The Search
Where could she be? Ryner thought as he looked outside. He scanned the area with his Alpha Stigma to see if anyone was there. With a four kilometre radius, Ryner wasn't able to detect any human presence. That meant that Ferris had walked further. Ferris, you better be out there! When I get my hands on you, I swear you're going to regret the day you got me this worried.
He didn't know where to begin. Sure Ryner could just abandon the first four kilometers of the area, but there was so much land to cover, that not even he could track her down in a mere hour or two. Just south of him was a small town. It looked as if there was a festival going on all of last night. Could Ferris have decided to attend? She's probably stuffing her face with dango there! He thought. But why would she go if we were staying in a teahouse? We're also fugitives of Roland. There is no way in hell Ferris would be that reckless. UGHHH THIS SUCKS! This thinking is killing my head! But seriously though; where are you, Ferris?
Ryner stood there with two situations rolling in his head; she could either be in the town eating dango, or she's in trouble and needs help. I'll check the town first and just ask the locals. If they haven't seen her, I'll use my Alpha Stigma and find Ferris even if it takes me all day.
It was a short walk to the small town but it took much longer due to Ryner's searching. When he entered the town, the first thing he did was go to the dango shops and ask them if they had seen her or if she passed by in the area. To his dismay, all the owners said no. Next, he tried asking all the locals in the area, but they all said that they don't remember. Ryner approached a small group of about seven children next. "Excuse me," he asked to the tallest boy in the group. "Have you seen a tall, blond woman passing by? She has blue eyes and a pale face, possibly carrying a sword around with her? Maybe eating dango?"
"Sorry Mister. We didn't see anything. It was the festival last night. So many people came that it is impossible to remember all of them," The boy replied.
Ryner was getting frustrated. He scratched the back of his head. "Okay, how about I make a deal with you guys." Ryner said.
"What is it?" a little girl asked. She was holding the boy's ripped pant leg. The children looked awfully poor; orphans more or less. Ryner felt bad for them because he knew the feeling of growing up without parents; even friends for that matter.
"I'll treat you all to dango if you help me look for her in the town." Ryner stated as he pulled out money from his left breast pocket.
"You'd really do that Mister?!" Ryner nodded his head. "Gee thanks! C'mon guys, let's go find his girlfriend!"
"She's NOT my girlfriend!" Ryner shouted out. The children started giggling and then left in different directions.
The things I do for you, Ferris. Ryner sighed and then began searching with his Alpha Stigma.
O.o.O.o.O.o.O
Ryner scanned through the gullies and in many dark alleys. He searched over roofs of houses and small, secretive areas that Ferris may have been in if she were to rest.
After about three hours of searching, the seven children gathered around Ryner. Their heads were all held towards the ground.
"We're sorry mister. We couldn't find your girlfriend." the little girl said sadly as she started tearing up. "We looked for her everywhere! Even in our secret hideout areas b-but she wasn't there." to this, she started crying.
Ryner pulled out a large box from his bag. It was wrapped in green wrapping paper.
"What is it?" she inquired as Ryner bent down to show her the box.
"Open it." Ryner stated as he placed the present in her small hands. "Thanks for all the help." Ryner got up and started leaving. The other six children gathered around the little girl. Once she opened the box, there were seven warm blankets and a dango set of 14 inside.
.
.
.
.
.
That eliminates the town. Ryner covered his hands over his eyes as he activated his Alpha Stigma. Since he had some help by the town, it spared him a lot more time to look for Ferris elsewhere. Now the question was where he should start looking. I could go back to the teahouse and check if Ferris came back, but I doubt her fever has gone down enough for her to be able to walk. Shit. Shit. Shit. Her fever has probably skyrocketed at this rate! Think Ryner, think!
He gazed in the far distance and saw a large forested region. She couldn't have...! Ryner started running. His eyes scanned the whole east side, and then the western part.
"Ferris?!" he yelled as loud as he could. "Ferris?!" Ryner's eyes wandered all over as he looked for the blond beauty. Now he was scared. He was scared that Ferris's health was deteriorating and he was looking hopelessly for her. As he searched, he could feel his heart about to explode with the speed it was going at. He wanted to scream. He wanted to yell. He wanted to cry. But Ryner knew that the energy he would spend crying could be better used to find Ferris. He deactivated his Alpha Stigma to conserve energy.
As the sun began to set and the full moon began to take the spotlight, Ryner knew that time was running out. His eyes were growing weary as lethargy was taking over. He knew it was time to go back. Iris and Keifer were probably worried. If Ferris really did go back to the teahouse, they would've sent him some kind of signal.
Just as Ryner was going to sit down onto the grass, a sharp light hit the corner of his left eye. He turned around to see that it was coming further into the forest. He got up and ran with the small bit of energy he had left in him.
There, stabbed into the ground, was Ferris's sword. The light from the moon reflected off of the pommel of the sword and into Ryner's eye. Beside it lay Ferris. Ryner ran to her and placed her in his lap. He touched his forehead against hers to check her temperature. Her forehead was drenched in sweat and his prediction about her body temperature was correct. It had skyrocketed.
"Ferris?" he called.
No reply.
"Hey Ferris, this isn't funny anymore." He said as he tapped her cheeks. She still didn't wake up. Ryner's heart began to beat harder. "Wake up. Please wake up." He called. With every word that escaped his mouth, a lump of worry began to build up. He shook her a bit, but to no avail did she open her eyes. Her breathing had diminished and he couldn't feel a strong enough pulse. Tears began slipping one by one down his face. "Please wake up. Please Ferris..." Ryner held the flawless beauty in a tight embrace. Tears began dripping onto Ferris's cheek as Ryner held her close. He didn't understand why his eyes were letting out tears. We need to get back to the teahouse. No, she won't get better there. Hell, I've already tried that and look what it's done to her. Ferris needs medical attention; she needs a doctor.
He pulled Ferris's sword out of the ground and tied it behind him. Next, he lifted Ferris bridal style and started walking towards the town. It was quite tiring to carry both Ferris and her sword, but Ryner knew that he couldn't give up. How can Ferris carry this sword? It weighs more than her.
As he continued walking, Ryner could feel Ferris shivering. Her white gown was sullied in dirt and wasn't the best at keeping her body heat locked in. He took off his cape and wrapped Ferris in it to try and keep her warm, but she still continued shivering. Ryner tightened his grip around his partner and placed her closer to himself so that his body heat could radiate on to her.
Ryner felt a cold hand touch his right cheek. It was Ferris and she had awoken.
"Ryner... You're holding me too tight..." she said softly. Ryner never felt so relieved and happy about anything in his life. He acted calm though so that Ferris wouldn't be disturbed by his happiness.
"So you're awake. Sleep well?" he asked as he walked.
"No." Ferris stated bluntly.
"No?"
"I remember I had a huge headache. I thought I could train it off but with every step I took, it became unbearable."
A sudden amount of anger boiled in Ryner.
"Do you know what kind of hell you put me through?! You knew you were sick and you knew that you had a fever! You could've died, idiot!" he yelled loudly while holding Ferris tightly.
"I have no regrets for when I'm about to die. And this fever is nothing." She stated bluntly.
Ryner put her down onto the ground.
"Prove it. If you can walk by yourself without my assistance, I will admit that I was wrong for worrying about you."
"Fine." Ryner put Ferris down and she started walking on her own, alongside him.
Ferris walked just fine for about 400 meters and then she started slowing down. Ryner didn't notice as he kept walking.
"You're doing pretty well for a sick person, Fer-" Ryner tried saying before the blond beauty interrupted.
"Ryner..." she said quietly before she collapsed. Ryner turned around and caught her right before her body could touch the ground.
"Don't push yourself. Do you know how much it hurts to see you like this?" he said as he let her lean onto him. "Your body is already fighting with that high fever. Don't put on a brave, tough guy act for me."
"I'm tired, and freezing." the blond beauty admitted with a small blush on her face. "Where is my uniform? Why am I in this hideous gown?"
"You were found in the rain, unconscious. Iris had dragged you to where I was. Your uniform was wet and muddy so you needed a change of clothes."
"I see."
"Do you enjoy making everyone worry about you? Ryner asked as he continued carrying her.
"No one but you." Ferris stated with a small smile on her face as she looked up to see Ryner. "Besides, how do I know if a pervert like you will attack me while I'm resting? I was just getting away from your sex crazed mind."
"I doubt that highly." Ryner decided to go along with Ferris's little game. "And besides, how do you know that I won't do that now; when you can't even move and are even more sick than before?" he asked, now with a grin on his face.
"Because... I trust you." Ferris didn't look at Ryner's face as she replied. Ryner looked down at the blond beauty with widened eyes.
"Ferris...?"
No reply.
Ryner looked down to find that she wasn't conscious to hear it. Her body was too exhausted to do anything. I promise you that I won't let your trust go in vain with me. Just like how a shadow never abandons its partner, I will be your shadow and you will be my partner. He continued onwards with the blond beauty.
I know this was a really short chapter and I apologize for making you all wait! My hand is now healed and the cast has come off so I decided to write a small chapter today. To make up for the really long wait I have made you guys endure, I'm going to write another chapter and post it up by this week! I am sorry this chapter felt rushed, but I had an epiphany and just had to incorporate it into this chapter. Tell me how this chapter goes! :) Thank you for all the support you have given me and I am so very grateful that you have enjoyed reading my fanfiction thus far :) If you have any questions about the story, please leave a review, or if you just have an idea that might work for this story, I can try to incorporate it! Thank you for reading :)