The moment Yojimbo disappears, the Stop spell fades too. I quickly get up and run towards Light.

No…no…Light… please be okay…

"Sis!"

I slide towards Light, kneeling beside her, cradling her head on my lap. Her eyes are closed, blood trickles down from her lips. I feel tears begin to flow down my face as I look at her gaping wound that still bleeds. It's hard to see through all the tears, but I can still see the countless cuts on her arms and the knife that is still stuck in her right arm.

"No… Lightning… Sis…" I whispered. My tears fall on her face. With trembling hands, I wipe them away, only to see more tears falling on her face.

I shudder as I remember her last words to me.

"D-don't worry… I told you… I won't let anyone hurt you… Serah…"

I sob. But… you are hurt… in my place…

"It's all my fault… My fault…" I sob. My tears keep falling on Lightning's face.


It's dark… Am I dead?

Throb

No… I'm not… Death can't be this painful…

Sob

What was… that?

Sob

Something cold falls on her face.

Sob

These are… tears?

Then something warm wipes her face.

This touch…

"It's all my fault… My fault…"

Serah?

Lightning's eyes begin to open. Everything is blurred, but she can still see the image of someone's face above hers.

Then Lightning shuts her eyes again as waves of pain wash over her, first through her stomach, then her midriff, then her arms. It's tormenting. Breathing is very difficult too, as each breath draws another wave of pain. I mustn't stop breathing… I promised…

Then another cold tear falls on her face.

Lightning's eyes open fully, only to see Serah bending over her, crying. Her eyes are shut, tears flowing down her face. She clenches her teeth in sadness and pain. It hurts Lightning more to see her sister in this state, crying, suffering…

"Se…rah… not your… fault… Serah…" Lightning manages to say.

Immediately those aqua eyes open.


I stare wide-eyed at Lightning. Then relief dawns upon me and I can feel a smile spreads on my face.

"Lightning! You're alive!"

"Of course… I… promised you…" she replies.

Then I come to my senses again. Lightning is badly injured, she may be alive now, but she'll die if I just sit here and do nothing! But… There's nothing I can do… My magic has run out…

Suddenly I feel Lightning's body shaking. Her body is getting cold… Her breaths are erratic. No!

I can only beg her to hang on.

"Sis… please… hang on… just a while longer! The others are coming! Hope and Vanille… they just had some Potions… They'll help you, sis, so please, hang on! Stay…with me…"

Tears cascade down my face again. I shut my eyes, unable to bear watching Lightning's face that twists in immense pain.

"Please, sis… Stay with me…" I begin running my fingers softly through her hair. "You've got to hang on… Help will come soon…"

Lightning doesn't reply me. She struggles to breathe, her eyes fluttering, trying their best to stay open. A soft groan escapes her lips.

"Light… please, Light…help is coming… so stay with me, okay?"

She struggles to comprehend my words; her tired eyes never leave my face.

"You are strong, right? You are Lightning! You're invincible, you even tear the sky! You can get through this, Light! It's gonna be…fine…" I try to sound convincing, like how she comforts me whenever I'm afraid. But my voice sounds too desperate and scared.

She looks up at me, and I think I see her smiling at my pathetic attempt to sound convincing.

"Then don't cry… Serah…" she says.

I wipe my tears. Even now… In her state… She's always been the one that comforts me…

I hug her body loosely, not wanting to hurt her more. I try to give her some warmth, like what she has always done to me in those cold, scary nights when I couldn't sleep. I can't care less about her blood staining my clothes. I bury my face in her shoulder. I can feel her heart beating in her ribcage, weakly. I begin to sob again.

"You've always been… a crybaby… Serah…"

Her words send me giggling hysterically.

"I can be anything when I'm with you… sis…" I reply to her, still burying my face in her shoulder.

"Crybaby," she whispers again.

"Stubborn," I reply.

"Forgetful."

"Hot-headed."

"Careless."

"Choosy."

"Naïve."

"Foolhardy."

Lightning's mouth opens and closes as she tries to think of a come-back and fails. I laugh into her shoulder, even though some tears still flow down my face. Sis… You're always like this… You can always make me feel that everything's gonna be alright… Even in this situation…

Then Lightning coughs blood again and I snap out of my thoughts.

I release her from my hug, afraid that I may be hugging her too tightly.

"Light?" I call her nervously.

She doesn't reply me anymore. Her eyes are closed.

"No! Light…Lightning! Wake up… please…!"

No answer.

"Hey, Light… You're…joking, right? Right? Come on… stop it… wake up…"

Tears run down my face as I look at her silent form.

Why? Why am I always so… useless?

Right then, an explosion echoes through the room and I hear the sound of people running towards us.