Part One
The Moon rose high in the sky in Winhill as Laguna Loire began the journey back through the village after his recent 'monster patrol'.
He entered the flower shop weary yet he soon brightened when Raine entered the room.
She smiled at him and noticed a large gash across his arm.
"Laguna Loire, don't tell me that those monsters are becoming to much for you already?" she mocked lovingly.
He gave her a look "No way! Those monsters had better watch out for Laguna Loire if they know what's coming to them!" He puffed out his chest and flexed an arm in an attempt to look like the hero he was trying to be.
Raine laughed and poked him. "You fool, look at your arm it's bleeding badly. Come upstairs and I'll clean you up, and with that she wandered up the stairs, turning on the third step to smile at Laguna before disappearing above the shop.
He took a look at the gash of his arm and wiped away a small trickle of blood that was making its way to his wrist. Feeling slightly less heroic he bounded up the stairs after her his happiness growing with every step.
The monster patrol was his way of giving back to the village what it had given him. He was the happiest he had ever been here and he had found a beautiful lady whom he adored, so what if he got a scratch or two? He didn't mind at all, especially since he got fussed over by Raine every time…
Raine was busy sorting though bandages looking for one the right length when she heard Laguna lumber into the room grinning. Finding one she could wrap round his arm she went to the sink and filled a bowl with warm water. She sent Laguna to a chair and brought the bowl over with the bandages. She got some tissue and kneeling on the floor beside him began to wash the wound. As soon as she touched it she felt him flinch. She smiled and mockingly scolded him "you soldiers are all babies underneath that hard exterior. One flesh wound and you're in unbearable pain"
He scowled at her "I'm trying to hold still, you know you could be a bit gentler…"
She wiped the wound lightly "this better for you?"
He grinned "much."
His heart was thumping in his chest. There was a good side to everything he believed and every time he got scratched in a fight she would sit by him and bathe it clean before bandaging it. This was certainly a good thing.
Raine began humming to herself while she sorted Laguna out. He was a silly thing, always trying to act brave and strong in front of everyone, but once he was alone she could turn him into a giant softie, one cut and he could blubber like a baby.
She gently dabbed the gash of his arm and wrung out the cloth watching the water, as it turned red with his blood. So many times had she seen to his wounds, patched him up and sent him back to the world recovered to fight another day, but she never tired of it. In these moments she had him all to herself. They could talk together and he was himself, not some brave, courageous man he pretended to be in front of everyone. Only she could make him smile like he was now, make his deep green eyes sparkle in that special way, with the corners of his eyes wrinkle as the happiness in him shined through.
His eyes reminded her of that song "eyes on me". Who was it by? Julia Heartily? It didn't matter. He was all that mattered to her. She began to sing the song to herself without realising it as she tended to him…
"Whenever sang my songs…" Laguna heard her sweet voice and watched her. Tears pricked those special eyes as he could hear that voice swirl around him.
He remembered the woman who wrote those words. He could hear her voice in his head, sweet and beautiful. Both the women he loved were singing his song. Did Raine know? Could she realise how much that song meant to him? His vision blurred a little as a single tear rolled down his cheek.
"I saw you smiling at me, was real or just my fantasy?" She smiled to herself thinking how Laguna would react if he heard her singing, still not realising that Laguna could actually hear her. She looked up to check she wasn't hurting him and saw a tear roll down his cheek. Grinning she wiped it away while singing "Shall I be the one for you, who pinches you softly, but sure?"
Laguna looked at her and smiled "yes"
Raine had to take a double look "pardon?"
He took her hand and placed it on his cheek, it felt warm and soft. "I said yes, you are the one"
She blushed but deep inside her heart was leaping for joy. She was speechless. He said she was the one. He had heard her sing and she hadn't realised it!
He stood up and looked at her. She stood and faced him. She continued to sing, her eyes closed.
"My last night here for you
Same old songs, just once more
My last night here with you?
Maybe yes, maybe no
I kind of liked it your way
How you shyly placed your eyes on me
Oh, did you ever know?
That I had mine on you…"
Laguna opened his arms and enclosed them around her. He held her close to his heart and he knew he would forever and always.
"Darling, so there you are
With that look on your face
As if you're never hurt
As if you're never down
Shall I be the one for you?
Who pinches you softly but sure?
If frown is sure then
I will know that, you are no dreamer"
Tears welled up in his eyes as they gently swayed together as one. Both knew this was a moment they would treasure…together.
"So let me come to you,
Close as I wanna be.
Close enough for me
To feel your heart beating fast.
You'll savour as I whisper
How I love your peaceful eyes on me
Did you ever know?
That I had mine, on you"
She was looking deep into his eyes and she saw that sparkle as he held her close. She was almost weeping she was so happy.
She never finished the song; instead they swayed together in silence, the music silently playing in their heads. She buried her head on his chest and savoured everything.
As the sun set in a glowing sky, a love purer than any the world had yet seen, opened like a beautiful flower as the couple stood as one and embraced. The world was theirs yet none of them wanted to do anything. So the night easily slipped into the sky and watched over them as they slept in each other's arm happy and content.