AN: Occurs right at the end of the series (I mean literally. Like, *SPOILER* the second Maron goes to open her mailbox.) So if you haven't seen the anime or read (or "read" ^-^) the manga, don't read this story! Well, you can but that's not the point XD.

Note: I don't know exactly how long after Maron gets a letter, but we're going to pretend it's a few months later. K? K ^-^

Kamikaze Kaitou Jeanne doesn't belong to me XP. Only my KKJ plushies do! ^-^ ::glomps plushies::

Enjoy!

~*^-^*~

            "Again, Maron?" Miyako sighed as she watched Maron make her way towards her mailbox. Maron nodded and waved her off. Miyako watched silently as her friend went to the wall of small metal boxes. It was hard to believe that Maron was Kaitou Jeanne. Almost too hard. Miyako had found out not too long ago, and it still made her feel uneasy. Her best friend was the kaitou she had been trying to capture. A gasp shook her out of her thoughts.

            "Maron?" Miyako walked forward, adjusting her school bag. She was vaguely aware that they were going to be late, but right now Maron held her attention. Maron still had her back to Miyako, but she clutched something tightly to her chest. Miyako's eyes widened.

            "Did they…? Is it?" Miyako slowly inched closer to her friend and peered over her shoulder. A floral envelope with a small heart sticker was held tightly in Maron's grasp. Maron nodded, her eyes filling with tears. She hadn't been forgotten!

            "Well? You've been waiting years for this! Aren't you going to open it?" Miyako could barely contain her excitement. Maron's life was beginning to look up. Miyako knew of her secret, there had been no more demons (or so Maron claimed. Miyako still couldn't figure out what a demon attack was exactly. She only knew she fell victim to it twice.) And to top it off, Maron had Chiaki.

            Miyako smiled wistfully. Part of her still ached for Chiaki to accept her, but she refused to listen to it. Maron was truly happy with him. He'd been there for her when she needed help. Miyako had sensed Maron's uneasiness about dating, but Chiaki was everything Maron could hope for. Maron had been silent for too long, Miyako realized. She moved right next to her. Maron had read the letter and by the look on her face, she didn't like it.

            "Maron? What's wrong? What does it say?" Miyako placed a hand on her friends' shoulder. Maron didn't react. The letter was still held in a white-knuckled grip, but her hands were trembling now. Miyako's eyes softened.

            "Maron?" She stepped completely in front of Maron now, but Maron wouldn't look at her. She looked at the ground, eyes slightly misted. The well developed wall kept the tears from spilling down her cheeks.

            "Maron, you're scaring me." Miyako whispered now. Did she truly fear for her friend over a letter? Yes. Ever since Miyako knew her, Maron had been waiting for some form of communication from her parents. Only the hope of receiving that kept her going all these years. And now that she'd finally gotten it…

            "Miyako…." Maron finally looked up, tears brimming her eyes. Miyako opened her mouth to say something, anything, but no words came out. Maron let out a sob before throwing her arms around her friend's neck. Miyako stood, paralyzed. What did you do in this situation? Miyako didn't know. Maron had been her only real friend, and even she never opened up to her. Or cried like this. God, had she ever seen Maron cry? Slowly, hesitantly, she wrapped her arms around Maron's back and held her.

            "Shhh." Miyako did what her mother used to do when she was little and used to cry. She just held her. The lobby was empty, Maron's sobbing echoing in the small room. Gods Miyako wished Chiaki were here. But he wasn't, now was he? He had to go to school early for some club meeting.

            "Miyako?" Maron's voice was small and choked. Miyako pulled back to see her friend's face. It was flushed and wet with tears. Miyako knew before Maron even said anything and nodded.

            "I'll go to school and tell them you're not feeling well. But when I get home I expect an explanation. Got it?" Maron nodded and sniffled, forcing a wavering smile. It wouldn't fool anyone. Miyako smiled and waited until Maron had went in the elevator before turning and leaving. She walked to school alone. It was already too late to run. Miyako had almost never walked to school alone before. Maybe once or twice. Was this emptiness what Maron had always felt? Even when surrounded by her, Chiaki, and Iinchou? She hoped not. She quickened her pace, trying to leave the morning behind.

~*^-^*~

"Toudaji! You're late!" Mrs. Pa (AN: I don't know how to spell her whole name and it's late @_@) scolded as Miyako walked into the room. She nodded briefly, her mind elsewhere. She glanced up enough to see Chiaki's worried face. He had a right to be worried. She was 45 minutes late and Maron wasn't with her. Her face probably showed it too.

            "Where's Kusakabe?" The teacher looked idly behind Miyako, her plastic instrument in hand. It worked wonders on the ears. Miyako was glad she hadn't blown it yet.

            "She wasn't feeling well." Miyako knew it was a lie. Maron was fine physically. But mentally she wasn't sure. She never was. Mrs. Pa  nodded and marked something down before pointing towards the door. Miyako left, but not before catching Chiaki's "we'll talk later" look.

~*^-^*~

            Later wasn't really accurate. Chiaki purposely got himself thrown out so he could wait in the hall with Miyako. Miyako shook her head. The things he would do for Maron. She was jealous and briefly found herself wondering if Iinchou would do the same for her. She shook her head and tried to focus on the matter at hand.

            "What happened? Why are you so late? Where's Maron?" Chiaki pummeled her with questions as soon as the door to the classroom shut behind him. Miyako sighed and leaned against the wall. Chiaki followed suit and looked at her expectantly. She bit her lip. This was going to be hard. Even she didn't know what was wrong yet.

            "Maron got a letter." Miyako said it as if it explained it all. In a way, it did. Chiaki's eyes widened in realization and his eyes lit up.  He was taking it the wrong way.

            "That's great!" He stopped when he saw Miyako shake her head. She took a deep breath before looking up at him. Worry was evident in his eyes, and Miyako once again felt a stab of jealousy.

            "Something's wrong. She finally got the letter she was waiting for and she….I don't know! She cried." Miyako bit her lip and looked up at Chiaki for his opinion. He frowned. He had reason to. It had been three months since Miyako had found out Maron was Kaitou Jeanne. Three months ago Maron had stopped crying because she had what she needed. Love.

            "How bad?" Chiaki's voice was soft, almost inaudible. Miyako heard it. She puffed up her cheeks, trying to think of words to describe what she witnessed.

            "Pretty bad. She wouldn't tell me anything. She was sobbing. Honest to God sobs. She's never cried this hard. What could possibly be so bad?" Miyako angrily scuffed her foot on the hallway floor. It's squeak echoed down the empty hall.

            "Chiaki, ever since I've known her, she's been waiting for something. When we were younger it had been waiting for her parents to come home. Then it was a call. Then a letter. She's waited, Christ! For years for a letter. One letter! I'm afraid to know what it says. Maron is strong. She's not like this. Not what I saw today." Miyako shook her head and hugged her waist. She didn't know why she was making such a big deal. Maybe it was nothing. Maybe they were happy tears. Who was she kidding?

            "I'm going to skip practice to go talk to her." Chiaki stared out the window in front of them. It was a cloudy day. That was fine. They all felt like that. Miyako shook her head.

            "It'll make Maron more upset that she made you miss practice."

            "But she didn't…" Miyako held up a hand and shook her head. Chiaki silenced and waited for her to speak.

            "But would she think that?" Chiaki paused for a moment as if thinking about it carefully. He shook his head and sighed.

            "No."

            "Look, I'm going straight home after school and I'll talk to her. I'll try to get her to loosen up and tell you. I don't doubt she will, but…" Miyako shrugged. Chiaki stood silently next to her.

            Umm…You can come in now." Iinchou stood in the doorway. Miyako nodded and started in, followed closely by Chiaki. It was going to be a long day. And Chiaki and Miyako both wanted it to be over fast.

~*^-^*~

            "Maron! Open up!" Miyako pounded on the door across from her own. It was another lonely walk back home from school, but her eagerness to talk to Maron sped up her pace. She had an hour or two to talk to Maron before Chiaki came home. The door creaked open slowly and Maron looked out.

            "Maron! You look like…" Miyako couldn't find words to describe it. Maron's hair was messy and her cheeks were puffy from excessive rubbing. Tears no longer flowed from her eyes, but that didn't make it any better. She had changed out of her school uniform into a pair of gray sweatpants and a large blue sweater of Chiaki's that she had never returned. Maron sniffled and moved aside so Miyako could step in. She closed the door behind her and followed Maron into the room.

            "Do you want something to drink?" Maron's voice was soft and strained. God, how long had she been crying? Miyako shook her head. There was no time for small talk.

            "What happened? What was in that letter?" Miyako hated to sound so blunt and angry, but she had to know. Maron sighed and sat in a chair across from her.

            "I….My parents got the divorce…." Maron paused, and Miyako sat up, frowning. Surely there was more. Maron had known about this for months, this shouldn't have affected her so much if it was just that. Maron took a deep breath before continuing.

            "They're fighting over custody of…me." She choked slightly before immediately regaining her composure, or what she could of it.

            "I have to got to court with them. Which means I have to go to America. That's where they are now." Miyako's eyes widened. America!? She had to have heard wrong. The look on Maron's face wasn't promising though.

            "You'll come back, right? After the case is settled? How long? Two months? Five? I can wait!" Miyako forced herself to be cheerful. She saw Maron's lip tremble and knew what it meant. She stood abruptly, knocking over the foot stool that had been in front of the chair.

            "No! I won't let you go! You can't Maron!" Miyako almost didn't recognize her own voice. It was so high pitched, squeaky….helpless. She hated it. New tears filled Maron's eyes and she stood, walking towards Miyako.

            "I won't come back." Her voice shook as she said it and she wrapped her arms around Miyako. Miyako didn't know who she was comforting, but it helped her a little.

            "I won't come back. They want me to stay there, with them. I can't. I can't leave you or Chiaki." Maron cried into Miyako's shoulder. Miyako bit her lip, unsure of what to do. Surely Chiaki would know. As if one cue, there was a knock on the door. Miyako frowned as Maron pulled back and went to answer the door. Was an hour already up? No, a glance at her wristwatch told her she still had at least 45 minutes.

            "C-Chiaki!" Maron gasped as Chiaki pulled her tightly to his chest. Maron whimpered and clung tightly to him. Miyako looked away. Not out of jealousy or envy, but because she couldn't bear to see Chiaki's face when he heard the news.

            "I thought you had practice." Miyako asked softly without turning around. Maron and Chiaki moved farther into the room, his arm wrapped protectively around her waist.

            "It's raining, hard. Practice was canceled. Even if it wasn't I'd…" He trailed off as he sat Maron down on the couch with him. She sniffled and buried her face in the crook of his neck.

            "Maron, what's wrong? Miyako told me you got a letter." Chiaki turned all his attention to the girl next to him. Miyako walked towards the door, knowing full well what was coming.

            "I'm gonna go guys. I'll see you later." She mumbled before quickly leaving. She could hear Chiaki asked if those were tears on her cheeks, but she ignored it and ran home.

            "Maron? What was that all about? What's going on?" Chiaki continued to hold her, but watched her face carefully.

            "I….I can't!" She pressed her face in his sleeve and fought back tears. Chiaki gently rubbed her back.

            "The letter…."

            "What?"

            "The letter. Read the letter." Maron mumbled, not pulling her face away from the sweater. With his free arm, Chiaki reached over to the small coffee table and picked up the floral envelope. He hesitated before opening it.

            'Dear Maron,

I am so sorry I have not had the time to write to you, I was just so busy. Your father and I have decided to get a divorce, as you already know. Along with that is who will get legal custody over you. Since we both love you so dearly, we're going to court to settle this. I hope you understand that once the case is settled you'll have to remain here with one of us in America. I have included a plane ticket for you to reach us here, and either me or your father will pick you up. You're scheduled to leave on November 12th. I love you.

- Mom'

            Chiaki read the letter a second time, then a third to make sure he understood it the first two times. He looked down at Maron, who had calmed some but was still clutching his arm.

            "Maron….You're leaving?" Chiaki couldn't believe it. After they had been so happy together. After all they had been through?

                "I don't want to leave." Maron buried her face in Chiaki's shirt. Slowly, as if in a trance, Chiaki wrapped his arm around her.

            "Maron. This is what you want, right?" Regret, sadness, and bitterness was laced through his words. Maron pulled back, eyes wide with horror.

            "Chiaki! I want to stay here with you!" Her bottom lip trembled as she reached out a hand and caressed his cheek. She gently ran her fingers over his face, tracing and memorizing everything about him. Her fingers ended on his lips, and she gently ran them across. Chiaki grabbed her hand and sighed.

            "I'm sorry, Maron. I just…you're leaving." He placed her hand back on his cheek and closed his eyes, savoring her warmth. Maron leaned her head against his shoulder.

            "Chiaki?"

            "Hmm?"

            "Just hold me."

~*^-^*~

AN: ….That was such a large dose of sappiness. It really bothered me that the anime ended there (Along with the fact that Access never transformed/Finn died ::sniffle::/ and Access and Finn being reincarnated XP) So I wanted to continue the story line. I also wanted to know what the letter said ::pouts::

Anyway, How was it? I was going to originally just have Maron stay, but where's the fun in that? ::grins:: This is lookin' more towards a '4 years later after the couple was separated' fic XD What do ya' think? Read and Review Please!

~Neoshipper~