Ryan finally spotted her.
She was lying on the ground, surrounded by flames. He dashed over and picked her up-- Shira was breathing, at least.
"Hang in there." He ran out of the forest with the girl in his arms, returning to Max and looking at the girl closer. "We have to get her someplace safe." He said.
"There's a city not too far from here." Max pointed out.
"Great. C'mon."
And then they headed off.
~The next morning~
Shira opened her eyes and slowly sat up. "How did I...? What is this place?"
"You're in a hotel in Starfair City." said Ryan. "Are you feeling better?"
"Yes... I'm fine."
Vague memories filled her mind, of her being carried out of the flames that had nearly consumed her, being carried out by...
By him.
"You saved me?"
"Yeah." He responded quietly.
"...Thank you."
She spent the day resting, and got up the next morning.
The hotel's breakfast was a wide variety, but she only got a few strips of bacon. And for some reason... she just couldn't get her mind off of Ryan.
That night, she went outside onto a bridge, leaning on the railing and gazing up at the shimmering stars.
"Hey... I've been meaning to talk to you."
Shira turned to see who the newcomer was.
"Huh? Oh-- R-Ryan."
Was that... the first time she'd spoken his name?
Why was she so shy around him all of a sudden? A few days ago, she'd been thinking about how much she despised him.
What was going on...?
"What were you talking about before? When you said you thought... that I was different?" Ryan asked.
"Oh... right. I... Years ago, there was this guy I liked. One day, we nearly fell into a hole in the ground, except he grabbed the ledge, and then grabbed my hand before I fell all the way down, but..."
"Hm?"
"Well, when his friends came, he... he let me fall, so that he could grab his friend's hand. I banged against the ground-- falling for what seemed like forever... I couldn't stop crying."
"I'm sorry for what I did the other day."
"I forgive you. I'm sorry... for the way I've been treating you."
"That's alright."
Ryan took a step forward and twined his fingers with hers. Shira couldn't quite take her eyes off of it-- that feeling was springing back to life.
That warm, fuzzy feeling.
She didn't want that feeling to come back. That feeling would only break her heart again.
"So... looks like we're almost there." she said quietly.
"Yeah... I hope he can figure something out."
YOU ARE READING
My Dark Heart: Ryan's tale (a Destinies Intertwined, Riku x Oc sequel)
FanfictionA year after Master Xehanort's defeat, Ryan comes to two terrifying realizations One: His sister has gone missing Two: Briefly being controlled by Ansem had left a dark stain on his heart (The only Oc's are Ryan and Rachel and their parents) (and th...
