"What took so damn long, Baka?" Megumi smiled through exasperated breathes and stray tears, nearly breathless from a flood of memories.
Ryo looked at the girl like he always did, a mixture of a half smile and a scowl on his rugged, tired face. "I could say the same thing about you, Runt."
"Would someone please explain what's goin on here?" Foxi said with a tray of beverages, emerging. "One moment I'm takin' ordas, an' the next, there's a freakin' dog pile with Gumi cryin'!"
Everyone gave a laugh, while the two destined ones merely smiled at each other, forgetting about the world around them.
After a celebratory feast of dinner, dancing, and some drunken poetry, the two heroes had some quiet time before sleep. Megumi sat the edge of the bed that had been hers for the past few months. Ryo took his place by window, a habit that never left his side even without Megumi near him.
"I'm not dreaming, am I?" Megumi pondered aloud.
"No, Runt." Ryo said.
"Not hallucinating?"
"Nope."
"This isn't some trick of Tsunario's?" She giggled nervously, waiting for the curtain to draw, revealing some sort of trickery.
Ryo shook his head, staring at the night sky.
She sighed. There was a sense of relief, her shoulders relaxing for the time being.
"Where have you been all this time?" Ryo asked.
"It's hard to say, even I can't believe it."
"Try me."
"I was in a brothel at one point, it was scary. Woods, caves, towns with no names, a boat with a man, here. I was lucky to end up here."
He shifted in his seat, looking at Megumi.
Her emerald eyes seemed to glow in the candle light as she spoke of the café. "I was lucky, Ryo. These people welcomed me, not knowing who or what I was. They treated me like I was one of them, like family. Even without my memories, I had never felt so at peace, so happy."
Ryo's shoulders dropped at the sound her happiness. He only uttered, "that so?"
"I'm grateful, I could have ended up anywhere on this world." She glanced up. "That included you too, Baka."
He stood and nodded. "Well, better get some sleep. We leave early tomorrow."
"Can't we stay one more day?"
"We've already lost a lot of time, Megumi. There's no telling how far Tsunario has advanced."
"You're right."
"We can come back when it's over, alright?"
Megumi nodded with down casted eyes.
He turned to leave. As he advanced toward the door, Megumi stood up to grab the end of his sleeve. He stopped, and looked over his shoulder. He looked at her, her head hung low, her body trembled.
"Don't go." Megumi said.
"Scared to sleep alone, Runt?"
She only nodded, a nod that neither agreed nor disagreed with him. A nod that didn't care what he said, just as long as he chose to stay. He returned to his place at the window, and she to the bed. She climbed under the sheets and laying her weary, memory filled head down. She moved to one side, stared at the empty space in front of her.
"Ryo?"
"Hmm?" He glanced away from the stars, looked towards Megumi.
"Do you have to be in your usual spot? Tsunario, as far as Tsunario is concerned we're still separated. There's no need to watch tonight, right?"
"Then where am I supposed to sleep, Runt?"
Her eyes innocently looked at him, to the bed, then back at him. She swallowed hard, nervous to verbally ask him.
He scratched the back of his head. "Well, Runt?"
"H-h-here."
"I'm already here."
She shook her head. "Baka!"
"What?" He was starting to become frustrated.
"Here," she stammered out. "In the bed." Her face became hot under the covers.
"Oh." His face too warmed. "Are you sure?"
She nodded.
"Ok..."
He sat on the edge of the bed and took his boots off, before lying down next to her. He kept his back facing her. "Good night."
"Night."
Neither could really sleep. Megumi, nervous, hoping that this wasn't some dream. Ryo too wondered the same possibility, but was more certain of the reality than her. His anxiety stemmed from her presence, so close to his own. Megumi rolled close to him, her forehead rested on the middle of his back.
"Ryo?" She whispered.
"Yeah?" He said, trying to remain calm.
"Just seeing if it was still you."
"Still me."
"Ok."
Silence fell between them, save for the breaths in the darkness.
Eventually, Ryo could feel his side ache and one of his arms falling asleep. He rolled over to ease the pains in his body. In the dim light of the moon and candles, he caught a glimpse of Megumi sleeping. She looked at peace, safe with him by her side. A strand of hair had fallen in gently on her face as she slept. Thinking it was nuisance, Ryo reached out to move it. His fingers gently touched the strand, careful not to touch her skin.
Megumi stirred, created a funny, furrowed expression. A smile stole across his face, watching her dream. As if something took control of him, he leaned in close, his breath touching her forehead and placed a tender kiss. As much as he did not want to say, he did in fact miss her so. Both were too proud to say it to each other's face. He moved closer to her, cradling her in his arms, resting her head on his shoulder. A deep sleep keep Megumi in dreams as Ryo moved her.
His face rested in her raven, silken hair. He whispered to the strands, hidden under his breath, "I'll never let you go again." Upon uttering those words, sleep found him, resting his weary eyes and body. Months of searching for her, had finally come to end.
Warmth found Megumi, waking her from fanciful dreams and ancient nightmares. She stirred in Ryo's arms, completely unaware it was him. For moment, she had forgotten she had invited him to bed with her. She did not want to wake the sleeping boy. She moved her head silently, gently. He stirred and moved his head away in his sleep. Megumi smiled, noticing how cute and calm he looked asleep. If only he was like that all the time, she thought. But then again, it wouldn't be half as fun.
As she watched him sleep, without realizing it, she leaned in close to him, her breath whispering on his lips. She placed a kind kiss on his lips. "Thanks for not giving up on me," she whispered.