A/N: Well, this is a rather delayed update. It's the last chapter too, BTW...oh well.
jedimasteryugi2 - Thanks again for liking the story, and for the review. I didn't dare copy/paste my response. :-)
Unknown - Uh...I really don't know the movie. Anyways, thanks for the review. And it was on my birthday as well! Awww...another thanks!
Well, that's that. Without further ado...enjoy.
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CHAPTER 7
Keep
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'Come to Carnima Gadleica tonigt...please.'
Blackrose wandered the Cultural City, wondering whether she should be doing this or not. Kite's enigmatic message was short, yet carried enough urgency to move her to action, whether her mind was made up or not. 'Besides, he messes up his e-mails when he's flustered about something...or in a hurry. He must've sent the message without even checking his spelling.'
It was a week since they had finished the CCCorp event. No congratulatory ceremonies were held for having beaten the event dungeon. Instead, all the other players, especially the others who had tried their luck and skills in the dungeon and failed, had to make do with a forum post. Some complained, saying there should be a party or celebration or such, but they were obstinately ignored by Lios.
'All well and good, I say...besides,' the Heavy Blade thought to herself, 'I wouldn't have been there to enjoy it, if ever...'
She had abstained from entering The World since that time she and Kite had finished the event. Kite had seemed pretty upset at the time, or so she thought. His face had a worried frown when she last noticed, and his last words to her were rather stern.
She couldn't help it anymore then; she lost control of herself and broke down. She now hated herself for being such a wimp, for giving in to her emotions. She was even more frustrated for having run from the situation, having run from Kite like a child throwing a tantrum would have done.
'He seemed pissed off,' she reasoned to herself, 'I was afraid he might have yelled at me or something like that...but I don't think he deserved the reaction I gave him...'
But what really bothered her was that she had let herself get so engrossed, so involved in such a worthless venture; something that didn't even help the least bit in their plight against Magus or Skeith or whoever else was there causing all the trouble. She was most upset that she let herself wallow in foolishness while her brother still lay in a coma. It bothered her so much she couldn't sleep, or even think, properly these past few days. She had first thought that Kite's email concerned the data bug investigation, which is why she hastily responded; now remembering certain recent events, her initial hurry faded and uncertainty crept in. In the end, she decided to go through with it.
'But where could he be?'
Having walked across the entire city, she decided to go off on her own; she'd find him sooner or later, or he'd find her. She made her way to the back of the items store, and gingerly began climbing the assortment of boxes she knew would be stacked there, until she reached the building's roof. She walked to where the roof sharply slanted upwards, and sat, leaning on the side of the elevation. The city lights were subdued at this height, which made the stars that much more prominent than when viewed from the streets.
It was a spot Kite had shown her back when the server was only recently made accessible to players; he said that he usually went up there to think, and to watch the skies, like they did that first time she went. Soon, it also became her secret space, and she spent most of her time just sitting there when there wasn't anything better to do.
Her anxiety soon turned into fascination as her senses once more took in the intricacies of the virtual world. The eternally black sky shone with millions of softly glowing stars, and a cool, comfortable breeze wafted through her hair, sending it trailing behind her refreshingly.
She stayed there with her eyes closed just enjoying the seemingly real feelings caused by virtual stimuli, when she felt a presence approach and sit beside her. Even then, she didn't need to open her eyes to see who it was.
"Hey..." his voice trailed off, as if whatever he was about to say died with the passing zephyr.
She then enabled sight once more, and glanced in his direction. Her face was inert, without her even trying; she found him staring off into the vastness of the starry heavens, his own expression glazed, if a little pensive. "I kinda knew you'd be here; I should've checked here first..."
Her mind raced despite her static exterior. 'What could he be thinking? Is he pissed off about me just leaving without word and disappearing for a week? I'm pretty sure he's been kinda worried...' She wasn't aware of it, but her face had gone a few shades redder.
As if he could read her thoughts, Kite spoke. "You know, you worried me a bit back then..."
She almost jumped at his apparent show of mental telepathy. "W-well...I..."
But Kite didn't let her finish. Now he was looking at her with compassion in his eyes. "I was thinking of giving you more time, but Wiseman mailed me two days ago, announcing a breakthrough in their investigation. I couldn't dare face all those challenges and dangers without my partner at my side, now could I?" He chuckled, though not ruining the moment.
Blackrose's face went from uncertainty, to shock as he talked, and then to depression afterwards. She was filled with self-remorse once more; tears threatened to fall from her eyes. "I...haven't been online the whole week. Heck, I'm slowing us all down again and..."
He cut her off again, this time placing his hands on her shoulders. His voice was even more soothing that before. "Don't think that, please. You know that's not true." He gently rubbed her shoulders until she calmed down enough to keep from crying.
"I'm...sorry. I-I don't know why I'm acting so..." The urge to get up and run was overwhelming, but she fought to keep herself from doing so.
"It's all right," Kite said softly, with a smile just as pleasant. He then reached behind him and procured the Midnight Rose, which was placed inside the black vase they had obtained from the Data-Drained Mekaniism. His partner's breath caught in her throat in an expression that he hoped had been both surprise and rapture. "By any chance, did you know this vase was made especially for the rose?" he asked as he set both items in between them.
She only nodded, stroking one of the luminescent petals.
"It mirrors the sky above us," He observed, looking from the flower to the night. Her gaze followed his, and she nodded again.
They sat in silence for some time; Kite then brought out something else from one of his pockets. Reaching around her, he fastened what looked like a string around her neck.
Taken aback, she looked down and took hold of a beautiful red orb, which hung from a delicate chain of golden links. "Kite...! What...?" Still she couldn't bring herself to pronounce proper sentences.
"Bet you didn't know about that one, huh?" He smiled broadly.
The meager illumination the sky diamonds shed on the rooftop was caught and magnified by the gemstone, and it emitted a soft, reddish glow.
Finally, Blackrose snapped out of her aphasia. "Kite...it's beautiful! Where did you...I mean, how did you get this?"
"Let's just say that ice golem left it behind as apology for trying to smash us," he replied good-naturedly, and she found herself laughing at his comment.
"That's much better," Kite said, "I was wondering when you'd finally laugh."
A blush crept up her face, and she stopped laughing. "These are really lovely, Kite, but...why'd you give them all to me? I mean, you were talking about all the other girls back then...Mistral, Gardenia, Rachel, Natsume, and Terajima, and even Aura..."
It was Kite's turn to look surprised. "I did?" He was scratching the side of his face. "I suppose they pop into my mind one time or another, when I'm reminded of something about them; but even I have to say it's nothing special..."
"Oh...that so?" Her tone carried a bit of relief, though she tried to keep it hidden. "But the orb doesn't really remind you of me..." she stopped short, realizing she had been voicing out her thoughts, and winced at her idiocy.
Kite was silent for a long moment, as if unsure of what to do next. "Actually," he said at last, slowly, "I don't need any reminder...I'm always thinking about you, Blackrose."
She blushed even harder, clutching the orb tighter in her hand. Tears of a different kind began to form in her eyes. 'Did I just hear that right? This...this isn't a dream...is it?'
He continued. "You're my partner; you've always been right by my side since the beginning. Though the others are of immense help, you're the one who always comes along even when things get really difficult. This is our fight; our mission. I began this journey with you, and, if you don't mind, Blackrose, I'd like to continue on with you even after we've brought Yasuhiko, and your brother, and all the others back..."
"Oh Kite..." Blackrose was crying freely now, but it was another emotion, not sadness, that filled her. She leaned into him, burying her face into his chest. Slowly, comfortingly, he wrapped his arms around her as he felt her do the same. They were both at peace.
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She spoke into him after some time. "Kite, do you believe it was destiny that we met, that our circumstances would bring us together, that we were able to finish that dungeon together, and that the prize was a black rose?"
"I think that circumstances happen as they do; and we are the ones who give meaning to them. In a way, we shape out our destinies; we seek our destinies...or at least that's what I think..."
"Mmhmm..." she murmured, lazing in her comfortable position. Her steady breathing soon showed she was asleep. 'At her desktop?' Kite wondered, suppressing a chuckle that might awaken her. Not long after, he found himself beginning to nod off as well.
The Midnight Rose seemed to glimmer even more as he glanced at it. Looking up, he marveled once more at the night sky. As he tenderly moved his gaze at the form cradled in his arms, he knew that neither compared with her.
'Oh well...sleep tight, partner; my Blackrose...' were his last thoughts before he too fell asleep in the embrace.
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Date finished: December 12, 2006 (1:46 AM)
Final A/N: And there you have it. Hah! I was supposed to have uploaded this last chap ages ago, but...eh. This is the first multi-chap fic I've finished (YAY!), and it's a milestone for me, I guess. I'm pretty happy with how this turned out.
Many, many thanks to all those who read and reviewed as well as to all those who read and didn't review! Thanks for all the feedback and appreciation!
I really hope you guys enjoyed this fic. There may be another dothack fic in the works, but even I am not sure...we'll see. Oh, and there's something hidden somewhere in the whole fic; just a quirk I thought up. Clue: at the beginning of each chapter. (That kinda gives it away already, haha...)
Ciao until next time!
