So here's the long awaited new chapter. Sorry for taking so long, been in and out of the doctor much like most of my co-workers. So I was either home in bed, or working for someone else who was at home in bed. It's kinda on the short side, but it's an update nonetheless!
Edited and re-posted 2/10/2012
~~~Chapter 7
Ryo stood still, swords drawn and ready as an eerie darkness closed in around him. He was nervous… Well, nervous was too light of a word, terrified fit better, but he'd never admit that he was downright terrified, not to anyone. So he stood there, eyes darting in the unnatural darkness enveloping him. He didn't know where the darkness had come from, it just came. He'd just gone out for a walk, he had needed a break from his crazy friends, just a few hours to himself for a change. This wasn't what he had in mind. Now he'd give just about anything for them to be there, but a little voice inside his head said he wouldn't be seeing them for a long time, if ever again. He just had an awful feeling deep down in his gut, he knew without a doubt that something wasn't right, he just couldn't put his finger on it. Maybe if he could actually see his fingers…
The sound of something moving to his left broke his thoughts and he spun around. His eyes searching wildly for something that couldn't be seen. He cursed silently to himself for leaving the house without company when he'd already had feeling something bad would happen that day. He should have shut himself in his room rather than going out, alone. He could have gone to the basement and practiced some more, or put in a movie, anything other than what he'd decided on. Anything would have been a better choice, he knew this now and was cursing himself for not making the 'smart' decision. If only he'd known it then too.
"I don't like this one bit," Rowen said, finally speaking up. He'd been sitting in the living room with the others for the past couple hours, watching a sleeping Ryo. He hadn't moved once since falling asleep and that just wasn't like him at all. He was fall too still and it put everyone on edge.
"I know, Rowen, none of us like it," Mia said softly while brushing Ameena's hair. The little girl just sat quietly in her lap, eyes glued to Ryo. Raye sat in the over sized armchair closest to Ryo, watching him as well. Cye was on the couch with Rowen and Sage, while Mia and Kento were sitting on the loveseat. Cye had gotten up a few times only to circle the room then sit right back down. Kento had thought of teasing Cye for this, then would glace at Ryo again and just couldn't get himself to say anything. Sage had taken to meditating again, in hopes of getting some answers since Ryo wasn't talking. Kento simply shook his head and stood silently. He stretched for a moment, then slowly made his way to Ryo's side, his curiosity once again getting the best of him.
"What's up, Kento?" Cye questioned, watching Kento's face for any reaction. Kento only shook his head again, not looking up. "Kento?"
"He's pale…" Kento finally murmured.
"He's sick, he was out in the rain too long, of course he's pale," Rowen stated with a touch of annoyance from the couch.
"It's not just his face," Kento sighed. "His tan is gone, it almost looks like he never goes outside anymore, or not in the sun at least. His lips aren't blue anymore though, that's good, right?"
"Yeah…" Rowen trailed off, thinking about what Kento had just said. "Mia?"
"Hmm?" Mia looked at Rowen, waiting for him to continue.
"What did you and Ryo talk about over the last three years? You said he sent you a picture of her," he said, gesturing towards the now sleeping child she held. "What else was there? Did he say anything about jobs, friends, family…"
"I know he was in England the he went to America. He spoke of places he'd visited that he thought you guys might like. He talked about going back to school, but I don't think he went. I know he had a job where he got to work with animals, said Ameena loved when she got to go with him. Um…" Mia paused then, her eyes suddenly sad.
"What is it, Mia? What else did he say?" Sage asked, no longer meditating but watching his friends.
Mia glanced at Ryo, then Ameena, then at Ryo again. She sighed heavily before answering the question. "He said he was tired. He didn't know how much longer he could do this."
"Do what?" Sage questioned, now watching Ryo.
"I'm not sure. When I questioned him on it, he said never mind, it wasn't important. That was when he'd mentioned Ameena for the first time. I'm not sure he'd meant to tell me about her, more like it was all he could think of to change the subject. Much like you four have over this last year, every time I mentioned you guys, he'd change the subject. He'd start talking about her instead. I don't know what happened before he left, but I think we need to find out once he's better. You guys need to figure out who you were fighting as well, maybe there's something we're missing," Mia suggested.
"Most likely," Rowen snorted. Cye just glared at him. "Well, come on, think about it. Ryo takes off for no reason, at least none that we know of, six months later we see him getting beat to a pulp and die. Two and a half years later he's back and fighting something that we didn't know was in the area, he's barely talking to us, he looks half dead and that was before the trip in the rain. There's a really big something that we've missed and it's buggin the hell outta me that we don't know what it is. Bugs me even more that he didn't tell us."
"He has a point there, Cye," Sage agreed. "There's a lot that doesn't add up about this whole thing. The main question that's got me stumped is why would someone want us to think Ryo was dead if he was already gone to being with? Why go to all the trouble of a fake battle if he wasn't even in the country?"
"Now there's a question," Kento murmured, watching his sleeping friend closely.
"Hey Kento?" Mia questioned softly. Once Kento looked to her, she continued. "How did he look when you found him? I mean, what was his reaction?"
Kento looked thoughtful for a moment before his eyes widened slightly. "Surprised at first, then if I'm not mistaken, guilty. He turned away too quick to be sure. When he looked back, it was gone."
Mia sat quietly at thought that over. Ryo had looked guilty, that sounds like Ryo, but why would he look guilty now? What had happened to make him feel guilty? Was it for leaving the way he had? Maybe it was because he hadn't told them he was coming back and they'd found him… Now she thought more on the phone conversations they'd had. He was tired, he didn't know how much longer he could do this. He'd said he couldn't quit just yet though, someone had to take care of Ameena. What if he doesn't fight this? Mia thought in horror. He had to fight this, had to get better, but he knew that Mia would take care of Ameena should anything happen to him. It was an unsaid agreement, but he wouldn't bail now… Would he?
"Mia? Are you alright?" Raye asked quietly from across the room.
"Hmm?" Mia looked up quickly, then noticed everyone watching her. "What is it?"
"That's what we were wondering. You looked worried about something," Cye replied.
"Oh, just thinking," Mia mumbled, more to herself than her friends.
"About what?" Rowen pressed.
Mia thought for a moment longer before finally responding. "If Ryo was in a situation he wanted out of, and I mean really wanted out of and suddenly had an out… Do you think he'd take it? Or would he keep fighting to find a better way?" Mia's question silenced the room as they all looked at Ryo in a new light. Would he really give up now?
