Ryume hugged her knees tighter to her curled up body as she sobbed on the floor in front of a store. The only store that had a covering over her head. But the rain was so hard that the wind still blew that ice-cold water at her. The rain had gotten harder as she was running so she was soaked to the bone. Her hair in her eyes and water mixed with tears, Ryume thought of all the things she regretted in her life. She thought of the first time she met Hikuro. The stubborn and unwanted boy of the Sand Village. She was on an important mission and was assigned a group of Sand ninjas. One of them happened to be Hikuro.

He was indeed very stubborn but that didn't stop Ryume from being nice to him and controlling his anger. It took a while, but they finally got along. He went back to the Leaf Village with her and stayed by her side for a while, unfamiliar with everything. And with his loud attitude, he got to know everyone quickly, although in a strange way. Eventually, everything turned out okay.

But all of this wouldn't have happened if Ryume hadn't been so close with Hikuro.

Another loud roll of thunder sounded and Ryume closed her eyes. "Kasaigaru… Sasuke… Neji… Hikuro… Please… anyone…" she sobbed even more realizing that she was all alone.

"Ryume…!" The sound of someone calling out her name in the distance made her lift her head. She opened her mouth to say something but couldn't. She couldn't find the strength to find her voice. Knowing it was useless, she put her head back down and cried even more.

I'm worthless… I'm nothing… She kept thinking to herself. "I said horrible things to everyone… I'm worthless… I'm nothing… I'm unwanted…"

"Don't you DARE say that!" A strong voice sounded from the door. Ryume looked up, surprised at two things. One being that she was talking out loud. And two, Hikuro was standing only a few feet away, breathless and totally soaked.

More tears formed in her eyes and she sobbed again, "Hikuro! I-I said horrible things! I'm so sorry! It's my entire fault! I'm sorry you even met me! I'm so sorry!" She cried and hid her face in the crook of her elbow.

"Stop it…" Hikuro's said and walked towards her. "Please stop… That's not true… It's my fault. I assumed things I shouldn't have and only worried about myself. I'm the one who should be apologizing." He was in front of Ryume and he fell to his knees. His voice broke as he tried to speak, "Ryume… I'm so sorry. Please… Please, oh please, forgive me. You're my life. I love you. I don't know what I'd do without you. I'd die. I wouldn't be able to survive. My heart just wouldn't be able to take it. Please…"-he too was now crying-"Please forgive me!" He flung his arms around her and cried. Ryume sat there shocked.

The sound of thunder once again sounded and Ryume immediately grabbed Hikuro before he could pull away-which he wasn't planning on doing. She too cried on his shoulder and held onto him. "I forgive you, Hikuro! I love you too and I never want to lose you! Please don't leave me. Please…"

"Shhh… Shhh… It's okay. I'm here now." Hikuro hushed her. He sat down next to her and let her lean on him, her face buried into him, still crying. Tears still ran slowly down his face as he thought of his carelessness. "I'm so sorry…" He whispered.

The rain pounded harder on the thin roof above their head and the storm was now right about them. An extremely loud thunder came upon them and Ryume gasped, clutching Hikuro tighter, shivering. "It's okay. I won't let anything hurt you. I'm here." Hikuro comforted her. Ryume nodded silently, finding warmth in Hikuro's long jacket. Slipping out of his jacket, Hikuro wrapped it around Ryume and picked her up. "Let's go back home, Ryume." Starting out the door, he ran off into the night and to Ryume's house.

Sasuke leaned against Ryume's door and waited. It had been an hour since he had spoken with Hikuro and he was already anxious. Maybe I should just go look for her now… No… He'll find her. Knowing him he probably left right after I did. He lifted his head as he heard footsteps down the hallway. "And speak of the damned devil."

Hikuro, still carrying Ryume in his arms, walked down the hallway towards Sasuke. Straightening himself, Sasuke's eyes met Hikuro's and his eyes changed emotion. Hikuro's eyes were tired and weary, as if he just encountered a beast. But did he know that the best was himself?

"Open the door." He mumbled, tired.

Sasuke nodded and opened the door for him. Once Hikuro was inside with Ryume, Sasuke closed the door and walked back home. Hikuro was too tired to care where Sasuke was going so he laid Ryume down gently on her bed and sat down next to her, sighing. Now he had to walk all the way back home.

Then as if she read his mind, Ryume put her hand on top of his and said quietly, "You can stay… if you want."

Hikuro looked at her and she looked back at him, also tired. "I don't want to cause you any trouble." He replied and stood up.

Lightening flashed and thunder followed it, but not as loud as before. Ryume flinched and closed her eyes. "You're never any trouble. But if you want to leave, that's fine."

Hikuro saw Ryume shiver. Once? Twice? He couldn't tell. No, she was shivering all over. And not from the cold. She was scared of being alone. He went back to Ryume and lied down next to her, wrapping his arms around her body again. "No. I don't want to leave. "He whispered in her ear.

"Okay…" Ryume sighed. "Thank you…"

"Of course… my beautiful diamond."

"Hikuro?"

"Yes?"

"I'm sorry…"

"It's all right. You didn't do anything wrong. It was my anger. But don't worry about it now. You're tired. Go to sleep."

Ryume nodded, put her head under Hikuro's chin, and closed her eyes. "Hikuro, one more thing?"

"Anything in the world."

"I love you."

A warm feeling bubbled up in Hikuro as he heard those words. His eyes got watery and he bit his lip to stop himself from letting the tears fall. "Thank you." He whispered back, his voice broken. "No one's ever said that to me before… Thank you. So much. I love you. My diamond. My jewel. My life."

Ryume smiled softly and snuggled against Hikuro's warm body. "Good night." She whispered.

"Good night. I love you." Hikuro whispered back lovingly.