"Is … Is this the end?"

Hope said as his white hair turned red from his own blood.

"I … Haven't even told her how I felt…"

An image of a pink haired girl with blue eyes glinting as the light from the sun reflected it.

"Cl – Claire … I"

His ebbing strength slowly fades until he heard a husky yet feminine voice.

"Do you still … Want to live?" She asked.

"Ye-yes" Hope closed his eyes shut as he nods.

"Then it … Shall be granted-"

-FLASHBACK-

"Bye Mr. Sazh! See you next year!" Everyone bid their farewells to their teacher.

"Okay guys! See ya next school year. But don't forget to still study 'kay" The jolly afro head reminded his students.

Well seems everyone was busy packing their own things except from a silver-head boy in the corner.

"Haaaa…." He sighed as he stares at a pink haired girl.

"HOPE!" A blue haired boy at growled him in a funny way, breaking his trance then effectively making fall off his chair.

*THUD*

"Maqui!" he scowled.

"Dreamin' about your Angelic Princess again are we Hope?" Maqui reached for his hand.

"Oh just shut up! She's even better than an angel herself." Hope boasted as he straightens up.

"Yeah, yeah! But, have you told her how you felt for her?" Maqui folded his arms before his chest with a teasing smile.

"No, I haven't.-"

"What!? You know? You really are HOPELESS!" He grabbed Hope's shoulders then shook him.

"That's not it! But next year I'm really going to do it I promise!"

"I'll hold you to that!" he pointed Hope before breaking into laughter.-

"Bye Hope!" Maqui waved at Hope.

"Bye!" Hope waved back as they part ways. He waited until his friend disappeared into the corner before going, then walking past so many stores made him forget about the time. Well, He didn't even thought of going home early. So he decided to go to a nearby park.

"Well what do we have here?" He heard husky voice followed by a dark laugh from where he was supposed to be going. He thought of ignoring it but he heard a familiar voice.

"Leave me alone! Or you all want to end up suffering? " A feminine voice said.

'Wait! Is that Claire? He was stunned upon hearing the voice. He paddled to peek in. His eyes grew wide to see Claire with a glowing wing on her right shoulder blade. 'C-Claire!?' he thought.

"What could a princess be doing in a place like this?" The guy with a black wing grinned evilly.

"I need not to tell you! – You lowly DEMONS!" she mocked.

"You dare insult us when you're all alone!?" He raised his hand to hit Claire when Hope threw a rock on his face."Agh…! Who's that!?" he asked scratching his head.

"Sh – she's not alone!" Hope bravely stood but with his legs trembling. He knew that it would've been best for him to stay quiet but, at the very least he wouldn't let a girl get hurt.

"What!?" Claire's eyes widened. "Idiot! Runaway now!-" She pointed out.

Of course those demons won't wait for him to escape, so they flew directly to him, leaving only a strong gust of wind to Claire. She tried to catch up, but she was quite slow, maybe because of her wing?

"SHIT!" Hope tried to run; he looked for something he can use against them, then he saw long metal rod near by trash bin. 'That would do!' he grabbed the rod then swinged it to them vigorously, making stop.

"What the-! Get his weapon!" the leader pointed his rod. The two demons obeyed and were able to grab his weapon immediately. "Got it!"

"Oh crap!" Hope thought it was his end when the demon raised his sword to swing onto him, but just as he closed his eyes, Claire caught up to them.

"Get away from him!" she swiftly slashed the wing of the two demons that was holding Hope's weapon.

"ARGGHH…!" the demons shrieked as they turned to ashes.

"Why you!" the leader tried to slash her but he got his left arm cut by her gun blade. "AARRKK…!" his howl echoed. Claire watched him fall, and then turned to Hope.

"What!?" Hope opened his eyes. He first saw Claire walking towards him.

"Are you alright?" She reached for his hand.

"Yeah!" He nodded as he reached for her hand. Then he saw the demon behind Claire, it was furious.

The demon rushed towards their direction, his sword ready to slash the girl's back at anytime.

"MOVE!-" he pushed Claire out of the way, while he gets himself being cut almost into half. He fell, everything around him seems slow, even the way Claire tries to reach for him.

Claire grabbed his arm before hitting the floor, pointed her gun blade into the demon, then effectively blowing its head off.

"Hey! Wake up!" she rested his head on her lap as she slap his cheeks gently. "Damn! I guess there's no other choice!" she thought as an idea came into her mind. Then she closed her eyes, focused on the bleeding boy before her, and mumbled some words then a bright light suddenly came from her.-