PS: I do not own Danmachi
The story takes place at the end of Vol. 14, before the 'walking together outside' scene
...
*CLANG*
Ryuu abruptly sprung from her sleep due to the clanking noise.
Her eyes shot open and her hand formed a fist, clenching the thick sheet on the bed.
The adrenaline tensed her breath as her body prepared for a sudden fight. Panicking, she tried to reach her waist for her weapon yet her fingers found nothing.
When she could recall her experience in a disadvantageous situation, she finally focused and hastily scanned her surrounding instead.
A serene darkness loomed inside the room, inducing intimidation with its pacifying smell. Only a small amount of light permeated from the outside, though it helped her to spot a human figure crouching beside the bed.
The shadowy figure was seemingly looking for something on the floor in such a hurry. They turned around back and forth as if they had to escape immediately.
She realized it would be a waste of time to guess their intention and she had to act fast.
Thus, with no hesitation, Ryuu jumped and planted her grip into the figure's shoulder.
The person shrieked and rose in a stupefied manner when her firm hand landed.
"Ryuu?" The figure called her with a voice so gentle and familiar.
It didn't take long for Ryuu to acknowledge the person whose voice she knew as her closest ally. Recognizing the falsely ominous figure in front of her, the tension in Ryuu's body disappeared and instantly turned into relief.
"S-Syr? What happen?" She asked with concern after faintly remembering the place she currently resided that time.
The smell of potions and overly sanitized sheets were filling her nose. She couldn't be mistaken, the place was indeed the clinic where Airmid worked. Her mind was registering everything that occurred bit by bit before her body suddenly throbbed in pain.
"Argh!" She fell to her knees when a single massive jolt of pain sent her muscles into a frenzy. There was nothing she could do to stop herself from stumbling straight onto the cold floor.
"Ryuu! Please don't move too much," Syr caught her arms and rushed her onto the bed.
Slowly, carefully, she let Ryuu descend onto the bed, back to her supposed position. The pain was causing her teeth to gnash, but she fought the sensations that spurred with every movement.
All of her recent wounds from the 37th floor incident were still in the process of healing. Any movement, even the slight ones, would cause unpleasant stings on her limbs.
She wondered how her body went significantly worse from before, because just that afternoon, she could sprint across the hallway to search for her 'savior'. Silently, she cursed on her own body for granting movement only on the worst times possible.
After regaining her comfort pose on the not so fluffy bed, Ryuu turned her attention to the girl that wasn't supposed to be there.
"Syr, it's already late. Why are you still here? Where are the others?" a barrage of questions left her mouth.
"Calm down, Ryuu. All of the guests have returned while I'm staying the night to take care of you. Airmid said you moved too much this afternoon and she was afraid you might do it again," she replied assuringly.
"You know I learned my lesson, Syr. What about that noise? Please don't tell me you got hurt," Ryuu voiced her worry.
Syr only giggled nervously on her side before walking back to the source of crash, "Well, I was going to bring you something warm to eat, but I got careless and dropped it from my hand. Sorry for that," she explained while also cleaning the mess at the same time.
"Your cooking?"
"Hmm," Syr simply nodded and hummed, currently too focused on wiping the floor.
Ryuu could only express gratitude in silent after knowing her friend wasn't harmed in any way. Not only that, she was glad that she didn't have to taste the product of Syr's cooking.
It was cruel for her to have such thought about her close friend, but everyone who tasted the food from Syr would testify their 'unique' experience. No person could handle her dish, except for one, and that person was also being detained in the same clinic.
"Thank you Syr for the help, sorry if I startled you too. I guess I'm still too sensitive against any sound after the whole thing," Ryuu said when Syr had finished cleaning.
"Don't worry, I understand your condition. You should just rest for now," Syr reached for her hand and held it tightly, "you are safe here, nothing will hurt you in this place."
Ryuu felt a gush of comforting sensation when she talked to her, especially when she grabbed her hand gently.
"You can talk to me about what happened if it can make you feel better. I will listen to anything you want to say," Syr continued with a warm smile on her face. However, Ryuu hesitated whether it was the right thing to do.
"I'm not sure now is the best time," she shortly answered. A nervous frown was formed on the elf's lips.
Syr felt dejected when she heard her response.
"Of course, Ryuu, you can take your time. I was just curious about something though," she said, twirling her gray hair delicately.
"…About what?" Ryuu asked, knowing that the upcoming question wouldn't be a pleasant one.
"Did something happen between you… and Mr. Bell?"
She knew it. She knew it would go this way. Ryuu didn't want to talk in the first place because she was unsure if she had a satisfying answer.
'Something' indeed happened when she and Bell were stranded in the dungeon, something that the so called 'pure-elves' would not tolerate lightly. Just remembering the firmness of his torso was causing her heart to thump faster.
Because of that, she was conflicted about how to go through this problematic interrogation.
If she told her the truth, she felt like she had betrayed her dear friend who clearly craved for a relationship with him.
But if she lied about her feeling, Syr would immediately know, her intuition was just too sharp for a normal human.
"What makes you think so?" Instead of a straightforward reply, Ryuu wanted her friend to perhaps spell it out herself. She needed to know how obvious her affection was in the eyes of an outsider. The thought of stealing Bell's attention from Syr had never crossed in her mind, so Ryuu wanted to make sure that her act wasn't meant in that way.
"Well, you used to be quite reserved when it came to Mr. Bell. You were always eager to help whenever he was in trouble but you never spoke too much things related to him. This afternoon though, I saw an elf who didn't even try to hide her concerns and ran straight for the man she was stuck with," Syr explained with her signature teasing smile, the smile that bothered Ryuu the most.
"I was just worried about him, it didn't mean anything," she denied instantly.
"Really? Then why don't you explain how you tried to expose your naked body for him? It was a very bold move in your part," Syr giggled and her grin was getting wider.
Ryuu suddenly remembered about the loose hospital dress that almost ruined her reputation as an upright elf. She barely avoided revealing her ungarnished body to Bell for the second time. Her cheeks were slowly inhabited by a strange heat and she was sure they looked as pink as peach blossoms.
"P-please don't remind me about that, I swear it was an accident!" she anxiously uttered. Her bashful act had invited another giggle from the girl beside her.
"You are so cute right now. I never thought a single guy can make you look like this," said Syr jokingly. Ryuu could only stay silent as she had no words left for a response.
"So Ryuu, what I'm trying to say is, your view for Mr. Bell has changed, and I noticed it," she started speaking again. Syr might have smiled widely from one cheek to another, however, a person like Ryuu just found it unsettling. "I'm just asking if you have…a different feeling for him?" her true question had finally surfaced.
It was the pivotal point for Ryuu and her tiny palpitating heart. She felt unusually warm when Bell decided to return for her in the dungeon. Her initial plan was to guarantee his safety, even if the cost was too high, but he didn't and would never cave in. His remarkable hard work had gotten the both of them out of danger and his words always accompanied her in the darkest times. Just being there with him, warped in his embrace, was more than enough for her.
However, she had promised herself to support Syr first, and she was willing to hold her thoughts even if it meant staying far enough from them. Syr was no doubt a better choice for him and Ryuu would do anything to ensure that their relationship worked well.
"Syr, I know you have feelings for him, so it doesn't matter-,"
"Just answer it, Ryuu," Syr cut her sentence and pouted. Despite of her cold response, anger was not the exact emotion she showed at the time.
Ryuu didn't want to answer if she could.
However, being silent when Syr spoke like that was perhaps the worst thing to do. So, she decided to do the thing she never enjoyed; twisting the truth.
"No,… I don't."
An unsettling silence lingered between them after she uttered those words.
She bit her lower lip, not knowing the reason why she was so hesitant to speak about her feeling. Her eyes were averted to the side, avoiding the silvery gaze that would always pierce through her defenses.
She could only hope Syr was satisfied by it and left her alone.
But…
"Lie," a whisper entered her ear.
"What?" Ryuu turned her head subtly.
"You lied," she repeated.
"I didn't. I would never say otherwise," she argued, praying that the other person would just give up and swallow her words. However, Syr was becoming the embodiment of relentlessness in this situation.
"Look at me," Syr shook her hand, begging Ryuu to do what she said with such simple gesture.
She complied immediately. Their vision had once again met. Silver irises scanned her blue ones.
What shocked Ryuu the most wasn't the faint ferocity in her sentence, but the look on her face when she turned her head. She expected Syr to be angry or at least upset, yet the emotion she spotted was… sadness. Syr was distressed as if she was facing a problem she couldn't solve.
"Look into my eyes and tell me you mean it," Syr demanded. She ceased her oppressive tone and gently asked her usually stoic elf friend.
Ryuu wanted to utter the same thing again but something stopped her.
A lump had blocked her throat, and her chapped lips were shut tightly. She was experiencing fear, a fear of Syr prying her feelings open if she lied for the second time.
"Please just be honest, Ryuu. That is all I truly wanted," she begged.
"Do you feel something for him?" Syr asked the same question for one last time.
Ryuu couldn't escape from the grasp of this simple question and decided to give it a chance. She glanced at Syr intently before exhaling the air that she held for a while.
"Y-yes. But I swear it's not what you think it is…," her voice was vanishing at the end. Her gaze wandered the room again, taking a break from Syr's intense gaze.
Hearing her response, Syr sighed and flashed a sympathetic smile that felt more natural.
"How so?" asked Syr. She had to wait for an answer since Ryuu was picking her words carefully.
"I am grateful for his help, that's it. Besides, we both know you love him," Ryuu spoke slowly, ensuring the clarity in her sentence. She felt a slight hurt in her chest when she said that, but the reason to rebuke the statement didn't exist for her. Syr undeniably loved the boy.
Before she could react, Syr dived into her side and hugged her hand tightly. Ryuu was surprised by the sudden motion but she didn't say it was unwelcomed. Her presence was simply comforting, probably the main reason why so many people adored Syr.
"Indeed, I love Mr. Bell, but I cared for you too, Ryuu. And I hate to see you hurt like this. Please don't hold your feelings for me, alright?" Syr pleaded with unease in her tone. "Your thoughts should never be buried inside forever," she continued shortly.
"I'll try, Syr. I will properly express my genuine thanks when I meet him again," Ryuu replied.
"Only thanks? Don't you have other things to say to him?" Syr pressed her even further, but the elf refused to back down.
"I just told you that was all I felt for him, nothing else," Ryuu concluded with a stern voice.
Gratitude.
That was all.
She convinced herself that gratitude was the extent of her feelings for him.
Nothing more.
Any excessive emotion for Bell would not be tolerable, she thought.
"Huftt…," Syr exhaled. She was still disappointed with her final answer, but it was an improvement nonetheless. At least Ryuu admitted her honest thoughts regarding the white haired adventurer, and thus, she decided to stop there.
"Alright, Ryuu. I think I'm going too far with my questions. Sorry to put you through all that," She guiltily spoke after releasing the clutch on the elf's arm .
"It's fine. It is only natural for you to be curious," Ryuu quickly responded. She was more than happy to end this intense chatter.
"No, it's still my fault to ask you so many things when you are like this," she said before continuing shortly, "you should get some rest. The sooner you recover the better," she finished with a caring smile.
Ryuu nodded at her suggestion as she was exhausted herself, and she wanted nothing better than a good sleep. She pushed her body deeper into the bed before letting the pillow absorb her dizzy head.
For the last time of the night, she glanced toward her human friend who was still patiently observing from the bed side. Syr would never leave her, whether she was facing something good or bad.
Just like what Bell did, she had pulled her out from the lowest point in her life.
The unspoken debts to her benefactor were just too tremendous. Therefore, she thought this was the chance to partially repay her dues, by helping Syr to grasp the boy.
If only Syr could accept that notion easily.
"Good night to you then," Syr lightly waved her hand.
"Good night, Syr," Ryuu calmly replied.
All the talks about Bell only reminded her more of the white-haired boy, but she decided to move on and keep it as tomorrow's matter.
She would eventually have the time to express her feelings and that would be the end for this turmoil.
At the moment, her only wish was to retreat to her slumber peacefully. As she shut her eyes, the darkness embraced her and she was deep asleep before long.
"Stubborn elf," Syr lightly commented after making sure Ryuu was unconscious.
While slowly pulling the sheet to cover her friend's body, Syr watched the sleeping face of a person who went through several hells.
On one hand, she was truly happy that her closest friend would help her getting the man she adored, on the other hand though, she knew Ryuu accepted it as an obligation. The elf who never realized her own true feeling was astoundingly a hard case to crack.
"If you have decided to be so hard-headed, then I hope you can endure it until the end," she heavily sighed as she removed her hands from the thick blanket.
The moon that hovered outside was telling her how late it was, so she simply decided to leave the place silently. As soon as her foot reached the door at the room's end, she turned to speak some parting words for the night.
"Please, Ryuu," she whispered.
...
"Follow your heart."
