The Suffering

Ryner walked up the spiral stairs with Ferris in his hands. Her already pale head had become paler and her breathing had become quite shallow. The owner of the teahouse said they could take Ferris up to the second, private level of the teahouse. Upstairs, there was an unoccupied bedroom. It had one double bed with a chestnut colored chair in the corner of the room.

Once he gently placed Ferris down, he tucked her in with a blue, flower printed blanket which was folded by the side of the bed. He made sure that she was fully covered with the blanket before calling Keifer up. They needed to get Ferris out of her wet clothes. If they didn't do it soon, she may catch cold.

"Keifer, ask the teahouse guy for a pair of dry clothes."

"On it!" she replied running downstairs.

You will live, Ferris. I won't let you die on me. It's my fault that you're like this.

Keifer came back a few minutes later with a long, white blouse. It was far too big for her but they had no choice. Ferris needed to change. Ryner looked at the blond and then back to Keifer.

"Keifer?"

"Yes?

"Could you step out of the room? I need to get Ferris into dry clothes now." he looked at the blond beauty just lying there. With every word that had escaped his mouth, Ryner felt a choking sensation in his stomach. It felt as if something was burning from the inside. He knew it was guilt and remorse that was bubbling inside of him.

"Huh?" Keifer responded looking at Ryner. She stared at him trying to register the words just said. Her face then turned bright red with embarrassment. "WAIT WHAT?! NO! ABSOLUTELY NOT! I will do it! You step outside!"

Dumbfounded, Ryner stared at her "Keifer, I understand that you're trying to be helpful in this situation but please, this is my burden alone."

Keifer's face reddened heavily. She never thought Ryner had become so low as to change an unconscious woman's clothes when there was another woman in the room to do that. You are such a pervert! Oh my gosh. I never thought you had stooped this low! Almost exploding with rage she said "GET OUT PERVERT!"

Ryner stood there for a minute. Pervert…? Wait no. Did she just? He pointed at Ferris and then to himself, soon realizing what he had said and how awkward it had sounded.

"N-No! You've got it all wro-" he tried saying while shaking his head and hands to try and deny what the red head may have assumed.

Just before he could continue, Keifer picked up the chair and swung it at Ryner. He dodged it immediately and ran out of the room, closing the door behind him.

Geez what a pervert! She thought blushing so hard that her cheeks had almost turned the colour of her hair. Once she had calmed down, she glanced over at Ferris. She walked up to the bed and started taking off the blond beauty's clothing.

"Such heavy armor." She murmured under her breath. As she slowly took off the heavy purple clothing, she noticed Ferris' body was perfect in every way. Perfect bust size, beautiful hair, beautiful long eyelashes and a beautiful face that made her look like the next sleeping beauty. So this is Ryner's partner huh? I'm so jealous! As she continued changing her clothes, Keifer noticed a huge scar on Ferris's back.

"What's this?" she thought as she slowly placed her hand on the blond's back. The large scar on her flawless skin did not suit the sleeping Ferris at all. Such a serious wound. Keifer stared at it for a little bit before she continued changing Ferris into the long, white blouse.

Her body temperature is still low but not as bad as it was before. Once she was done helping Ferris, Keifer tucked her in once again with the large, soft blanket and made her way downstairs to the first level of the teahouse.

For the majority of the day, Ryner didn't say anything to Keifer. He just sat outside on the bench to watch the rain fall. It wasn't that he was lazy and tired, but because the rain had reminded him of the battle that they had with Kuu and Sui.

It was the first time Ferris had ever seen Ryner go berserk due to his Alpha Stigma. He remembered every single detail that occurred. From Sui using the Douleli Blade, to when they had afternoon tea after everything was over. He could still here Ferris's exact words repeating in his head: Ryner, stop. You have to listen. You are not a monster. You are not a monster!

He remembered how tightly Ferris had hugged and caressed him in the rain. She had blood going down the left side of her face but that didn't concern her. She just stayed by his side until he was able to stand on his own two feet once more.

Ryner got up off the cold bench and walked into the teahouse taking no concern in looking at Keifer or the teahouse owner. He walked slowly up the stairs and entered Ferris's room.

She was still unconscious and her blond hair just flowed around her. He pulled up the chair that Keifer threw earlier in the day and placed it beside the bed. He looked at Ferris. She was lying there like a lifeless corpse. The only thing that distinguished her living was her chest that would slightly rise and fall. He just stared at the blond for a hard couple of minutes.

"How could Sion do this? He's gone too far this time." Ryner said quietly while brushing Ferris' bangs and fixing her hair.

He stared at her once more, wondering when she would get up and hit him with her large sword; but she didn't. She just lay there on the bed with minuscule movement. "How much more of this can you take? Why don't you just give up on me? I've caused you so much pain... and yet... You still consider me a friend...you still want to be near me and..." A tear dripped from Ryner's face. "and…you refuse to call me a monster ."

Behind the door stood a crying Keifer. Her hands were cupping her mouth while her tears drizzled on top. Just as she heard Ryner getting up from the chair and heading towards the door, she quickly wiped her face with her sleeve.

"Ah, Ryner" She said quickly while walking into the room with a broad smile on her face.

"Yeah? Is there something wrong?" Ryner asked with his lethargic attitude.

"Oh, n-no it's been so long since we've talked like this so I thought we could just catch up maybe?" Keifer said without showing any eye contact to Ryner whatsoever. She didn't want him to see her puffy, teary eyes.

"No can do."

"W-what?! Why not?!" she wasn't expecting such a blunt reply. But then again, it had been so long since they last saw each other. Well your attitude hasn't changed one bit.

"Yours truly needs a nap. I haven't slept a wink in 24 hours. Freaking Ferris kept me up all night with her pestering. I swear all she wants in life is to torture me." Ryner said with a loud yawn.

"OH C'MON! How about you tell me more about Ferris then? I've never seen her other than that one time I blew up the bridge by the Roland jails."

"UGHH fine. But this is just because we haven't seen each other in so long." Ryner said.

They sat down on the carpeted ground. Ryner was leaning against the bed while the red headed Keifer sat down right in front of him.

I am so sorry that I haven't been able to update and continue! I was just so busy with exams and I had so much work! FORGIVE ME! I promise I will try and do a better job! Please don't give up on me! As I said before, please give me any feedback because this is my first time writing a fanfiction J If it sucks, let me know. If you enjoyed it and want more, let me know. If I'm lacking something like emotions/detail etc. please let me know because we all know that I'm a terrible writer and I need feedback. If you have any questions, please leave them in the review box and I will try my best to answer them J THANKS EVERYONE!