Feelings Unveiled

G

Clarity Scifiroots

Started and Completed: January 2000

                Author’s notes: This is a pure mush story with just romance, it’s short so just go ahead the read it. Oh yeah, it’s a song fic to “Save the Best for Last” by Vennessa Williams (obviously not owned by me).

Disclaimers: Only the story line is mine, the characters and song used are owned by other people whom I’d like to know. ^.~ Ronin Warriors is property of Sunrise.

*****

            Mia sighed as she looked out the window onto the dreary day of rain. ’It’s all over and I’m still sitting here, worrying….’ She shook her head and went back to stirring the pot of soup on the stove. From the other room she heard the guys laughing and joking around. A smile tugged at her lips, ’It’s been such a long time since we’ve all been able to enjoy the peace.’

            “Hey Mia!” Cye called as he walked in, “Need some help?”

            “Hmm?” Mia asked, coming out of her daydream, “If you want to… I could handle it though.”

            “Oh it’s no problem, I’ve been bored with having nothing to do with my hands.” He gave her a smile before starting to cut carrots into a salad.

            Ryo watched from the doorway, staying silent as two of his friends talked. ’Mia… it’s all over, so now I shouldn’t worry about telling you- right?’

***

Sometimes the snow comes down in June

Sometimes the sun goes 'round the moon

***

            Cye made a joke and Mia laughed loudly, “Cye! Don’t do that! You’re going to make me spill this soup!”

            The boy grinned and just said, “You need to laugh, it’s over now and we don’t have to worry.”

            Mia’s face took on a more serious look as she turned to the window, “How long will this last? Before we thought it was over and Talpa appeared again…” she gasped in surprise when she felt a warm hand on her shoulder.

            “Don’t worry, we’ll continue to train and we’ll be ready.” Ryo looked at her with caring in his eyes, which surprised Mia, causing her to drop her spoon on the floor.

            “Y- yeah…” she stuttered.

            From the other room Ryo heard a few giggles and whistles, he blushed and turned away, leaving Mia with an empty feeling.

***

I see the passion in your eyes

Sometimes it's all a big surprise

***

            As he turned away, Mia hid her disappointment and worked harder on focusing on making dinner. Cye looked at the two and shook his head, it was so apparent how much Ryo loved Mia and he was almost positive that Mia was the same.

            Kento, Sage, and Rowen joked in the other room at their friends’ show of affections; though, surprisingly, Sage did so half-heartily. Rowen noticed but didn’t comment, not wanting to bring up the topic that Sage also had quite a crush on Mia.

***

'Cause there was a time when all I did was wish

You’d tell me this was love

***

            After dinner, everyone went outside to look out over the lake as the sun set. “Everything looks so much lovelier when the dynasty’s butt is kicked!” Kento commented. The others groaned.

            “And for once I thought you’d say something poetic…” Mia muttered. Everyone laughed at her comment.

            They were quiet for a while until the stars began to appear, “A shooting star!” Rowen pointed out. As it passed he questioned, “Wishes, anyone?”

            “You know you can’t tell what you wished, Rowen! Otherwise it won’t come true!” Cye exclaimed.

            “Aww, c’mon you guys! I wanna know!” Kento whined.

            Sage asked sarcastically, “Oh yeah, and what did you wish for Kento? A Hamburger the size of a house?”

            Kento looked up, surprised, “How did you know?” The others sweat-dropped.

            “Uh… heh, heh…” Rowen scratched the back of his head, “Well I wished that this time we really had heard the last of the dynasty.”

            Everyone turned to Cye who squeaked, “Who? Me? Fine, fine… I um…” he blushed, “wished that we’ll always stay friends and not like.. um… ‘break-up’, so to speak…”

            “Aww Cye! You know we wouldn’t grow apart!” Kento ruffled his friend’s hair, much to Cye’s dismay.

            “What about you, Ryo?” Mia questioned. He looked at her in slight surprise.

            “Um… uh…” he stuttered, the other guys grinned- guessing on what he had wished. Finally he blurted out so fast that it was hard to understand him, “I wished that the girl that I like will return my feelings.” After finishing he blushed profusely and hid his face in his hands.

***

It's not the way I hoped or how I planned

But some how it's enough

***

            Mia blushed a little too as the others asked her about her wish, “You guys wouldn’t understand it…”

            “C’mon Mia! Everyone else is sharing, it’s your turn!” Sage told her.

            “But- but….” She groaned and hid her face, “Don’t do this to me!” She was met with merry laughter at her last comment and she blushed deeper.

           

            The group of six stayed outside for a long time just talking, finally Kento yawned and commented on turning in. Rowen agreed with him and the two left. Cye took one look at Ryo and Mia and formed a plan, nudging Sage the two of them left also.

            “Good night!” Mia called after them. She sighed and turned back around, coming face-to-face with Ryo, “Oh!” ’Oh no… it’s just the two of us…’

***

And now we're standing face to face

Isn't this world a crazy place?

***

            “Um… well” they both started, Ryo laughed, “You first.”

            “No, please… you first, I have nothing to say… really…” she uttered the last word under her breath.

            He seemed slightly upset but shrugged it off, “So what do we do now? I suppose all of us should really head home, we shouldn’t be imposing on you.”

            Horrified, Mia cried, “No way! You guys are well…” she looked down, “Really my only friends, I mean I really never knew anyone else… you guys shouldn’t go, I mean what am I to do with a huge mansion by myself?”

            Ryo looked at her in surprise, her outburst not expected.

***

Just when I thought our chance had passed

You go and save the best for last

***

            Silence stretched between them for a while and finally Ryo asked, “You really haven’t had any friends?” she shook her head in response, “What about… ‘boyfriends’?”

            “Ryo!” She cried and blushed.

            “Well?”

            “Wha?” She looked at him with eyes wide, “Darn…” Mia looked at her hands and sighed, “No, not really. Except…”

            “ ‘Except’?”

            “Maybe two years ago… before I met you guys. But that’s another story,” she looked away so he wouldn’t see her tears. “What about you?”

            Ryo glanced at her in worry, having heard the tears. “Well there were two… actually… one girl was just not for me though so I don’t really mind it… but…” he trailed off in thought, “I did wonder what was going to happen to me when I became a Ronin Warrior. Because of that I did loose someone…”

***

All of the night you came to me

When some silly girl had set you free

***

            Mia just looked at him, “You still miss her?”

            He thought for a while, staring at the stars, “Maybe sometimes, but it’s been better, having all these new friends.” Mia blinked back tears, wishing he had said something about her.

***

You wondered how you'd make it through

I wondered what was wrong with you

***

            “I’m going to start over, my life’s new as it is,” Ryo finally commented.

            “You’re right, we all need to start over. New dreams and friends…” she trailed off.

            “New love…” Ryo added in her unspoken words. She stared at him in wonder as he met her gaze with the same intensity.

***

'Cause how could you give your love to someone else

And share your dreams with me

***

            “What are you looking for, Ryo?” Mia asked while breaking the silence.

            He continued to gaze at her, “I’m really not sure…” he replied softly, “I think I’ve found it… I hope I’ve found it…” he murmured more to himself than to her.

            “Sometimes I feel that way too,” she commented, “as if I’ve already got what I want yet I can’t tell what it is.”

***

Sometimes the very thing you’re looking for

Is the one thing you can't see

***

            “Yeah,” Ryo sighed, “and you wish that somehow you’d get a signal, as if what you wanted would let you know that it truly is what you want.”

            Again Mia agreed, she stood up a walked closer to the lake. Behind her, Ryo did the same. “Hey Ryo…” she started.

            “Yes?”

            “Well um…” she stopped, wondering what to say, “do you think all of you will still stay here?” she turned to face him.

            “huh?” it hadn’t been what he’d expected but realized he was putting his hopes too high, “Yeah, we’ll stay I’m sure. This has become our home now.” She smiled up at him and Ryo practically melted at the warmness it held.

***     

And now we're standing face to face

Isn't this world a crazy place?

***

            Making up his mind, Ryo began, “Mia… you know how we were talking before… well what happened to your past relationship…?”

            “Oh…” she said softly, looking down she said, “It… it… was just kind of broken…”

            “You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to,” Ryo told her hurriedly.

            “No, no… it’s okay. It’s just that,” she took a deep breath, “after we had this huge fight he was killed in a car accident.” Her shoulders hunched as she tried to hide her sobs.

            “Shh…” Ryo whispered. Mia’s eyes opened in surprise as she found herself in his embrace.

***

Just when I thought our chance had passed

You go and save the best for last

***

            Ryo held her closely as she let her tears fall, Mia had quickly adjusted and had moved into his embrace more. Without thinking, Ryo began to stroke her hair and continued to whisper comforting words.

            “Mia…” he finally said.

            Wiping at her tears she asked, “Yes?”

            He swallowed, hoping that he wouldn’t be hurting her by his next words, “Would you… um… be open to a new relationship?”

            She looked up at him with shock written all over her face.

***

Sometimes the very thing you're looking for

Is the one thing you can't see

***

            “You… mean…?” Mia asked, breathless.

            “You’re the one I’ve been looking for, and yet I was never able to tell you…” Ryo breathed in deeply, waiting for a response.

            “And for ages I’ve looked at you, waiting for a sign that I could go forward and tell you…” Mia trailed off. Their eyes met, as they waited to see what would happen next.

***

Sometimes the snow comes down in June

Sometimes the sun goes 'round the moon

***

            “Are you being truthful?” Ryo asked with playfulness in his voice.

            She narrowed her eyes at him, “I’ve never been more truthful in my whole life, Ryo of Wildfire!” she sniffed.

            He grinned at her, “And here I thought we could never be…”

            Mia returned to the calmness of the moment and whispered, “I know… I thought our chance had passed.”

***

Just when I thought our chance had passed

***

            “Mia…” Ryo murmured, “I love you…”

            She closed her eyes and smiled, snuggling against him she replied, “I love you too Ryo, I have for so long now….”

            He looked down at her for a moment before lifting her chin up and kissing her on the lips. Ryo pulled back to look in her eyes and Mina jumped up a little to claim his lips again. “Hey!” he cried in surprise.

            From the bushes, Cye grinned and poked Rowen in the ribs, “Well I told you they would get together, now you owe me five dollars!”

            “Wha?” Rowen exclaimed, “Man… I never thought they’d work everything out tonight…” he scowled and handed over the money to Cye, “Remind me never to do that again…”

            “You’ll stay with me now, right?” Mia asked in a hushed voice.

            Ryo responded with a kiss on her forehead, “Of course, love.”

***

You go and save the best for last

***

            Mia smiled as she looked back at the pictures taken of herself and Ryo when they first started dating so many years ago. ’Who would have thought it’d happen that way?’

            She looked up from the photo album as she heard music begin to play, grinning she began to sing softly, “ ‘Sometimes the snow comes down in June, sometimes the sun goes ‘round the moon…’ “

            As she set the photo album down a single picture fell out. The picture had captured one of the happiest moments in Mia and Ryo’s life. Standing with the other Ronin Warriors and former Dark Warlords, along with Lady Kayura, Ryo and Mia held hands as they grinned on their wedding day.

***

You went and saved the best for last

***