Chapter 27: Something To Lose
As soon as they were out of sight, Rya started to collapse. Yami caught her and lifted her into his arms. "Come on, Rya. You still need to rest if you want to beat her tomorrow," he said confidently with a smile on his face. Rya smiled back, knowing he believed in her. When he started walking back up the stairs, Rya stopped him.
"Do you think instead we could go down to the tank I was in before?" she asked. Yami looked down at her confused, but carried her down there nonetheless. Everyone else decided to let them be alone. Yami set her down along the edge as she put her feet into the water. "It feels nice to be near the water again," she sighed. Before Yami knew it, Rya had actually dove in and was swimming around.
"Rya!" Yami called out. Rya popped up with a smile on her face.
"Human or mermaid, the water brings out the strength in me," she stated. Yami calmed down and smiled as he watched her gracefully swim in the water. Rya thought of a wicked idea and swam up to Yami. "Help me out?" she asked while extending her hand to him with a sweet smile on her face. Yami knelt down grasping her hand, and felt her pull him in. He broke through the surface to hear Rya laughing. He smirked at her and started going after her, as she screamed in delight and tried to get away from him. Eventually, Yami caught her hand and brought her to his chest. Rya looked up into his eyes, panting from the intense swimming she had to do to keep away from him. Yami tucked some of her wet locks behind her ear, causing her to blush. "Do you really think I'll be able to beat her tomorrow Yami?" she asked him, the doubt clear in her voice.
Yami held her bridal style in the shallow part of the tank and kept her close. "There is no doubt in my mind, Rya." he replied. Rya smiled and laid her head in the crook of his neck while Yami softly pet her hair as they stood in the calm water for what seemed like forever. Yami walked them over to the edge and sat Rya down onto it. He sat next to her with both their legs in the water. Yami looked over at her, and saw her staring intently at the water. "You miss it, don't you?" Yami asked her.
Rya looked up in surprise, just remembering that he was sitting next to her. "Yes, sometimes." she replied quietly and went back to looking at it. Before Yami could go on about the subject, Rya stood up and offered him a hand. "Let's go get something to eat," she suggested with a smile. Yami smiled back as he gave her his hand and walked with her to the kitchen.
Later that night, Yami laid awake in his bed thinking of what was to occur the next day. I know Rya could win but I don't want to risk losing her again, or having her get hurt. But this is her decision, and only she can make it work. I just wish there was more I could do to help her. Yami couldn't take any more, as he threw back the sheets, throwing on some pajama pants over his boxers and heading down the hallway to Rya's room. He knocked lightly on the door, "Rya?" but no one answered him. He knocked louder, but still no answer. He opened the door to find her bed empty, with no signs of anyone even touching it. Yami went downstairs and looked in the kitchen, the dining room, until he heard something downstairs in the basement. He heard splashing, and knew exactly who it was. He smiled softly as he walked down the steps to see Rya jumping in and out of the water, as if she had gotten her fin back. Yami stayed quiet and watched awhile as she seemed oblivious to his presence. Rya started to sing a song he recognized from the radio the day they took Rya to the mall.
You're gonna fly,
With every dream you chase.
You're gonna cry,
But know that that's okay.
Sometimes life's unfair,
But if you just hang in there.
You're gonna see,
That sometimes bad is good.
We just have to believe,
Things work out like they should.
Life has no guarantees,
But always loved by me,
You're gonna be.
Yami couldn't help but feel hypnotized by her voice; so soft, with such a sweet melody in it. Rya was dancing in the water, spinning, twirling as her wet hair released the water it held, making it sparkle all around her. Yami was no less than entranced with her at that moment. He walked to the tank as she repeated the verses over and over again, with no complaints from Yami. He slipped quietly into the water, uncaring of his now wet pajamas. He crept quietly up to the dancing mermaid before him. Rya had her eyes closed, too engrossed in her dancing and singing to notice Yami right behind her. She raised her arms in the air above her head, only to feel to more hands take hers from behind. Rya didn't scream, or cry out, merely gasped. The feel of those hands were all too familiar, so she simply smiled.
"Did I wake you?" she asked without even looking at him. Yami simply let both their hands down, while he continued holding hers.
"I couldn't sleep and got up to see you, when I came down and found you here." Yami explained, with his chest against her back. Rya nodded in understanding, when she felt Yami swaying slowly back and forth. "Could you sing for me?" he asked her softly in her ear.
Rya started blushing, but started singing the same verses from before. After the first verse, Yami turned Rya in his arms to face him. He wrapped one arm around her waist, and held her other hand in the air. Rya smiled and laid her head on his shoulder, as they slowly danced in the water.
You're gonna fly,
With every dream you chase.
You're gonna cry,
But know that it's okay.
Sometimes life's unfair,
But if you just hang in there.
You're gonna see,
Sometimes bad is good.
We just have to believe,
Things turn out like they should.
Life has no guarantees,
But always loved by me,
You're gonna be.
"Sing that second verse again," Yami asked with his cheek resting on her head. Rya sang it again, when she realized why he had asked her to.
"Life has no guarantees, but always loved by me, you're gonna be" she sang quietly. In the middle, Yami had stopped dancing and had Rya look up at him. The water shimmered in her eyes, making her more breathtaking. Yami cupped her cheek in his hand as she sang softly, "but always loved by me, you're gonna be." The last part barely escaped her lips, as Yami brought his closer to hers. Rya closed her eyes, and felt the warmth of his gentle lips on hers. Rya wrapped her arms around his neck as the kiss deepened. Yami entangled his hands in her long hair as he brought her as close as humanly possible to him. Both pulled back to breathe, and slowly kissed again. After a while, Rya simply laid her head in the crook of Yami's neck, kissing it softly.
"You should go to sleep. You need your rest for tomorrow," he suggested kissing her forehead. Rya nodded in agreement as Yami lifted her into his arms and carried her back to her room. He set her down in her bed and started backing away, when Rya took hold of his hand, with a pleading look in her eyes. Yami slipped in beside her, wrapping his arms around her slender form, as she laid her head on his chest. The duel to take place tomorrow was nowhere near their minds that night, since they were both where they wanted to be.
This is what I'm fighting for tomorrow. Rya thought contentedly to herself as she fell asleep being held by the man she loved.
A/N: Hehe, I hope this chapter was worth waiting for. The song was "You're Gonna Be" by Reba McEntire. If you're a country fan like I am and haven't heard it, you must. Hope you enjoyed this chapter:)