~Emiko~
"Any questions?" Ryuu asked me after he had explained a lot.
I looked over at Ryuu and couldn't help noticing how much older he looked. How much more mature he seemed. A lot had happened, a lot that changed us. Is that what had happened to Nino? He sure seemed and acted a lot older than he was. He had seen a lot of hardships. As had I. But, I didn't want to grow up too fast. I wanted to take in everything.
If a week ago, Ryuu had told me all this, I was sure I probably would have freaked out a bit, but after everything I had just been through, I was not the least bit surprised. Startled about it all, sure. But, I wasn't weirded out at all.
I shook my head, "Not really. I understand everything now. It all makes sense. Elle's vision and everything." I shrugged, then felt completely embarrassed. "I guess I sort of jumped down your throat for nothing, huh?"
He shrugged his shoulders, "Nah. I understand why you did."
"But that doesn't make it right. I mean, I should have trusted you enough to not have to worry. I should have been able to just let it go and let you tell me everything when you were ready. I owe you a big apology," I felt a little pitiful with how I was acting. I realized I had been a total wreck for a few days now. I mean, I was soft now. I wasn't the hard-headed Emiko anymore. And I wasn't sure I liked that.
"Then I except your apology," Ryuu grinned at me. "And quit stressing about everything. It'll be ok."
"We have to lay down a ground rule. No getting into my head. I want to be able to surprise you whenever I want. I don't want you knowing every little thing that runs through my head," I told him with a smile.
~Elle~
When I opened my eyes, I found a white ceiling staring back at me. I groaned when the pain in my head thumped to the rhythm of my beating heart. Sitting up slowly, I surveyed my surroundings, trying to remember what had all transpired.
Oh right. I had jumped in, hoping I could save Aiba and that other girl. I had felt so useless, so helpless. I could no longer deny the existence of demons and the like. I just needed to accept that there was strange abilities inside of me as well. I would need to harness them. If I did that, I could really be of use in a fight. Not like the one with all those Gods and demon lords or whatever.
I have never felt that weak and powerless in a long time. Throwing my feet over the side of the bed, I headed for the door. I wanted to see if Aiba, Ohno, and that other girl were ok. I glanced into the room right across from mine and saw Aiba.
I grabbed the door handle and let my self in, catching a glimpse of my reflection. I looked a fright! Jeeze, I hoped Aiba didn't laugh and my bed head or the tiredness that reflected back from my eyes or the bags under them. I sighed and pulled a smile forth.
"Hey!" I called to him as I hurried to the chair beside his bed. The headache was not getting any better. "How are you feeling? You looked pretty bad out there. Are you ok?"
Aiba shrugged. "Ya, I guess so."
I decided I would need help to get as strong as I wanted and Aiba seemed to best candidate. I didn't want to talk to Emiko. She had enough on her platter. "So, uh, I wanted to ask you a question."
"Shoot," he looked down at me expectantly. "I, uh, felt pretty useless in that fight earlier." When he was about to say something, I gave him a look that stopped him short. "I don't ever want to feel that way again. Is there, uh, anyway you can train me, or something, to get me strong, like you?" I asked.
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