HeartBeats - Ruka Sarashina (Kanojo, Okarishimasu)

"RUUUUKA!"

I felt my heart race as I watched Ruka slip off the edge of the raft. The sound of her falling into the sea echoed through the afternoon, the sound mixing with the crash of the water, and the silence that followed was deafening. I reacted before I could even think, jumping into the sea without hesitation. The icy water hit my body like a wave of electricity, but my mind was only on one point: Ruka.

When I opened my eyes underwater, I struggled to see something in the darkness of the sea. As I dove deeper, the pressure intensified. Finally, I caught sight of Ruka's figure slowly sinking, her hair floating around her as if they were part of the water. She was pale, her eyes closed, and I felt anguish take over me.

I swam as fast as I could, reaching out until my arm reached hers. Until my fingers finally closed around her hand, and I managed to pull her closer to me, wrapping my other arm around her in a protective embrace. That's when I suddenly realized that everything was... still.

Time froze.

The movement of the small bubbles around us, the rippling of the water... everything was suspended in an instant. - "Prelest is going to kill me...." - I looked around nervously, trying to understand what was happening. My heart was beating faster, not only from panic, but also from the surreal feeling of being trapped in that moment outside of time.

Suddenly, a familiar presence appeared ahead, it was Prelest. Floating in the water as if he were on dry land, the spirit looked at me with an enigmatic look, but this time, he seemed more serious than ever.

"Ryo." Prelest spoke, his voice echoing around, reverberating in the immensity of that frozen space. "What have you done!"

My nervousness began to become increasingly apparent. - "I-I didn't do anything! It happened suddenly!

He looked irritated. - "Get her out of here, now!"

I looked at Prelest anxiously. - "I will! But you have to help me!"

Prelest nodded, keeping his tone solemn. - "Look, don't make me lose my temper."

I remained silent, still holding Ruka tightly. Looking at her face, so close, made me feel a pain I didn't even know I could feel. - "I'm going to get you out of here."

"Now, Ryo!" - Prelest murmured, as if encouraging me - "let your heart guide you back."

With all the strength I had, I pulled Ruka up, while the glow on her chest lit the way through the darkness. I felt the water around them warm slightly, a sign that the barrier was beginning to dissolve.

Slowly, the movement around them began to accelerate, the air bubbles resuming their flow. The force of the sea pressed down on us again, but now I felt invincible. The light in my chest expanded, enveloping Ruka in a protective sphere.

I saw movement in the waters of the ocean. shadows of the sea. The mocking fish, the one that had already messed with me and tested me before, suddenly appeared on the surface, floating with a mocking smile on its face.

"Did you really think it would be that easy?" - The mocking fish swung its tail, circling us with a provocative glint in its eyes. - "Good luck... you're not alone." - it said, its voice filled with a strange malice.

"You damn thing!" - My heart raced again, and I held Ruka even tighter, feeling the sea around me begin to change. The waters, once calm, began to darken to an almost black tone, as if filled with a deep shadow. The waves grew larger, becoming increasingly threatening, and I felt as if something was watching them from the depths.

I glared at the fish. - "What do you mean by that? What's happening now?"

The fish just laughed, disappearing among the dark waves. - "Good luck... I think you'll need it."

As the fish disappeared, the darkness seemed to spread even further, covering the horizon and bringing a strange feeling of emptiness.

I knew that this presence was not something simple, and that this was yet another test, perhaps even more difficult than all the others I had faced. I felt Ruka's hand squeeze mine, and even without understanding exactly what was happening, I looked at her with determination.

"I won't let go of you, Ruka..." - I said firmly. - "I won't let anything hurt you."

Promising to face whatever came, I prepared myself by focusing on any sign of the creature or threat that might emerge from that darkness.

From the bottom of the sea, a mysterious light appeared in the distance, pulsating with an almost hypnotic intensity. Even in the darkness around it, it emitted a glow that seemed to call me.

"What a bright thing..." - I knew I needed to protect Ruka, but that light drew me in almost irresistibly, as if it were the key to escaping that dark abyss.

"Hey, Ryo, be careful!" - Prelest's voice echoed in my mind. - "That's no ordinary light..."

I hesitated, staring at the light that now seemed to be moving, swaying from side to side, like bait attracting its prey. Prelest's warning woke me up from my momentary trance. When I looked again, I realized that the light was connected to a dark and threatening silhouette.

What had previously seemed like a simple light now revealed something sinister. - "Ryo, it's the Sea Devil Fish. Be careful when you get close to that light!" - The creature held the light attached to an extension of its head, moving it intentionally to attract anyone who was unaware.

The tension increased, and I felt Prelest's claws tighten on my shoulder, as if trying to prepare me for what was to come. - "Ryo, this monster uses light to attract its victims." - Prelest whispered. - "It wants you to get close enough to attack."

"I understand..." - I took a deep breath, feeling the cold of the sea around me and the safety of Ruka's embrace in my mind. I looked at her, who was still unconscious. I couldn't let fear consume me now.

"Don't let go of me, Ruka..." - I said with a firm and protective voice. - "I'm going to get you out of here."

I focused all my energy, making Prelest's strength flow over me, feeling the power ignite within her chest. Prelest's figure materialized next to me, with a serious and intimidating expression, her eyes fixed on the Sea Devil Fish.

The fish began to move faster, propelling its gigantic body towards us with frightening speed, causing the sea to agitate violently. I knew I needed to be quick and precise. I held Ruka's hand tightly, feeling her calming presence.

When the Devil Fish approached, I activated an energy bow that appeared in my hands, projecting an arrow made of the same light. With a deep breath, I aimed straight at the monster's light, focusing on the only point that seemed vulnerable. In a decisive second, I fired the arrow, which flew quickly and accurately.

The arrow hit the light on the Devil Fish's head, exploding in a flash that scattered sparks across the sea. The creature let out a guttural scream, its giant body writhing as it tried to get away. Not missing the opportunity, I tugged on Ruka and we began to swim away from the injured creature.

Gradually, the darkness around us began to dissipate, and the environment became clearer until the sea around us became calm and silent again.

Still panting, with a shiver down my spine, I realized that the nightmare was far from over. Around us, several lights began to appear, floating like treacherous beacons in the dark sea. And then, a terrifying sight unfolded: more Sea Devils emerged from the depths, their monstrous forms and their sharp jaws gleaming in the dim light.

Each creature carried a mesmerizing light attached to its head, swaying from side to side like a dangerous and irresistible siren song. The glow, which initially seemed to be a simple backlight, revealed itself to be a lethal trap, and now the sea was full of them, like a legion of relentless predators on the prowl.

"Damn it!... When I find that fish, I'm going to fry it on the grill!" - My body began to tense as I realized how surrounded we were.

I squeezed Ruka's hand, feeling the fear growing around me, but determined to protect her. Beside her, Prelest materialized in a more solid form, his expression demonstrating the gravity of the situation.

"Ryo," Prelest said, in a serious tone. - "These are no ordinary enemies. They are attracted to energy... and the desire to feed on that light is what makes them so dangerous. We need to find a way to get you and Ruka out of here without attracting more attention."

I took a deep breath, looking at the creatures swimming around us. I knew that one false move could mean defeat. Each Sea Devil was huge, and the way they moved indicated that they were used to hunting. They swam around, keeping a calculated distance, as if they were waiting for the perfect moment to attack. - "What should I do...."

Ruka, standing firmly by my side. I held on tightly and muttered softly: "Let's get out of here together. I won't leave you here..."

I thought quickly, trying to formulate a plan as the creatures slowly approached. I remembered the energy arrow I had used before, but I realized that it wouldn't be enough against so many. I needed something more powerful, a way to distract the creatures so they could escape without being devoured.

Suddenly, an idea came to my mind. - "Prelest!" - I said, still holding Ruka's hand tightly. - "What if I used my energy to create an explosion of intense light? Something that could temporarily blind these monsters?"

Prelest thought for a moment, weighing the risks, but nodded with a determined look. - "It could work. But it will require a lot of energy, and you will need to be quick to take advantage of the distraction."

I closed my eyes, focusing on her chest, feeling the energy within her pulse. I gathered it, visualizing a sphere of light forming in her hands. The energy intensified, the light growing larger and larger until it seemed impossible to contain it. Finally, I opened my eyes and threw the sphere upward, where it exploded in a blinding flash that illuminated the sea around them.

The Sea Devils reacted instantly, averting their gazes from the intense light and writhing in discomfort. Seizing the moment, I pulled Ruka and swam with all my strength, trying to gain distance before the creatures regained their vision.

We swam and reached the surface, but I felt the urgency burning inside me. The sphere of light continued to shine brightly, buying me a few precious seconds.

Finally, we emerged near the raft, panting and exhausted, but still clinging to each other. I looked down and saw that the creatures were scattered, disoriented by the explosion of light. I knew they had barely escaped, but they were not yet completely safe.

With a tremendous effort, I carried her to a large rock that emerged in the middle of the sea and laid her down gently, watching her pale face as she tried to make sure she was okay. - "Please, Ruka... c-come back..." - I quickly checked her breathing, feeling relieved when I noticed that she was alive.



Exhausted and out of breath, I felt my strength abandon me. Unable to stay standing, my body slid to the edge of the rock, my body lying on the ground as I rested next to Ruka.



The sea breeze and the sound of the waves were the last things I heard before I lost consciousness, finally succumbing to the extreme fatigue of the battle and my desperate attempt to save Ruka.

Silence took over the place. For a few moments, everything seemed still, as if the sea and the sky were in respect for my effort to protect the person I loved.

_______

I woke up slowly, with my head throbbing and my vision blurry. The first thing I saw when I focused was Ryo's face next to me, pale and still, his body fallen on the damp stone. - "R-Ryo?! RYO!"



It took me a moment to understand what was happening, but when I finally realized the gravity of the situation, my heart sank. Desperate, I approached him, holding his face with my trembling hands and calling for him, my voice full of fear and despair.

"Ryo-chan.. please, wake up..." - I whispered between sobs, the tears starting to flow without me being able to control them. The idea of losing him was unbearable. I felt a crushing pain in my chest, a mixture of fear and guilt for him having risked so much to save me. - "Please... don't leave me here..."



As I sobbed, time seemed to slow down, and, when I looked up, I realized that everything around me had frozen. The waves were still, the drops of water suspended in the air. Suddenly, a familiar figure appeared beside me: Prelest, with a soft and understanding expression. Her presence, strangely comforting, gave me a small spark of hope, despite the pain in my chest.

"Prelest, isn't it?..." I murmured, not knowing what to say. "Please... I don't know what to do... he... he saved me..."

Prelest approached, placing a delicate paw on my hand. "Ruka, what you feel for him is true, isn't it? And now it's your turn to help him. There is a way... but you need to act with your heart."

I looked at Ryo, I couldn't leave him there. "I'll do anything for him, anything!..."

Prelest nodded softly, with a slight smile. - "Then, trust your feelings. A kiss... a kiss with all the sincerity of your heart may be all he needs to wake up."

Prelest's words resonated deeply within me. - "A-a kiss?" Without hesitation, I leaned over Ryo, caressing his face with a trembling hand, while I observed him attentively, recording every detail of him.

#05

I closed my eyes and, with all the love and gratitude I felt, I kissed Ryo softly, letting my tears fall onto his face, like a silent plea.

As I pulled away, I still kept my eyes closed, as if praying that the gesture would be enough. For a few moments, nothing happened, and silence enveloped me, increasing my agony. But then, I felt a slight movement, and when I opened my eyes, I saw Ryo blinking, his eyes slowly focusing on my face. He coughed, taking a deep breath, and looked confused for a moment.

"R-Ruka...?" he murmured, a little dazed. I let out a nervous laugh, mixed with sobs, hugging him tightly, unable to hold back the tears of relief. "You're back, Ryo... I-I thought... I thought I'd lose you forever." - I whispered as I hugged him tighter.

After the relief of seeing Ryo recovered, the mood between us quickly changed to something lighter, although there was still tension in the air. Ryo looked out of the corner of his eye, still recovering, and teased me, crossing his arms with a slightly smug expression.

"You know, Ruka..." - he said - "I can't leave your side for a second without a life or death situation happening. You've been giving me a hard time lately, huh?"

I raised an eyebrow in indignation. - "Oh, of course, as if you weren't to blame for this! I didn't ask you to jump into the bottom of the sea without thinking!"

"Sorry, I was too busy saving you, you stubborn girl!" - Ryo replied, speaking seriously, while making a provocative face. - "You should be grateful!"

"Oh, really? Well, I'm the one who saved you now!" - I said, pointing at myself, trying to prove my point. - "I guess that makes us equal, then."

We stared at each other for a moment, our eyes sparkling with concern and relief, before we ended up laughing. On impulse, Ryo pulled me closer, looking into my eyes with unexpected softness. Noticing the gesture, I softened my expression and wrapped myself in a cozy hug.

"Thank you..." - He murmured, sincere, gently stroking my wet hair. I smiled, looking away for a moment, but soon looking back at him.

"Thank you..." - I replied and without another word, we got closer until our lips met. The kiss was tender, full of all the feelings that had passed in the last few hours. The fear, the relief, and, above all, the genuine affection we had for each other.

When we pulled away, we were smiling, and Ryo lightly touched my nose, saying with a laugh: "See? It's a good thing I'm always close to you to save you..."

I just rolled my eyes, amused, but with my heart warmed.

Ryo's smile soon gave way to a deeper and more intense look, and he held my face gently, getting closer again, but this time with a more passionate intention. My heart began to race and I held my breath for a moment, feeling the heat rise up my face, while my eyes fixed on Ryo's, I looked with a mixture of affection and desire.

Without hesitation, he pulled me into a more intense kiss, completely enveloping me in that moment. Even though I was embarrassed, I responded with the same intensity, surrendering myself to his touch, while my hands found their way to Ryo's shoulders, holding on tightly, as if I didn't want to let go.

The soft sound of the waves around us seemed to fade away, and nothing else mattered but the warmth we shared and the feelings that finally overflowed.

When we pulled away, just a little, still close, Ryo brushed his lips against mine for another second, as if he wanted to keep that moment forever. I opened my eyes more slowly, my breathing quickened, and smiled, as the sea wind blew around us, wrapping us in a calm and peaceful atmosphere.

"You really know how to surprise me, Ryo-chan..."

End of chapter 11