Notes:

…. Yeah… O.o… it's been.. Two years? O.O tries to avoid being killed Urk.. Really sorry. Last few years of high school is really, REALLY killing me. . Anywho.. Another chappie in Surpassing Time.. It might be a little short… But uh yeah. ;;;

"T-taka-kun?!"

"… iie… Ryu… watashi wa Ryu, Haruna…"

Surpassing Time

By: Silent Rain

Scroll Eleven

We will transcend time… And once more… We'll love each other again…

Having stumbled back onto the door, Rui scrambled to straighten herself out, the obvious change in the Taka apparent as his amber eyes flashed forebodingly. Stepping closer to the more than obvious petrified girl, his arms came up and slowly set them on either side of her, enclosing her before him and against the door. Her heart thumping wildly in her chest, all she could do was to defiantly stare up, her throat tightening as she dreaded what might happen next.

"Runa…" he breathed, leaning closer, "… missed you…."

"Taka, snap out of it!" she blurted suddenly, the sudden proximity between both beings alarming her.

"Runa…"

Just as his face was a breath away from hers, his eyes flickered back to the same amethyst shade they were supposed to be and promptly rolled back heavenwards. As though chains were wrapped about his being, he slumped to the ground, thankfully backwards rather than forwards and into her. Gasping, she managed to gather her wits and finally slouched against the door, warily watching the man's form on the ground. Regaining her composure, she crawled over to him and peered down towards his face.

"Taka…," she whispered, poking his cheek, "Daijoubu? Taka?"

A grunt escaped his person as his eyes finally fluttered open and stared into hers, steering his head away from her prodding touch.

".. Hai,' he snorted, his tone cold, "… arigatou…"

"Nan demo nai…" she replied, slowly backing away and standing, "Taka… what was-"

"I don't know and frankly, I'd prefer if it were not spoken off again…," he snapped quickly, not quite catching the hurt that flashed briefly across Rui's face.

"… alright." she whispered in reply, gathering her bags, ".. Thanks for helping me with me things."

And with that, she unlocked her door and swiftly stepped inside, closing it afterwards. With a 'click', he knew that it was also locked. Sighing, he remained in that position for awhile, back against the wall, hands covering his eyes. For some particular reason, he ached, not being able to close the distance. The boisterous voice that was usually heard in his head was quiet, small sounds that bear a resemblance to sobbing was what echoed through.

'So close… so close…' Ryu murmured, 'So close…'

'How could you do that?' he questioned angrily, Taka's hands balling into fists, 'How could you risk something like that?!'

'So… close…'

'Tch… you're not even comprehensible…,' he groaned, 'Look… I know you miss her… from what I gather in thought, the times you spent away from her before, you felt like you were dying, but… this isn't the way to go about doing things. Yes… it seems and most probably isforever since you last held her but-'

'SHUT UP! I had a chance, I had to take it! You wouldn't know! You can't understand! Just… shut up.'

'Fine.'

Finally standing, he shuddered at the thought of not being able to control himself and sighed, staring at the door before him. The door which held the girl that he, but not really himself, wanted. Or did he?

Stepping nearer to close the distance, he brought a hand up and slowly knocked on the door. Once, twice, and on the third tap he stopped, taking a step back. It felt like he stood there for a few hours before the lock clicked open and a pair of garnet eyes peeked out.

"… Y-yes…?" came the timid voice.

"Rui… Rui-chan… gomen for talking to you like that," he mumbled, doing everything he could to not meet her eyes, afraid that he won't be able to control himself again.

"T-Taka-kun…-"

"Iie, sorry for doing something like that… I.. can't explain or give a good enough excuse for what I've done but, I'm sorry," he continued, "Please, forgive me."

After a couple of seconds, she opened the door fully and stepped to the side.

"Would you like to come in…?" she asked, no longer holding the fear that was apparent in her eyes a moment back.

".. Thank you."

Stepping inside, she closed the door shut and turned to his back, an awkward silence falling between them.

"Ever get the feeling that you don't run or control who you are anymore?" he mused loudly, a forced chuckle escaping his lips, "… yeah.. I don't know what I'm talking about."

".. No.. I understand," she said, "Like… there's a different part of you… screaming to get out… clawing to break free… people usually call it inhibitions… or your conscience…"

"No… this is different," he sighed, turning towards her, "but I'm not crazy… I swear."

"I know, Ryu…" she smiled, her features calm, "You've always been silly like that."

"…. what…?" he gaped, alarmed at what came from her mouth.

A moment of silence reigned between them, Rui looking perplexed as she stammered an answer. Taka, confusion billowing in his mind, took a step forward and placed a gentle hand below her chin, tipping it forwards.

"You said 'Ryu'," he repeated, "But… I'm not Ryu… when have I always been silly… like that…?"

"I-I know… S-sorry," she faltered, trying to avert her gaze, "I d-don't know…"

Suddenly realization dawned upon him, a feeling of light headedness and elation swam in him and through out. She knew. She knew the entire time. She was conscious. She was there.

"You… know…?" he asked, a slight smile coming to his mouth. The question sounded… in all purpose and effect, stupid, but that seemed to be the only way to place it.

"That… I seem to be carrying someone else's memories…," she started, looking back up at him, "Yes. Emotions… yes. That you… You are the one they seem to call for… I… don't know."

"You're so familiar," she began again, her voice becoming quieter, "I don't know… If it's a memory… a wish so long ago… or… if it's me. Is it my emotions… is it theirs? I don't-"

Her words were silenced as his mouth descended on hers, the feeling of elation further mounting in his mind. He held the same questions, the same worries. Is it him, or him? But right now… the action seemed pleasing for both.

'This… seems… right,' she sighed to herself, her arms coming about his neck, 'Not… like Tomo… not like anything else… So familiar… so memorable… something from so… long ago… that I miss…'

Wrapping his arms against her firmly, he tilted his head to the side to deepen the kiss, her soft mouth welcoming him further.

'Maybe… it is me…' he mused, his head swimming with delicious sensation amplified from both him and Ryu, 'Maybe…'

'It is…'

'Nani…?'

'Those… are your emotions… This… is your joy… your happiness… your exhilaration,' Ryu whispered, 'Despite what you think… you hold none of my emotions. This is yours purely.'

'Mine…'

'… Runa… finally I can hold you again.'

"Taka,…" Rui whispered quietly, "Stay here tonight…?"

"Of course," he answered without hesitation, his mouth seeking hers again.

'I guess, Ryu,… we both get what we want,' he thought, 'If all her memories and mine would just come back, everything would be perfect…'

'No… to be a complete being… you need my emotions. I'm only half complete in you without that.'

'Where…?'

'Later… worry about it later. I already have a pretty good idea where it is…'

'Tomo… move quickly… you can't lose her.'

'I won't… I won't… But…'

'But what…?'

'… Do I honestly love her… like you said… or are you only telling me this…?'

'Of course you do… vengeance is what you need. Upon the man that took her from you before, upon the man that is taking her again. You need to take her back.'

'Need…?'

'You need to. Take her… You take away his everything…'

'… What…?'

'Just listen to me…'

I'll be with you soon… promise to meet me…?

End of Scroll Eleven