reason why you are afraid of each of them, and I want to hear you tell me why. I already know, but I want to hear it from you."
Darres stared at her. Deep down, he knew she was right. He didn't know why she was asking this, but he figured he'd go along.
"Fine, you want the truth? Here it is: I've always been the best at everything I did. I was better than everyone I went against, and that went to my head. When I ended up transferring to Han A' High, I wasn't the best anymore. I was good at soccer before I went against Ryo. I had the best grades until I met Rowen. I had all the girls at my beck and call until Sage showed up. I was the strongest before Kento. The last thing I had to myself was swimming. When Cye joined the team and out beat me in the relay, I lost it. I couldn't take it, so I did everything to slow them up. How's that?"
Alvina said nothing at first. She listened and understood what was going on. He was proved wrong for his abilities. He worked so hard to out do the others that he made everything into a battle.
"They are not your enemies," she said. Darres looked at her. "I'm not your enemy either. Listen, Darres, the only enemy you're fighting is yourself. You're so bent up at trying to be the best that your abilities don't bring you joy anymore. You have to realize that they aren't here to squash you. That was never their intention. And that wasn't my intention when I swam against you that day.
"Darres, I want to be your friend. And I prey that you would be mine. I've gone through hardships you would not believe, and I'm sure you have as well. The punks you're hanging with are not your friends. They are your followers. Drop the bad ass act and come out to be who you really are. I'm leaving for Cardiff later in the morning. If you really understood what I said, you would meet me at gate thirty-six before eleven. You have potential Darres. If a sixteen-year-old can say that about someone who's almost eighteen, you know you can change whatever it is for you to really achieve it. Think about it."
Alvina turned without another word and walked back the way she came. She said what needed to be said, and she hoped it got through. Darres was better than this. She knew this, and he knew this. She just hoped that he would come to terms about it.
When she arrived back at the house, it was nearly six in the morning. Cye was on the front porch swing, manifesting a nervous hysteria when he saw her walking up the driveway. He bolted from his seat and jumped the porch railing and ran up to her, embracing her protectively.
"Where were you?" he asked. "I woke up and you were nowhere in the house. I searched the forest, nothing. You had us all worried."
"I'm sorry Cye," she said, hugging him back. "I didn't mean to scare you. There was something I needed to take care of before I leave."
The time went faster than the group wanted. The five hours that passed felt like minutes, and it was time to pack up the car and drive Alvina to the airport. After going through inspections and getting her luggage and Salem's cat carrier through to baggage cargo, they walked slowly toward the gate to her flight. They still had half an hour before they would be boarding, so all they did was sit in the seats that were provided.
Alvina stood by the window and stared at the large silver bird that would take her back to prison. Cye had his arms wrapped around her, Alvina's head resting against his chest.
About five minutes passed when the girls all showed up to see Alvina off and to say goodbye. They all hugged her, telling her that even though they didn't spend so much time together, that they were happy that she did come. Even they saw how happy Cye had become with her arrival, and now how heart broken he was that she had to leave a lot sooner than planned.
Alvina lifted Cye's left hand to look at his watch. She had only ten minutes left before she had to board, and only one person has yet to show. She had faith though; faith that what she said had sunk in. However, as if on cue, a familiar tall black-hair, black-eyed boy came walking up the hall to the gate.
"What the bloody hell are you doing here?" Cye asked, going to make a move towards Darres. Alvina held him back as she walked up to him. She smiled, and he smiled back, baffling the others greatly of what was going on.
"I thought about what you said earlier," he said. "You're right. I worked so hard to be the best instead of just having fun, and that hindered me to making friends of my enemies." He turned to the five boys and made a small friendly smile. "I hope you guys can forgive me for the way I've been treating all of you. Being the best went to my head and having you all beat me out messed me up. I turned against you instead of trying to forget about it.
"Alvina came to me this morning and opened my eyes. She made me realize that I've been playing myself for a fake, and that I wasn't being who I really am. The tough guy act was gust so I could stay strong, when it was really a showing of how weak I really am. Can we call a truce and be friends?"
Cye went up to him, and looked at him hard in the eyes. He gently smiled and nodded his head, holding out his hand. Darres took it and smiled.
"Truce then," Cye said. "You're forgiven by me."
"And me," Ryo said.
"And us too," Sage said as he, Rowen and Kento went up behind the others. Alvina walked up to Darres and hugged him friendly.
"And I forgive you too," she said. "Don't worry about what you did to me, all of that is in the past."
"Thank you."
The PA system turned on and announced that the boarding of Alvina's flight was in progress. She hugged everyone a second time, holding tightly to Cye. New tears fell from her eyes, and Cye only wiped them away. He bent down and lightly kissed her, savoring her taste so he wouldn't forget. She broke away when the announcer called the final boarding call. Alvina caressed Cye's cheek before walking down the platform onto the plane.
Cye and the others, including Darres, all watched as her plane took flight and disappeared into the sky. Cye felt empty, and he couldn't seem to pull himself away from the window. The others had to carry him down to the car and back into the house.
They all sat in the living room, Rowen and Kento on the couch, Sage on the floor, Ryo in the rocking chair and Cye by the window, looking out at the falling cherry blossoms. Kento looked around the room, unsure of what to say to break the unnerving silence. His eyes fell on the fireplace mantle and noticed the brown paper package that was propped against the wall.
"Hey, what's that?" he asked. They all looked to where he was pointing and Cye went over and picked it up. He undid the twine and unwrapped the paper. Inside were five different manila envelopes and another brown paper wrapped item with a letter. He passed out the five large envelopes to those whose names were on them and unfolded the letter. He skimmed it and read it aloud to the others.
"'Dear Ryo, Cye, Sage, Kento and Rowen. If I planned it correctly, Kento would have been the one to see this package first. Anywho, I just wanted to thank you all again for being my friends, and for a short time, my family. I was sitting in my room on Tuesday with you guys on my mind and an empty sketchbook on my lap. Closing my eyes, I pictured each of you, and I basically drew your souls the way I saw them. The inner package I would like it if you opened it after viewing each of your envelopes separately.
"'Once again, thank you. My best wishes to all of you and your girlfriends. Keep me posted on what happens with Darres, and call me so I don't forget your voices. All my heart and friendship, Alvina. PS: Don't get the wrong impression.'"
Cye placed the page on the coffee table so the others could look at the pink lettered words in her smooth handwriting. They then all looked at the other envelopes and to each other.
"Why don't we take turns?" Sage suggested. They agreed and Ryo opted to go first. He opened the envelope and pulled out the sheets of sketch paper. All of their eyes widened as he placed them on the coffee table for them all to see.
The first was a picture of Ryo standing at the mouth of a volcano. He was dressed in a flaming red kimono with lava and fire dancing around him. In his hand, he held a staff that was al tall as he was and on the top of the staff was the symbol of the Wildfire armor.
The second was a sketch of him and Sam, holding each other and staring into each other's eyes deeply, both of their bodies had no clothes, but a swirling twister of fire circled them. This picture was done in different shades of red where the first was done in regular colors.
The last was a black and white sketch of his face, showing his features like he was right there. It wasn't a two dimensional, but an actual 3-D type of sketch. His face was calm, but his eyes glowed with a calming, not threatening, red of the immortal fire he showed in his heart.
"Now I know why she said not to take any wrong impressions," Kento laughed as he picked up the sketch of Ryo and Sam. Ryo took back the paper and stuck his tongue out at his friend.
"Now you Sage," Ryo said.
Sage opened his and pulled out the three papers and placed them on the table. They were similar to Ryo's, except the positions were different.
Sage was standing on a mountain peak, dressed in a forest green kimono with a staff having the Halo symbol. The background was a design of different tree leaves and vines and an array of different animals ran and flew around him like the breeze.
The second showed him sitting Indian style on a floating rock with Dania on his lap in his arms. This was done if different shades of green. Flowered vines concealed their bodies. Dania's head was leaning against his bare chest, and Sage's eyes were closed, but his facial expression proved his love for her. He noticed a small piece of paper was still inside the envelope. He took it out and read it aloud.
"'Dear Sage. Give up the act and come out and tell her how you feel. Quit denying it or so help me I'll chop off your hair. It won't matter since Dania would love you no matter how you look.'"
The group burst out laughing as he turned a beat red. Once the peace was regained, they looked at the last picture, which was his head portrait. Everything was defined in 3-D like Ryo's was. You could swipe your hand over it and be surprised it's a two-dimension sketch. His eyes were the only things colored on the sketch, like Ryo's but only done in green that glowed with the power of the Halo.
Kento was next. He placed out his and they looked at the first. Kento was wearing an orange kimono and he stood on a cliff that over looked the Grand Canyon. His staff portraying the Hardrock symbol.
The second was of him and Anna in the middle of a sandstorm. Like the others, they were unclothed and the sand from the storm covered them. They both faced forward, Anna's arms around her chest and Kento having his arms around her, resting his chin on her shoulder. His was done with different shades of orange with some yellow.
The last was his head done in black and white with his eyes colored and glowing with the power of Hardrock. On his face was a large smile that gave away his soft side, apart from all of the toughness he normally portrays.
Next came Rowen. The first was of him in the Kimono with his staff wielding the Strata symbol. He was floating in space, the different constellations and planets floating around him.
The next was done with different shades of purple and dark blues. He and Jay Lee were dancing together in the sky with stars circling them, their eyes locked to each other.
The last was his head, his eyes colored and shining with stars to represent Strata. He had a relaxed look, more of a dreamy stare to his expression. He smiled, wondering if that's how he really looked.
"Yeah," the others said when he asked. He shrugged.
They had all shown their gifts, all except Cye. He opened his envelope slowly, gently taking out the contents and placing them on the table.
Cye was standing on the back of a blue whale in the middle of the ocean. He wore a blue Kimono and his staff held the Torrent symbol. Above in the sky was the constellation of Pisces, the two fish. Other sea creatures leaped out of the water and danced around the whale.
The second was of him and Alvina, both of their hands interlocked with the others and staring into each other's eyes, a tempest raging around them, done in different shades of blue and gray.
The last was his head, his eyes glowing with the light of the sea and the purity of his heart. He had a slight smile, like the rest, but something was added that they could all see easily. It was a filled spirit. Alvina drew what she saw, and she saw him whole and complete. Everyone did.
Ryo handed Cye the last package. Cye took it and looked at the group. Words didn't have to be said for Cye to understand that he was the one who should open the last gift Alvina left for them. He unwrapped the framed portrait. He looked at it, smiling to himself only.
He walked over to the mantle and placed the framed sketch on it so all could see. Alvina drew a collage.
In the center were the five armor symbols in the respective colors. Starting in the upper left-hand corner and going clockwise was Ryo with his arms around White Blaze. Moving around, the picture changed and Sage was shown in his white Kendo uniform with a wooden practice sword held over his head in a pose. Then there was Kento sitting at the kitchen table and eating his way through a royal sub. Going down was Rowen sitting in a large chair with books stacked around him, with him quietly reading one that was open in his lap.
Lastly, in the bottom left hand corner, Cye was swimming against someone on the swim team. Determination and dedication in his eyes.
The group stood in front of the mantle and looked at the final gift. Ryo scratched White Blaze's ears as he too looked up at the sketch. They were all silent; each of them reflecting on the week that she was here. And they all remembered their own precious moments with her.
Ryo remembered how she handled Darres that day in the mall.
Sage remembered how she got him to eat.
Kento had fun just learning about her.
Rowen was still amazed by her aptitude and her IQ score. He admired her way of wielding other languages, and turning simple words into poems and songs just by reading out of a book.
As for Cye, words couldn't be used for what he felt and what he remembered. His time with her was priceless to him, and always would be. He became whole with her, and he knew that no matter how far away they were or what blocked them from each other, they would always be in each other's soul and hearts. No matter what he does, he will see her again.
No matter what…
Well, that's it. This calls the end of The Torrent Settles. I'm going to be posting a bunch of oneshots that stem from this fic, and then I'm planning a five chapter dream thing and a five chapter other thing. I already said too much. You're just gonna have to wait and see. Thanks for your reviews and keep a look out for my other works! Cheers!
Guidacarta Della Sorella