Chapter 4: A Healing Heart, starting a new

'How come life is so cruel to me?'

'I haven't done anything that is so cruel to let this kind of things happen to me...'

'Why... why... why...'

Fluttering her eyes open, she found herself under a blanket of a luxurious king sized bed. She sat up, confused, sorrowed, pained, heartbroken...

'Milady Runo...' Naga's voice echoed in her head, she raised her right arm and looked at the silver and black bracelet that wrapped her right wrist

'Naga...' she spoke in a very depressed tone

'Is there... something I could do for you? My lady?' Naga asked, very concerned. 'Please, just tell me. I would do anything for you'

'Is... Is...' Runo choked, tears started rolling down from her eyes. The door slid automatically open, revealing a 17-year-old boy.

"Runo... are you okay?" he asked as he sat on the bed beside her

"N-n-no..." she looked down; tears continued flowing from her eyes as she hugged herself, feeling so helpless and lonely. "What happened... to... my parents..."

The boy looked away, not knowing what to say, he couldn't let the girl in front of him feel pain again.

"Please Shun, I... I need to know," she pleaded. Finally looking into her deep emerald eyes, he let out a deep sigh and spoke.

"The reports say that the fire was caused by an accident. All the escape routes were blocked, so... they were not able to escape... and the smoke... suffocated them... they didn't made it. I'm sorry," he told the girl with full of worry in his eyes. Runo, on the other hand, cried a river.

Shun put a hand on her shoulder and she shivered. Not knowing what to think, not knowing what to do... she continued crying as she buried her face on the person who locked her in his arms.

"Runo..." his voice, filled with worry "If there's anything you want... don't hesitate to-"

"I want to see them," she said. Shun released her and saw her determined face, but deep inside she was weeping. "I want to see my parents, please..."

Shun thought for a moment but finally gave in, he nodded his head and told her to get dressed. She wore a yellow under dress and white long vest and she tied her hair to two ponytails (Reference is on Bakugan season 2). The whole gang went to the funeral. Her parents were cremated, the expenses where answered by Marucho. On the day of their burial, she couldn't cry anymore, for there are no more tears left to shed. The ceremony ended, but the girl with sapphire hair stayed

"Uhh... Runo? We're going now," said Fabia

"You guys go ahead, I'll catch up" she replied, while looking down the hill where she threw her parents' ashes [note: It's a tradition if someone was cremated to some places]

Ace looked back, he was about to approach Runo, but felt a hand on his shoulder,

"Leave her be, she needs time for herself" said Volt. Ace thought for a moment but gave up; he nodded his head and went back to the limo with the others.

Runo stared at the orange, scarlet sky. Her mind was filled with all the memories of her parents and Tigrerra. 'Mom... Dad... Tigrerra... what am I going to do?' she thought to herself 'I... I fell like... I have no reason to live...' she said, sounding giving up. Then, before she knew it, the world around her stopped once more, she turned around and fixed her gaze to the big white dragon as she felt a strong wind blew behind her...

"N-N-N-Naga..." she spoke, looking down to her feet feeling hopeless

"Mi'lady... I understand how you feel... Things happen for a reason, and we-" he was interrupted as Runo buried her face and hugged him as tight as she could, as if her life depended on him

"I feel so broken!" she shouted, clinging to his scales "I don't know what to do... I feel like I have no reason to live... My mother, father, and Tigrerra... are gone... I... I WISH THAT I WAS DEAD!"

These words snapped him and pulled her away, he glared at her with burning golden eyes to her swollen deep emerald eyes.

"Lady Runo, we all have someone dear to us, we want to protect them, spend time with them, care for them, and make them happy, and that is one of the reasons why we continue to live. Like me, we both lost our loved ones, but that doesn't mean that we should give up."

"How would you know...? HOW WOULD YOU KNOW HOW I FEEL? YOU DON'T REMEMBER ANYTHING! YOU BARELY EVEN REMEMBER YOUR OWN SISTER!" she yelled at him, she couldn't think anymore, too many things happened in such a short time. First, she was told that she is a Vestal; second, she was a friend of their former enemy, Prince Hydron; third, Tigrerra, her Bakugan, her best friend, her sister, was announced dead; and now, her parents were taken away from her, the people she cared and adored, who was always there to help her in any need are gone.

Naga let out a deep sigh and looked away, "I may not remember these things but... If I turn my back now and give up, that would also mean that I let that someone down" he finally looked at her, with tender love and care, showing from his eyes "You said that my sister died, for everyone's sake, right? It made me sad, but if I chose die, that would mean that her sacrifice was meant for nothing, and in the end, I would just make her sad. Therefore, I decided to live, as what my sister wants. Not only I have to redeem myself for my sins, it is what my sister wished, her last word. It's at least what I could do. You have friends there for you, they are also your family, they will always be there... for you... and so will I"

She didn't said a word, too surprised to hear these kinds of words from him. Before, she thought that he was nothing but a Bakugan lust for power, someone who has no heart and didn't cared for the world. She gave him a chance, to prove himself if he has really found his resolve. Now, here it is, right in front of her, Naga, the selfish for power Bakugan, changed, his heart, now warming with love and care.

"Naga... Arigatou..." the last of her tears rolled down her cheeks as she pushed her face to him. Naga wrapped his silver wings around her as he returned her hug.

They broke the hug, and Runo's face was replaced with a normal and cheerful look.

"Now, Milady, what are you going to do now?" she smiled at him and walked to the edge of the hill

"I will continue to live, as what my parents would say if they were here. I will keep on moving forward, I will never give up and I will face all the challenges in life, with you by my side, Naga"

"My pleasure, Lady Runo" he said and Runo smiled at him her loving smile and the dragon roared as loud as the whole world could hear, and time continued to move.

"Let's move forward together, Naga" she said to her black and silver necklace on her right wrist, and the dragon's eye sparkled. "Yosh! Let's go!" and she raced down to the limo, where her friends waited for her, ready of what lies ahead.

However, looking back up the hill, by the tree, someone, who heard everything they have said (even when time stopped) revealed himself. He removed his orange glasses, his amethyst eyes sparkled.

"Runo... I have found you..." he placed back his glasses and leaped back to the forest where a portal to another dimension lies

AHHHH! Gomen gomen! I'm so sorry please forgive me. I know that I updated very late, and I'm sorry if this one doesn't satisfy you but please, understand. I'm very busy at school this month, not to mention the upcoming quizzes, tests, and projects. I was really bored, in making this one and I haven't been focusing on my stories. By the way thank you so much for the reviews, I was really flattered. Don't mind giving me constructive criticisms, those kind of things are really helpful (but please not too rude).

So, once again...

GIVE ME COMMENTS, SUGGESTIONS AND CRITICISMS! I PROMISE TO MAKE A BETTER ONE NEXT TIME

ARIGATOU GOZAIMASU!

(you can also suggest if I should add moments from other bakugan couples)