Fan Fiction ❯ The Goddess Sagas ❯ Emotionless Tears ( Chapter 8 )

Chapter 8; Emotionless Tears

" The next Town ahead is Lamoure, It's a few hours away, the light points across the water, Lamoure is known well for it's

large cruise ships. If we get on one we should be able to get to the ship port of Lemera in a day or so." Ryan informed as he

read the map.

"WOW!!" Mara squealed. " A cruise! Doesn't it sound so romantic, Rya?"

Ryan frowned at the cat-girl who now hung onto his arm, a sweet smile spread across her face.

Keith just made a disgusted sigh turning away from the two, crossing his arms over his chest bitterly.

"...I don't like water that much..." Carrie admitted ashamedly. "I'm a little scared of the ocean."

"Don't worry, I'll make sure you don't fall off the boat, and if you do I'll just fly down and pick you up." Mimi comforted.

"Thanks, Mi."

'Mi, that's a cute nickname.' Genki thought grinning. " A cruise sounds good, we can relax on board. We've been traveling so

far the past few weeks. Don't ya think so Squall?"

".......hn." The man-beast surged his shoulders, not really looking like he gave a damn.

"A cruise sounds fun, but we can't forget are purpose, we don't have time for such things, but since it's the only way to cross

the ocean I guess it'll be all right to lay back for a little bit, just as long as we don't get lazy." Ruto frowned.

" No wonder your not cute like me." Mara commented. "Always such a party-pooper."

Ruto glared at the cat. " I'm not !! I just think things over, unlike a certain kitty-cat that only cares about her looks and clinging

onto a poor boy like he was her cat-nip toy!"

"YOU!!" Mara growled, flexing her claws.

" Last time I looked!"

"Hey! Stop it, if we don't start walking now, we wont reach the town before the sun sets." Ryan pleaded.

"............" Squall stared at the two arguing girls with a strange expression plastered on his face. It looked like he was thinking `are these women or little arguing babies?'

"Yeah, they fight a lot." Genki agreed, hearing Squall's unspoken thoughts.

"They're acting like...infants..." Squall muttered to himself he added. ' Those two are two of the people who will help save the

world....does the earth stand a chance?'

****************************

"WHA--!?" The group gasped surprised as the man at the thicket booth repeated the price.

"For a 3rd class thick on the cruise boat it will cost 49,00000 gold, that is our cheapest offer, that does not include meals."

"ARE YOU CRAZY!? WHO IN THE HELL HAS THAT KIND OF MONEY!?!?" Ruto exclaimed, growling.

"I wanted to go on a cruise!!" Mara whimpered, sniffling.

"What a rip off!" Genki snarled.

"But it is really important that we cross the ocean!" Mimi and Carrie exclaimed together.

"Yes sir, we are trying to stop Taromecika, and..."

" Oh really!? Well I can see that we don't have to worry about the demon god anymore! I mean, hear we have a Cat, A tiny

fairy-half breed, a scrawny little girl, a ragged looking fighter, a boy who paints his chest, a boy who seems mute and you a

demon-half! Oh, and you also have a flat-breasted girl with you." The man sneered.

"GRRRR!!!" Ruto growled, her face blushing red with anger. "EXPLOSION!!!!!!!!!!!"

The mean old man and his thicket house went blasting up into the sky.

"Is that only spell you know?" Keith asked.

"....eh, yeah." Ruto grinned sheepishly.

"Excuse me?" A high pitched voice asked and then a thirteen year old girl with sliver hair wrapped up in two balls on the side of

her head, dark blue eyes and gold rimmed glasses, popped around them, studying each of them carefully.

"PERFECT!"

"????" The group stared at her confused.

"My name like, is Annette, I work on the cruise-ships entertainment department! We are like, in some trouble. Eight of our singers

got attacked by demons Taromecika sent and were like, uh, like killed. We need eight more singers or else our show will be

like, so, like totally ruined!!"

"Yeah, so?" Keith asked, as he and the others continued to stare blankly at the loud mouthed girl.

"Like, anyway, I so overheard you talking to that thicket boot person, and I know you want thickets but your obviously way,

like to poor to like, buy them! So If you eight sing for me tonight I'll give you free thickets!!!

The group turned to each other, their eyes shining. If only they knew the mess they were getting themselves into.

************************************

The girls were trying to pull on their costumes for their performances, but Ruto and Mara kept on arguing for a dress, and

Carrie and Mimi couldn't find anything their size. The boys were in another mess, all of their outfits were....well, let's just say is

part of the reason this story has an R rating. Not only that but were seriously bugged out about what they had to sing.

In the girls dressing room, they all had finally decided on what dresses to wear. Ruto had won the dress she and Mara had

been arguing about after using explosion on the cat.

She was dressed in a long white silk dress, the sleeves went short and loose, and a white see-threw cape drooped over her

shoulders, tied in the front with a large pearl broach.

Mara on the other hand scored something she liked better, an yellow kimono with orange cat faces over it. The top of it was

opened revealing most of her breasts, and was so tight around her waste, one could see the outline of her body perfectly.

"Heh-heh!! Rya will drop dead when he sees how sexy I look." The cat smiled.

Ruto shook her head. "Have you no dignity? Showing your breasts to perfect strangers?"

"Well at least I've got breasts to show!"

"GRRRR, Kitty-cat!!!" Ruto growled.

"Hey!! Stop it, we are going on stage soon!" Carrie frowned, looking at them from where she sat dressed in a little velvet blue

dress, with a large dark blue bow in front. Blue velvet bows were done up in her hair making her look like a cute little

Sunday-school girl. Unfortunately the song she had to sing was going to take a whole lot away from that look.

"Yeah, let's just calm down and go out and try our best." Mimi smiled weakly, dressed in a pink Sunday school dress, the end

of the skirt and the puffy sleeves had pink frills. Around the waist was a red ribbon, a large bow tied up in the back, and the

front had another large red bow.

Both of these dresses went long enough to cover them, but for the sizes of people it was originally meant for, the skirts on these dresses could of been classified as belts instead.

"Ok, but we'll continue this after." Mara warned, casting a gaze on Ruto who stuck her though out at the cat-girl.

************************************

Ruto glanced at her the clock, noticing that in 5 minuets the show would start. She really didn't want to go out and make herself

seem like salt singing the song she had to. She loved to sing but not songs like THAT, infact the only one who seemed to enjoy

what she got to sing was Mara. If only she didn't have to go up there...

"...." An idea clicked into her head and she slowly crept out of the room.

*******************************

The boys were setting quietly, reading the lines of their songs. Keith was dressed in a white trench coat, red crosses painted on

them, black gloves, he still wore no shirt, and had on the same black pants. Genki was pulling at his clothes shyly. Can't really

blame him, tight leather shorts, and a leather jacket, a torn shirt that displayed his belly-button was not something he would regularly wear.

Squall was wearing his regular clothes, a pair of black jeans, a white shirt and a leather jacket with white fur around the collar.

Annette said that his outfit had been already sexy enough. Ryan frowned, looking down at the leather outfit he had yet to put

on, there was no way in hell he was going to wear that. If only there was a way to get out of this...noticing that the rest of the

boys were occupied in practicing their songs he slowly crept out of the room.

*****************************************

Ruto was standing out on the docks, letting the wind blow her hair. She enjoyed the feeling so much, and sniffed the air letting salty scent fill her nostrils. How

she loved that salty smell, the ocean, it was...so beautiful.

"Ruto..."

The girl gasped turning around, spotting Ryan standing a few feet behind her. She felt her cheeks go hot as she blushed for a

reason she had yet to figure out.

"Ryan, hi, you decided to try and get out of the show too?" She smiled causally, Ryan walked up next to her, leaning on the rail

of the ship, as he gazed into the water.

"Yeah, you should have seen what they tried to make me wear."

Ruto giggled. " Well, I have a vague image in my mind."

Ryan gazed at Ruto and almost gasped at how she looked in the white silk gown.

"....so beautiful...." He breathed and then turned scarlet red as he realized that he had said the thought out loud. Ruto's eyes had

went big and her face like a strawberry, and her eyes lowered themselves at the water.

"T..th-thank you, Ryan, you look handsome yourself." Ruto stuttered shyly.

Both of them stayed silent but continued to blush. A small breeze picked up, a blew threw them, causing Ruto to shiver. Seeing

this Ryan put his arm around her, holding her close to him sharing the warmth of his body with hers.

Ruto stared up at him confused, blushing widely. "Ryan?"

The demon-half smiled weakly. "You don't want to catch a cold."

Ruto smiled back, leaning her head onto his chest, they stayed there together lost in warm thoughts and feelings.

*****************************8

"Welcome Everybody to like the performances of your like lifetime!!" Annette squealed over the microphone as she stood on

the stage.

"First for you gentlemen we have Miss. Mara Trail, a sexy young cat that will make you wild! Please enjoy her song titled 'A

cat's delicacy!!'

Soft Japanese music began to play as the curtains to the back of the stage opened, and Mara stood with her back turned to the

audience. An large umbrella blocked most of her body. After a minuet or two the music picked up bounce and Mara twirled

around, the male and some of the female audience began to cheer loudly as they watched Mara's breasts bounce along with her

movements.

" Fur so soft, make you scream,

My claws can cut you really deep,

Leaving a trail along your smooth skin,

That is as moist as my red little lips.

Take a taste of them, and tell me watcha think,

I swear you wont be disappointed,

When you take a taste of this kitten's delicacy. "

By now the majority of the audience were going wild, most of there eyes glued onto Mara large bouncing breasts.

"Oh baby, touch me,

oh right there, oh yes, feels good!

Don't mess around with me baby,

Take a taste of these sweet strawberries,

You don't have to take a big bite,

Just a small little lick of this cat's delicacy."

Mimi and Carrie were red in cheeks from shyness as they listened to their friends lyrics. There was a music interlude at this

point were Mara hopped around, her...'Talents.' Bouncing widely. Genki in the crowd with the other boys, was looking away

red in the face, being the shy type of boy he was, Squall stayed silent but muttered something about 'Shameless.' Keith looked

like he was lost in a trance and was drooling wildly.

Mara twirled and winked at the crowd, smiling sweetly and in her surgery voice continued to sing.

"I'm all laid out on the platter,

waiting for you to take a nibble,

Don't worry baby, I'm really filling,

Just like a really big tasty dessert,

So take a scoop into this ice-cream.

Oh yes baby, you can take your time,

I wont spoil if I'm left out to long,

But if you make me wait to unthaw

somebody else just might take a taste

Of this cat's delicacy

Oh yes baby, take a lick,

I'm really good,

my treats really pleasing,

and I'm low-in-fat too.

You want me sweet or unsweetened?

Chewy or crunchy? smooth or ruff?

I can be whatever your mouth desires,

I'm very flexible, Heh-heh!

So, baby, oh baby,

Peal back the skin of these oranges,

And take a taste of their juices,

You'll be lost in the sensation,

Can I take a bite of your banana?

Or would a small lick be better?"

"I'll never eat fruit again..." Carrie whispered to Mimi sounding grossed out, the fairy-half just nodded her head in agreement.

" Oh baby, feel this softness

of this sweet little peach,

all sticky and sweet, take a taste,

you'll really love that part of my delicacy

Oh yes baby! Try it all,

I'm sure you'll like

everything on your plate,

don't be shy, come on and indulge,

I don't mind, Heh-heh!

Oh baby, ahh, yes!

Take another bite,

Let you thong trail over the sweetness,

Savor the taste in your mouth,

Let it stay fresh in your mind forever."

Leaning over so the audience has a VERY clear view, she slimes slyly.

"So, baby, watcha think of this Cat's delicacy?"

She was reward with cat-calls, whistles and loud applause, and she walked off the stage and down with her friends in the

crowd.

"So what do you think Ryan thought of that?" Mara said proudly.

"Oh, Mara, didn't you know? Ryan skipped out on the boys, he must have been to shy to perform, he's not hear. Probably

hiding somewhere." Carrie informed.

"WAHHHH!?" Mara screamed, falling to her knees. "*Sniff*....just my *sniff* luck..."

"Come to think of it, I think Ruto has skipped out on us t---" Carrie was interrupted rudely as Mimi slapped her hand over the

girls mouth but the damage was already done.

"RUTO!? GRRRR....!!! She better not be putting any moves on my RYA!!!!"

"No, no, she's not, she was just a little stage shy...um, she's hiding in the bathroom." Mimi lied in an attempt to calm the enraged

kitty-cat down.

Annette ran back out on stage, her annoying voice squealed into the mike again.

"Wasn't that, like, great guys? Next we have Keith Soun, a very sexy man."

The women cheer and scream loudly at this.

"He well be singing, 'I can't help my charm.' Put your hands together girls."

*********************************

Ryan and Ruto who could hear all the singing going on at the stage from where they stood on the docks began to chuckle.

"I'm so glad we don't have to do this, all those songs are so...." Ruto shook her head.

"I feel guilty making them do all the singing, but, I'll get over it." Ryan grinned.

" Yeah even Carrie and Mimi sounded like hussies, gee, Annette could of at least told us that it was THAT kind of show."

"Even if it wasn't, I probably would have ran off anyway, don't tell anyone but I'm really shy."

Ruto looked at Ryan a little surprised. "Really? You don't look like the type that would be shy."

Ryan blushed, looking down at his feet.

Ruto smiled at him. "I think that's cute. I can't stand people who thinks that they are 'all that.' You know, never shy or

embarrass about anything, it makes it seem like they don't think they can make a mistake...And that even one else is

wrong....just like my father......"

Ryan looked at her surprised when he heard the bitterness in her voice.

"Ruto...?"

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to get all sour, but thinking about my father...."

"I understand, you both don't get along that well do you?"

Ruto laughed. " That is really putting it mildly. But anyway, Ryan, I know I shouldn't ask this, but....Well, I heard the others tell

me their last names, but you only say your first name...don't you have a family?"

Ryan sighed softly, and shook his head. "No, my sister and I was found orphaned by Miss. Lena, a teacher at the school. We

were brought their and raised to be nothing more then fighters, I never had much friends at the school, most people hate half

breeds, and demons...Mara was the first friend I've ever made when I came there, Keith was my first enemy."

" So you and Mara really go far back huh?" Ruto said quietly.

"Huh?"

"Nothing." Ruto blushed shaking her head. "But, I feel really terrible now."

"Why?" A confused Ryan asked.

"Hear I am, hating my father and you, without any family at all..."

"Ruto, It's all right. If he is so terrible to you, your not expected to love him, even if he's your father. Anyway, I'm not sure if I

knew my father I would love him anyway."

Ruto looked at him puzzled.

"Well.....I can't remember anything past the age of eleven, but my sister Parfait remembers a little bit about our mother....but not our father....he must have abandoned us. Parfait gave me a locket which has a picture of a woman inside. I bit this woman must be our mother." Ryan showed Ruto the picture, whom blinked surprised.

"Hmmm...I saw this picture before...I don't know who she is but...I saw a photo of a woman who looked like this in my mother's photo album, maybe she was friends with my mom. It's to bad mother is not still around....maybe she could of told you something."

Ryan looked thoughtful. "Really? Well, it's ok. I can only remember one thing about mom, and that would be the song she sang `Emotionless Tears' I heard it play a few times on the radio, perhaps mom was a singer...I'm sure she made up the song since on the radio it would say it was an old song and the singer was always just called...what was it... `Fire heart?' I think that was it."

"Fire heart? Yes I did hear mom mention a friend of hers who went by the name when she sang...but I can't remember much else. But I heard that song before, it is very beautiful...actually it's my favorite song. I'm sorry...if I brought up bad memories for you."

"It's all right Ruto." The demon-half reassured.

Another cold breeze blew causing both to shiver.

"I think we better go back inside, there's a door right over there, in the ships floor." Ryan pointed. Ruto smiled and began to

fallow him when the heel on the white shoes she was wearing broke and she stumbled forward. Quickly Ryan caught her into

his arms before she could hit the floor. She gazed into his face blushing wildly.

"Ryan, thanks for catching me, I'm so clumsy in shoes like these..."

They stayed still for a moment, but as if his hand had a mind of it's own he reached up to stroke a strain of hair behind her ear.

The action caused Ruto to become even redder.

" No need to thank me, I don't mind catching you when you fall."

"Then you'll be catching me a lot, because, I always seem to fall..."

Before either knew what they were doing they leaned over and their lips touched. They did not know how long the kiss last but

both pulled away from each other at the same time when they realized what they were doing.

"Ryan...?"

"Ruto, I..."

' What I'm I doing!?' Ryan's mind screamed. ' What the hell am I thinking? I...I...I never felt so confused before, I never felt this

way before, what is this feelings I have in my heart. It feels kind of how I feel for Parfait and Mara...but different

somehow...very much the same but totally different. But why Ruto, why do I feel this for Ruto...I...I...'

"Ruto I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to! I don't know what came over me, I just...I...Don't be mad! I didn't know what I was

doing!"

Ruto looked down at her feet sadly, then back up at him. "I understand...'

"Let's go down, it's getting colder." Ryan turned around and climbed down the stage, his eyes never meeting hers. Ruto began

to fallow him, stopping as a cold chill blew past her. She shivered, wrapping her arms around her, letting a lone tears fall from

her face that went unnoticed.

' It was foolish to believe for even a second...how could I be loved by someone when my own father hates me....What is so

wrong about me?........'

'Silly girl, you know very well love is only a thing that is made up so humans can find comfort believing in it. There is no such

thing.' The voice entered her head, it was he own thoughts but it seemed to speak to her as though it was another person. She

had always been like that, two voices forever battled in her head, trying to make all her decisions for her, one voice telling her

to do good things another telling her to do dark and scary things, as if she was nothing more then a mere-puppet waiting for

them to control. But anyway she whispered to her thoughts

"Your right...."

**********************************

Ryan was waiting at the bottom of the steps he had climbed down for Ruto, feeling like a total jerk.

'I shouldn't have done that, but I really don't even know why I kissed her let alone what to say to her. What should I do...I....I

have no idea....'

Ruto landed on her feet as she jumped down the last few steps on the latter. She gazed around herself, the place they were in

was made entirely out of wood, and had a large blue curtain in front of them.

"Eh....you don't think we're back stage do you?" Ruto looked nervous.

"....Eh....let's hope not..." Ryan froze.

**************************

"Ok everybody, now we have Ruto, her name means Princess of the sea and she will be singing ' Soulless Mermaid.' "

Annette's voice exclaimed in it's high pitched and squeaky way from behind the curtain.

"........" Ruto and Ryan stared over at each other, then began searching for a place to hide, but failed as the blue curtain rose,

leaving the two caught in the act of hiding.

Most of the audience began to laugh at the sheepish and embarrass faces of the two behind the curtain.

"Oh? There are our two little lost lambs, your like so caught, you didn't think you'd get out of like, performing did ya!?" Annette

accused.

Ruto and Ryan began to laugh nervously. "No, no of course not!"

************************

In the crowd Mara was taking a fit screaming that 'She was going to kill her!' poor Mimi and Carrie were being drug on the

floor as they tried to hold the enraged kitten back.

Genki was laughing and pointing at his two friends at the sheer comedy of it all. "If you were going to hide then pick a better

hiding spot then the stage!!"

'.....Ryan.....' Keith growled. ' What are you doing with Ruto, it is Mara that loves you........you took her away from me and

now your dumping her...if I'm right, I kill you.'

"If you weren't, like, hiding then, what are you like, doing!?" Annette squawked.

" A duvet!" Ruto exclaimed suddenly. "We decided to do a duvet, right Ryan?"

"Oh yes, of course!"

"Well flocks, let's like, see what this young couple...."

"HE'S MINE!!!!!!!!!!!!' Mara screamed but was ignored by Annette as she continued speaking.

"Let's see what this young couple has come up with, what's the name of the song?"

" Emotionless Tears." Ruto answered quickly. " Sorry, but it's the only song I know we both know the words too...." she

whispered. Ryan nodded his head, "I understand."

"Oh! Good we have a tape of the music, all right folks, like, let's put our hands together for Ruto and Ryan!"

"Ryan we'll sing in verses, I take first you take second, we'll sing the course together." Ruto instructed. The demon-half nodded

in agreement and then the music began to start.

" From the moment I met you,

I haven't had a clue,

About the secrets you hold,

Within your dying soul."

The audience was hushed and the beautiful voice that echoed all over the room, even Mara seemed stunned. Ryan took the

mike from her hands and continued with the second verse.

"I had always tried to get close,

It is you I wanted to be with most,

But each time you pushed me away,

Far from me it seemed you wanted to stay."

The two of them put their heads together so that both of them could be neat the mike as they sang the course in perfect

harmony.

"Emotionless tears is what you cry,

No feelings can be seen within your eyes,

It seems you don't even care what your crying for,

But I know that these tears make your heart sore."

Ryan handed the mike back to Ruto and her angel like voice filled the room once again.

" All the truth about you is hidden in lies,

Thinking about the past makes you sigh.

Why can't you bring yourself to talk to me

Instead of continuing to wonder lost in an endless sea."

" You act like your heart is made of stone,

And you tell me to just leave you alone,

I know it's not my business what you do,

But, oh, baby, I have fallen in love with you!

Putting there heads together once again they sang

"Emotionless tears is what you cry,

No feelings can be seen within your eyes,

It seems you don't even care what your crying for,

But I know that these tears make your heart sore."

Ruto took the mike into her smooth hands again.

"You always act like you don't care,

Why is the pain of kindness to much for you to bear?

Why don't you just open up your mouth,

And let all your worries and feelings out?"

"Why is it you wont trust me,

My love just may hold the key,

That can unlock your heart,

And then your life can start.

Ruto leaned close to Ryan to be able to sing along with him in the mike, but because of her broken heel, almost tripped, causing

Ryan to hold her shoulders to keep her still.

"Emotionless tears is what you cry,

No feelings can be seen within your eyes,

It seems like you don't even care what your crying for,

But I know that these tears make your heart sore.

Oh! Emotionless tears is what you cry,

No feelings can be seen within your eyes,

It seems like you don't even care what your crying for,

But I know that these tears make your heart sore."

Ruto smiled thankfully up at Ryan as she took the mike, but he could sense that it had been forced, and he could feel himself

becoming sad.

"Why must you always act so cold,

Can't you see this game is getting old,

If you think your acting cool,

I tell you, your acting more like a fool."

' Yeah, a fool was what I did act like, Ruto....' He took the mike back into his hands and forced himself to sing even though he

really did not feel like singing right now.

"Don't you dare play with my heart,

Stop trying to act so damn smart,

I love you so much, can't you tell

So please baby, stop putting me threw hell."

Both of them looked at each other sadly as they sang together.

"Emotionless tears is what you cry,

No feelings can be seen within your eyes,

It seems like you don't even care what your crying for,

But I know that these tears make your heart sore."

Ruto took the mike from Ryan stepping up in front of the stage as she prepared herself to sing the final verse. From up in the

higher seats a pair of blue eyes gazed at the two on the stage.

" Your eyes still show no emotion,

So others cause you no commotion,

I liked to believe that you were a good man inside,

But, It seems all this time, to myself, I have just lied..."

There were tons of cheers from the audience except from Keith and Mara or course and the others with them whose cheers

had been silenced with death glares from the above mentioned.

The blue eyes turned away, closing his eyes he let a tear fall from them.

" Lord Lounaru, what's the matter?" A woman wearing revealing red dress asked, her red tail lashing back and fourth as she

sipped on some wine.

"...Nothing Rosella, That song, just reminded me of...something..."

The woman, Rosella, looked at him oddly. " Your acting strange, want me to attack them now?"

"No. Change of plan, we're going to wait." Lounaru got to his feet and disappeared leaving a dumfounded Rosella gazing after

him.

'......Odd..........oh well, I'll just let our lesser demon take care of them.' Rosella thought before disappearing too.

**************************

Lounaru appeared back in his quarters at Taromecika's castle, removing his shirt he walked towards his tub. Resting his strong

body in the warm bath he let his mind ponder.

' Why is it...that song, reminds me so much of someone...So much....Could I have heard it from someone before I lost all of my

memories?'

"Lord Lounaru, I've told the Lesser demon on board the ship to attack, cause some sorrow, spread hate for Master

Taromecika to feed on."

Lounaru grinned his madness once again present. " Sounds good, we'll attack Ryan and his group later, after we find out where

the next Orb is located."

"Hikari is working hard to find the next orb. The lesser demons and monsters has already filled the land and is causing hate to

spread." Rosella informed. " Ryan and his group is stopping at the town of Lemera next, an orb holder may be there."

"Maybe, but we'll see. Let's just watch the excitement on the boat."

*********************************

Ruto whimpered once again as she was forced to put some iodine on the scratches which covered her face and arms. If your

wondering how she got them, well let's just say, Mara was pretty pissed.

"Stupid cat...Why is she so protective on him, can't she see he doesn't love me, and...I...I don't have feelings for him either.

The image of them kissing flooded back into her mind but she forced it away. Slapping herself across the face she cursed

loudly.

"Dammit, Just stop thinking about that!"

Looking at the red mark that was now across her face she sighed softly. " He doesn't care about you. He just kissed you

because...well, because men are pigs! They don't care about girls, he just kissed me because he found me pretty at the

moment, not because he liked me." Looking at her face in the mirror she sighed. "How in the hell could he find me pretty? I'm

so ugly...father always said so...."

Removing her skirt and shirt she walked towards the bath room and opened the door, a simple pink towel wrapped around her

body. The bathroom was large and was very nice looking but she did not have time to admire it as her eyes became huge and

she screamed a short surprised burst. Annette laid in the bathtub, unmoving.

"Annette?" Ruto slowly approached her and cocked her eyebrow confused when she saw that the girl appeared to be in a trance

and she was coated in a cold greenish substance.

"What happened to her?"

"I was like, what, like happened!"

Ruto spun around and gasped in surprise. " What the--!? Annette, but how can....huh?"

' Annette' giggled at the confusion on Ruto's face. " I'm, like not, like the real Annette! Let me like, show you my, like true

form!"

The form of Annette began to shift and slowly he transformed and grew into a form of a person that was entirely green, just like

the substance that was wrapped around the real Annette's body. The thing had huge claws but no face but yet somehow it

could still talk.

" A doppelganger!?" Ruto screeched taking a step back. "EXPLO---!!"

"Not, like, so fast!" The doppelganger exclaimed a sheet of greenish type plastic shot from it's fingers and wrapped it's self

around Ruto's thought in a thin sheet.

The girl struggled to remove the coating from her skin but it had to much of a strong hold and the Doppelganger was spraying

move all over her body by the second.

"So...cold..."

Before Ruto passed out the last thing she could see was the image of herself gazing down at her with a cruel smirk.

*********************************

Ryan was setting in his room of the boat which he shared with Squall. He sighed replaying the events of what happened with

Ruto in his mind.

'Why did I behave so stupid? What was I thinking?'

Turning to Squall who sat reading quietly he spoke for the first time in hours.

" Squall...?"

"Hn?"

"Can I ask you for some advice?"

"..........hnn."

"Well, you see Ruto...um, well, I kissed her."

".......hn?"

"And I have no idea why I did, I apologized to her but she still seems sad. I, oh, I feel like such a jerk. I wish I could travel

back in time and stop myself from doing that."

"Just pretend it never happened. Treat her as you would if you never kissed her. And whatever you do, don't let Mara find out," Squall finally said something besides Hn.

"....Hmmmmm...I guess I could give that a try..." 'But how can I ignore the strange feelings I get whenever I'm around her?"

"ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!"

Both boys jumped startled at the sudden scream.

"That sounded just like Mara!!" Ryan pointed out and in no time he and Squall was running to her part of the boat. By the time

they got there the other members of the group minus Keith was already gathered and screaming at Ruto.

Ryan looked to see what was going on and saw Ruto on top of Mara pounding the Cat girl in the face with her fists.

Keith came running towards the group, took one look at what was happening and screamed in anger, dashing forward to pry

Ruto off of the bleeding and bruised cat girl.

"Like, Let me, like go!!" Ruto ordered in a strange high pitched voice.

"What the hell is wrong with you!?" Keith hissed tightening his hold on Ruto, his finger nails digging into her flesh.

"Like, Ryan! Get this creep, like, off of me!" Ruto ordered.

"Ruto?" Ryan blinked confused but got a look and the beaten Mara on the ground and felt himself get angry.

"Ruto why did you do that to Mara!?"

"Because, she like, is so totally, like annoying! She, like, trying to, like, keep you for, like herself! But you love, like, me right?"

"HUH!?"

Ruto batted her eye lashes. "After, like, all, you like wouldn't have, like sang with me, if you didn't like, love me, right?"

"Is she on drugs? That doesn't sound like Ruto at all...." Genki asked.

" Ruto what the---!?" Suddenly he found himself being kissed by Ruto and she batted her eyes up at him. He pried her off of

him and tossed her to the floor.

"What are you doing!?" Ryan snarled.

Ruto scowled at him. "Why don't you, like, want to kiss me? Don't you, like find me pretty enough?"

"Ruto, your not making any sense!! Why did you attack Mara, I know you to fight a lot but, that gives you no reason to pound

her senseless." Ryan glanced over at Mara who Mimi began to heal.

" Yeah, Ruto, that wasn't very nice." Genki frowned.

"I like, so totally don't care! Come on Ryan, you love me right? Come on, give me a kiss." Ruto began to walk towards him,

her arms out stretched wanting a hug, Instead all she got was a slap across that face.

" Your not Ruto! Who the hell are you!?" Ryan demanded.

' Ruto' sneered. " How dare you like, slap me!? DIE!!"

The form of Ruto shifted and became that giant green monster

Ryan pulled out his T.P.R.A. and pointed at the creature as soon as he got over his surprise.

Doppelgangers: Creatures that are made out of Ice metal, they are able to take the form of their victims. Doppelgangers has no

true face of their own and so longs for one and will often steal the life of a victim. Victims of a doppelganger do not die or age

even after a thousand years for there bodies become wrapped in a thin layer of ice and are tranced out until the doppelganger

dies or becomes very weakened.

"Well, it explains a lot." Carrie commented, trembling.

"What have you done to Ruto!?" Ryan demanded.

"She's like, kind of like on ice right now." The thing had no face but they could just sense it smirking.

"You bastard!" Genki snarled. " You have no right stealing other peoples bodies! Take this!" Genki lunched forward, throwing

a punch at the creatures stomach. His fist made contact but it did not work out the way he planned. His fist hit into the icy

stomach and the sheets of green ice began to creep up his arm.

"Genki!!" Mimi exclaimed, looking up from her healing, her eyes wide in horror as she watched the ice metal cover Genki's

body and he fell to the floor, his eyes blank. The doppelganger now in Genki's form looked down at it's self and grinned

wickedly.

"Wow, I've, like, never been in like, a male body before!"

"Your creep!" Mimi cried. ' If only, if only I had the power to attack...but I'm so weak...'

Keith took another glance at Mara's body which laid battered and beaten and felt pure rage bubble up inside of him.

"YOU BASTARD! I WON'T ALLOW YOU TO GET AWAY WITH THAT! IN A BATTLE AGAINST FIRE AND ICE,

FIRE ALWAYS WINS!!" Glowing with a black energy Keith summoned a huge ball of fire in his hands, getting ready to throw

it, as if it were a baseball he shouted.

"THIS IS FOR MARA!!"

The group stared in shock as the blast hit into the doppelganger full force, the creature screamed, it's body began to burn and

roast in the hot inferno of flames. After a minuet the flames died down and the creature still in Genki's form fell to the floor.

"Ugh...why? Why me....?" The creature asked changing back into it's true form.

"You work for Taromecika don't you?" Keith asked coldly. "Let me ask you why, why do you attack us, what do you get out

of harming us? Huh? Praise from you god Taromecika or Lounaru?"

"No...All I...like...wanted...was..." The creature gazed up at them with it's faceless face. "an identity..... did not want to

die....without an....face..." The creature's head fell to the floor and slowly it's body melted away leaving behind an single tear of

ice. Who knows maybe that tear had even been it's heart........

**********************************

Ruto looked around herself as she floated in a void of darkness, all around her she could see pitch blackness, the only light was

a small aura that glow around her body.

"We're am I?"

"Your hear." A voice answered from the darkness.

"Where's hear?"

"Anywhere can be hear, hear is no where, yet hear is everywhere."

"I don't understand....What am I doing hear?"

" Your asleep right now, your comrades are looking down at you."

"Then this is a dream?"

" That, I guess you can say."

" Then my friends...the doppelganger did not harm them?"

" Friends? They are not your friends, they do not care about you, just like your father does not care."

"Your wrong...they care...they do...."

" If they cared why did the boy kiss you and then ran off? Why does Keith act so mean to you? Why does the cat girl fight with

you?"

" I....I don't know......"

" Marie-Maya has no friends, Marie-Maya stays alone, Marie-Maya only has herself."

"Please!" Ruto cried. "Please stop! I don't want to hear anymore! Who are you!?"

"I'm you."

Another Ruto appeared from the darkness, she looked just like the other except darkness seemed to roll off her very soul.

" You can't be me! I'm me, your not me!" Ruto protested. " I know you, you're the dark side of me that I try to keep hidden,

your not me, you so evil, you just can't be me! You can't be part of me!"

"Marie-Maya is Marie-Maya."

"NOOO!!!" Ruto screamed, falling to her knees covering her ears. "I'm not you! I'm me!"

"You are me."

"LIES!! LIES!!"

" You can't deny who you are...and then the day will arrive when you will awaken."

********************************

Ryan sat by Ruto's bed worriedly, Genki and the real Annette awoken awhile ago and it turns out that it had been the

doppelganger that had gotten them onto this boat in the first place. However Ruto still hadn't opened her eyes. She stirred and

moaned in her sleep and Ryan tried hard to wake her from her nightmare but no matter what he did he did not get a response.

"Ruto, come on, wake up. I'm sorry for what I did on the boat earlier.......I wish I could just make it up to you..." Ryan held

onto her hand gazing at her sadly.

******************************

" I feel such warmth..." Ruto thought. "Ryan? Is it coming from him?"

"He does not love you, no one loves you."

" Why should I lesson to you? Everything you tell me, it just seems so shallow!"

" In any case it is you that is saying it."

" You always say 'You.' If it was true what you say, wouldn't you say 'Us?' "

".........."

Ruto began to feel the darkness slip away and slowly she began to open her eyes. The first thing she noticed was Ryan setting

beside her, holding her hand.

"Ryan?" she whispered hoarsely.

"Ruto!"

"Ryan, let's just forget what happened on the boat docks all right...I don't want it to get in the way of our friendship...Ryan, thank

you for staying beside me...no one has ever done that for me before."

"Ruto...I promise I'll never leave your side when you need me. Never."