Morning Sun

Once again, his hair and eyes flashed orange when her words hit, they hurt oh so much. The voice she spoke in was so calm and kind and yet it hurt Ryker so much, she was so much different. She wasn't the same woman that Ryker knew and loved so much, she was more like a young girl now. The pride and confidence was gone and the love had returned to a brewing emotion once again. Her eyes no longer looked the same beautiful and commanding way they did, so loving and yet independent as well. That was gone, her personality was gone, Yuri Nakayama was gone. She wasn't the same person at all and seemed more like a different person the longer her and Ryker locked silent eyes.

Yuri: Ahhh my head. Why does it hurt so much.

She turned over holding the back of her head. The blood and wounds from her death were gone but her pain was still there despite being residual.

Yuri: Ryker. Do you still carry that water crystal for your hand?

Ryker looked away and shuffled his hands around in his pocket but couldn't find what she needed. "I guess I lost it outside somewhere". He turned back to her but only looked at her elbow as he avoided eye contact.

Yurie caught on to this quickly and decided not to question as he did this to other people often. Her eyes were drawn to his chest and the shredded clothes he was wearing. "What happened Ryker? Why are your clothes so messed and why do I smell smoke"?

Ryker, again, looked away from her and brought his eyes to Zechariah who sat there in silence. He wasn't going to help now and Ryker was alone in this. Knowing this, Ryker turns to the people behind him and flashes a light of orange essence at the young girl Zechariah was healing. "Iyasu".

When he said this his right eye flashed orange and a tiny orb of light sent itself towards the girl. She winced and tried to avoid it but failed, this orange light hit right where the bone had broken and almost fully regenerated the remaining injuries.

Ryker: Help her Zechariah. I'll try to do this alone.

Zechariah looked up at Ryker with a disappointed and concerned expression. "Don't try, just do it. Good luck youngin".

Ryker: Alright, I'll do my best ol' timer.

Ryker turned back to Yuri and still didn't look into her eyes so he settled with her lips and just looked there as he spoke. "I have to ask you something Yuri and it's pretty embarrassing but answer it if you can".

Her eyes lit up for a second and then her face turned red for a moment. "What is it Ryker"? She looked straight at the scar on his hand when she saw a small object in it.

Ryker's eyes teared up when he spoke, "Do you remember what happened on your birthday? last year"? He grabbed her hand and held it with a firm grip.

Yuri: My birthday? Isn't today my birthday Ryker?

Both Ryker's eyes had filled up with tears and now, with these cruel words, they had flowed in a stream down his face. His eyes snapped shut and his right hand covered his right eye as a few words slipped out. "No Yurie, it isn't your birthday today".

The world around Ryker turned to a purple void again as tears of void covered Ryker's face. A voice tried to escape his chest but nothing came, his mind was breaking slowly and his heart was shattered again for the 4th time in his life he had lost everything once again right when life got good.

Envy: Looks like you're about to give up again. Pathetic child.

Ryker's arms were covering his crying face as the voice in his head echoed throughout the empty halls of his mind. His body felt limp even though his arms could move, his eyes wouldn't open not that he wanted to open them anyway. The warmth of his skin began fading away and his eyes became lifeless, the light had faded from them.

Envy: Huh? You actually died of grief from that, or is it the coma taking you.

The image of a girl formed in front of Ryker's lifeless body. Her body was covered in a white glow and the only distinguishable features of her were clothes and green hair. She slowly floated towards Ryker with a sad frown and now two green eyes had appeared on her face.

Envy: So. You're just faking it? How pathetic. I expected more from the Duke of Envy.

Ryker's slowly opened only to reveal his eye sockets had been filled in with purple miasma. His eye sockets that were now filled with this void liquid were leaking it down his face almost like tears, the center of his eye sockets had a red circle replacing his pupils as well. Envy, upon noticing this, stop making her way towards Ryker and raised her right hand.

Envy: So. Are you going to take my hand or are you going to be stubborn?

The red circle in Ryker's eye sat there, placed on Envy and it never dared look away. Ryker almost seemed scared if her but he didn't look even a little bit mad despite his terrifying appearance. Then, his right hand rose to his chest and covered his heart, a weak voice broke through his wall of silence as he spoke. "Why am I alive? Did I not just die"? His eyes were drawn down to his left hand that was covered in the purple tears from moments ago.

Envy's face revealed itself a bit more every time Ryker spoke, after a few seconds her mouth and nose were fully visible now and she had an impatient look on her face. "Guuh. My god you are so stubborn. Even after you just died of grief, you still have the audacity to somehow reawaken and then refuse my advances"?

Ryker: Just shut up already. You're annoying me.

The purple substance in his eyes was blown away by some strange green wind to reveal an orange tint in his eyes, they weren't quite as orange as his fight with Estrea. "If I'm stubborn for not wanting to kneel before a temptress like you then I'm fine with being the most stubborn guy in the universe".

Her eyes narrowed as a sinister grin formed across her face. "So I guess you wouldn't like the kiss of life from your very own green eyed monster? I'm sure you're aware of the side effects that could happen should I possess you". She turned her head to Ryker right hand where a small scar remained from an injury he had received a long time ago.

Ryker: Try me witch, I know how you work. You're just my dark side, You're manifesting yourself as my opposite right now.

She looked at his with a disturbed look, wondering how he could possibly know that. She began making her way towards him once again but he stuck his hand out and attempted to form a wind ball in it. When nothing happened, Ryker brought his back and spun around into a downward kick that separated some of the void around him. His face changed to a bit of hope and his excitement returned to him for a moment.

Envy: Does he really not know that he Returned? He has no clue how the Curse works does he?

Ryker looked down at his legs and flexed his arms for a second and then relaxed his entire body. His eyes turned back to Emerald green and the void the around him fell away at last.

Ryker: Looks like I win for now Envy. Guess we'll have to chat about that kiss later.

A small light appeared in front of Ryker from behind Envy, she seemed almost like she was stopping Ryker from reaching out to it but his body began to disappear the brighter it got. The more and more this light grew, the clearer the world on the other side got. It was the waking world, he was finally going to awaken after that horrendous trial. The only question left in his mind was whether or not he had passed or if he had just post-poned the real stress test for later.

Ryker: Guess I'll have to make up with Yurie after all of the stuff I just re-witnessed. She deserves better despite forcing herself to deal with me. Damn I wish she'd just live the life she wants instead of pitying me.

While he spoke he felt a warm sensation on his chest and another one on his left hand. Water covered his chest and his eyes burned a lot, he came to realize that his nerves had returned but he couldn't move his body despite feeling like he could.

Ryker: Then again, I'd never leave you behind anyway and I'll won't be too late ever again.