Title: Support Beam

Author: cookiea2b3

Rating: T (because of one curse word)

Timeline: U/K (Unknown)

Summary: Select friends have different roles in a certain group. Friendship is like a partnership. Either one far outshines the other or they are identical. Despite that one is always stronger than the other. Maybe both mentally & physically. It all depends on where you stood in the beginning and if you've already trapped yourself from the start.

A/N: I wrote this a while ago on paper and sometime later I transferred it on to my laptop. I don't even know what's it's even about as I haven't really been up to date on the series for a while. So beware of non-canon monsters hiding under your bed. This is seriously just an edit and I'm in no mood to check facts so I just slapped on some title work and called it a day. Hope you enjoy! =D

Disclaimer: I don't own anything except the story idea.

Dedication: To not really anyone in particular, so I guess to all my fans.

Notes/Warnings: It may be a bit OOC or bit off canon because I haven't really checked my facts. Slight Shark/Tori

Date: Sometime last year..


Ryoga sat at the edge of the dock swinging his feet. He stared off into the sunset as the late tidal waves lapped at the soles of his feet. The light of the last glimmering rays were reflected back in his eyes, the blue depths themselves showing nothing in comparison to the thoughts running a marathon through his head. He was stuck between a rock and a hard place. He didn't know what to do.

So lost in his thoughts, Ryoga didn't register the sound of footfalls on the wooden planks.

"Shark…?" a light voice called. His head turned slowly as his eyes rested on a familiar entity. She wasn't the last person he wanted to see right now, but then again, she wasn't the first.

"Kotori," Ryoga acknowledged. The name flowing off his tongue was foreign to him. He realized that despite her always hanging off either Rio or Yuma that he had never been alone with her without anyone else in vicinity…well till today that is.

Kotori's eyes softened, though Ryoga didn't see as so as he had already slipped back into his previous position.

Well it's now or never. It took a split second for her to make up her mind. If Ryoga heard the rumbling of her steps on the deck, he sure as hell didn't show it.

Expecting her long gone departure, Ryoga was surprised when she plopped down right next to him. He spared her glance; otherwise he flat out ignored her, besides he had grown quite content with silence ever since he was young. So there they sat watching as the sun disappeared beyond the horizon.

It was dark. The night sky was like a blanket of ice looming over their already cold shoulders. She slipped her hand into his. Their heads both turned. The girl met his stare, looking back just as intently. She didn't show any sympathy, though she could see the utter anguish in his eyes.

"You know…you don't have to act so tough in front of me. It's okay to cry."

"I know," his quiet voice was unusually raspy. Both sets of eyes wandered to sky, just in time to see a star streak across the sky.

"Make a wish."

They didn't need to ask the other what they wished for. They already knew. Ryoga closed his eyes as he let the tears stream down pale cheeks. He subconsciously felt a hand tighten around his. He squeezed back. This was how it was always to be he mused silently. He let out a soft chuckle, causing Kotori look at him with curiosity written all over her tear stained face.

"What?" she sniffed.

"I remembered something funny," he replied, a small smile etched across his face. Reeling back a bit from her shock, she grinned back brightly, her eyes wandering back towards the sky.

He followed in suit, his thoughts growing dark over his already heavy heart. It was better off she didn't know. After all these years she didn't realize…she was just the support beam, holding no significance other than to carry someone else. But it wasn't like he could say much either after all, he was one too.


A/N: To be honest I thought this was to turn out somewhat crappy. I did a better job than I thought, but I guess it's up to you to judge. So hope you enjoyed! =) & please review or favorite. I'd really appreciate it.