The Final Stage

Akabane started the car's engine, glancing at Sumika sitting in the passenger seat. Sanae's eyes were deadened, but he knew that Sumika still controlled her.

"Where have they gone?" he asked.

"There's a bridge at the base of the mountains," Sumika explained, "In the distant past, sacrificial rites were held at a shrine that used to stand where the bridge is, now."

"That's a good six miles from here!" Akabane exclaimed as they sped out of the parking lot. Sumika sighed. "I know. We may not make it in time to stop the fight. They intend to fight to the death. Takeo believes that Kannaya's sole existence is to produce a full-blooded heir to the Miyazaki clan. Nobody taught him this notion; he was apparently born with it."

"It's a form of superiority complex. Kanna told me everything he's done to her," Akabane said grimly. Sumika just shook her head in disbelief. "I always knew it would come to this," she muttered.

"What do you mean?" Akabane asked.

"Ordinarily, I would never tell another living soul what I am about to tell you. Even Kannaya doesn't know this, so what you are about to hear, you are never to repeat. Do you understand?"

"Yes," he said.

"It starts with Mireille and Nozomi. Mireille and Nozomi were raised to believe they were fraternal twins I adopted at birth. But that wasn't the case. They were both adopted, but they weren't related in any way. Nozomi came to me in a basket on the doorstep, while Mireille came from my elder sister, who died giving birth to her in secret."

"What? So then that means that Kanna really is a part of the Miyazaki clan," Akabane said. Sumika nodded. "Yes. My elder sister was a devout follower of our age-old rites. She uncovered an ancient prophecy dating back over thirteen generations. It stated knowledge of the Miyazaki Ultimate Technique. The prophecy depicted the nature of this, and two other techniques that were fated to die out in our clan as our blood was watered down. Satsuki found information explaining how to revive the techniques into the clan should they ever die out completely. I never saw the full description and Satsuki burned the scrolls before I could read them. Then, she disappeared for several years, into the mountains. When she came back, only myself and our aging mother remained. By this time, I was twenty years of age, but unable to have children. Satsuki was pregnant when she returned. No one knew who the father was and Satsuki never revealed anything. Every day, she would sit for hours outside, talking quietly to her unborn child. At first, I was concerned, albeit happy for her. But from there, things began to get worse,"

Sumika paused and sighed. Akabane could tell that saying this was painful to her. He focused on driving until she decided to continue.

"Satsuki began to complain about intense burning from within her. She would often scream from nowhere, crying out to mother and myself to make it stop hurting her, so. There was nothing we could do, of course. But I knew that this demonic child, as I called it, was eating my sister alive from the inside out. Satsuki and I both knew that she would not survive the birth. So when the time finally came, her labor was incredibly long and increasingly difficult. She would pass out every few minutes from the sheer pain of it all. The midwife from our village was skeptical of my sister's predicament, but mother encouraged her to help us. Halfway through the process, Satsuki turned to me and suddenly smiled. She told me 'this baby is our savior', she said. 'This baby will revive the ancient customs through the next generation,'. I had no idea what she meant, of course, and she passed out once more, just as the moment arrived. My young niece, Mireille came into the world and Satsuki died without ever laying eyes on her. It was probably just as well, for the mere sight of Mireille caused the midwife to scream in horror and flee from the house. Mireille emerged from my sister in the form of a demonic flaming fox kit. The sight of her caused my mother to die from fear, leaving Mireille to my care. I was extremely unwilling, but encouragement from our village elder, the only one to see Mireille for the blessing she apparently was, convinced me to raise her in secret in the mountains. After only a month, Mireille mastered the art of shifting from kit to human infant at will. It was around this time that some peasant dropped Nozomi off on my doorstep with a note asking me to care for her. In this sense, I raised Mireille and Nozomi as twin sisters."

She paused again, gathering her thoughts and leaving Akabane to process what he'd just heard. He hummed. "So your sister was able to revive the extinct techniques somehow while meditating in the mountains," he said. Sumika nodded. "Yes. As they grew, the village elder brought me research on how to deal with Mireille. He explained that she was the purest essence of our long-forgotten techniques. Through her, our legacy would be reborn into the next generation. And, many years later, once she'd fully mastered her powers, Mireille married and gave birth to a single, living daughter, Kannaya, my great-niece. Nozomi also married and brought forth Takeo. Mireille always believed herself to be separate from the Miyazaki clan like her 'sister', Nozomi. I could never bring myself to tell her about her past or her true mother. By the time I'd finally worked up the nerve, Mireille and her husband were killed in a terrorist bombing in Hiroshima, of all places. Now, Kannaya was growing up learning our most secret abilities and enduring the worst hardship from Takeo for these very abilities. I always worried for her welfare, always under such stress. But I worry no more,"

"Why is that?"

"Are you really so dense? You have come into her life. You can save her from the curse her grandmother started so long ago."

"If it isn't too much trouble, could you explain this ultimate technique?" Akabane asked.

"The Flaming Fox technique. Like Mireille, Kannaya has the ability to forcefully expel her spirit from her body in the form of a giant flaming fox deity. While this ability is devastating to her enemies, it leaves her body extremely vulnerable to attack. If her body were to be attacked in fox form, the fox would probably disappear. I always encourage her not to use this technique if she is at all able. This is what worries me the most; if she were to use the fox form against Takeo, he would know to immediately attack her body."

"We have to stop them, then," Akabane insisted. "We'll get there in about ten minutes,"

Sumika sighed dejectedly. "In that case, we'll be too late, then," she muttered. "Their fight will have begun. It will be a fight to the death,"

"Death!?" he exclaimed in horror.

"Yes. Kannaya can't forgive Takeo for hurting you and Takeo refuses to let Kannaya go. If only I could have held on for just a little longer, I could have stopped this!"

"Don't blame yourself," Akabane told her as they turned off the main road. "We just have to stop them in time,"

"I assume you know where to go," Sumika said.

"More or less. But it's hard to miss," he replied. "But if there's any chance of stopping this, I'm taking it."

Sumika smiled faintly. "I'm glad that someone can look after Kannaya in my place," she whispered.

The bridge Sumika mentioned was stationed a good ways outside of town. Akabane had a general idea where to find it, but he couldn't be sure and he knew that every second wasted meant that Kanna could lose her life against her cousin. Just the thought of it pushed him to find the place before whatever was going on got out of hand.

"We've nearly caught them! I can sense their energies flaring!" Sumika exclaimed. "We have to hurry; I won't be able to keep my grip for much longer!"

"What? Do you mean your control over Sanae?" Akabane asked. Sumika nodded. "Yes. Sanae willingly gave me her body, but there's only so long I can hang onto this mortal form. I'm no longer among the living, so my power is weak! I'm just fortunate that her power is so incredibly strong!"

Akabane smiled wryly. "This is ironic. All this time, I believed Sanae to be insane. I owe her my deepest apologies for doubting her abilities."

He turned on a sharp curve when something caught his eye to the left. He slammed on the brakes and threw open the door while Sumika rushed out the other side. Akabane came to a halt at the guard rail, staring down into the ravine to where the bridge stood, abandoned by the world with the construction of a modern highway further up the mountain. Below the bridge was the deepest chasm around, well over four hundred feet. The wooden bridge was flimsy.

"Kanna," he muttered. From his vantage point, he could see her on the bridge, hunched over and clearly in pain. She'd already been badly injured. Sumika began to panic beside him; "No! Kannaya, Takeo! No!" she exclaimed. Without hesitation, he climbed up over the guard rail and slid down the rocky slope until he got to the bottom. Sumika attempted to follow him, but he turned and called out, "No! This embankment is extremely fragile. Stay back there!"

"But you have no plausible defense against Takeo! Kannaya is already wounded and Takeo may go after you in order to break her spirit completely!"

"I'll be fine, Sumika. If you lose your grip while descending, it could put Sanae in danger. I don't want to take that risk,"

Sumika seemed reluctant, but he had a good point. "Very well, but I'm coming down if it gets out of control!" she called.

Akabane made his way across the rocky edge of the ravine, struggling to both keep his footing and his eye on the bridge. Kanna was getting to her feet, but even from this distance, he could see she was dangerously weak. She was obviously still holding back, whereas Takeo was showing no mercy. He summoned three blood rods to his hand, approaching her. With a single decisive lash, he hurled them all at Kanna, who barely managed to dodge two, the third slicing through her shoulder. She rolled, caught her footing and stood up, gasping for breath. Then, she reached up to her torn shoulder and ran her hand across it. She clasped her hands together, smearing the palms with her own blood. She pulled her arm back and swung it in a sharp arc, sending hundreds of minute blood fragments hurling toward Takeo. Takeo dodged to the side and charged at her sharply. She summoned another blood rod to her hand and jabbed at him with the point, forcing him back.

Akabane jumped down from a large rock, landing just feet away from the edge of the ravine. He could now see the abandoned dirt road that led to the bridge. When the highway had been built, the old road was cut off permanently. The bridge, lacking maintenance, was fragile and decrepit. He knew that it could easily give way beneath the pressures of their fight. Now, he was close enough to hear what they were saying.

"You of all people should know your place in this clan, Kannaya!" Takeo sneered.

"Oh, shut up, already, Takeo. I'm not just a tool for furthering the Miyazaki clan's power!"

"I'm afraid that's where you're wrong, Kannaya! That's the sole reason you exist!" Takeo countered, lunging at her viciously. Kanna pulled the rod back and jammed it forward, too late for Takeo to avoid it. It embedded itself deep in his right arm. Takeo yelled in pain and lashed at her with a blood rod of his own, narrowly missing her head. Kanna released the rod stuck within Takeo's arm and stumbled backward, gasping. Akabane expected Takeo's injury to slow him down. He was wrong. Takeo winced as he grasped the rod and yanked it out sharply, dropping it to the ground where it melted into a grotesque puddle of blood. He chuckled. "Kannaya, do you really think you can beat me? You may be strong, but you don't stand a chance the way you are right now. Your anger over my attacking that doctor has caused you to expend precious energy in a pointless chase to catch me before we arrived here."

"You had no right bringing him into this!" Kanna yelled.

"Again, you're wrong. He was preventing me from claiming what belongs to the clan. Don't you get it? You are what's going to bring the Miyazaki clan back into the spot of the most feared family in the world!"

"No, thanks," Kanna growled, "I'm not interested."

She closed her eyes, regulating her breathing, slowly. Takeo frowned. "You aren't serious," he snapped, "You're going to use your fox form to beat me? If I attack your body, you die!"

But Kanna didn't respond. Instead, her body took on a strange orange glow. This one was different from before when she changed at the hospital. Her long hair split into four separate tips at the ends, glowing bright blue and red-orange at the same time. Instead of completely transforming, the fire surrounded her form, blazing off her body in anger. She raised her head, staring Takeo down. He scowled. "I see, so that's your plan. You're using the power of the fox to partially transform and still keep your human coil."

Kanna let out a shrill, unearthly scream and lunged at him at three times her normal speed. Before a second had passed, she was behind Takeo, who whirled to intercept her attack head-on. Holding her back with a single blood rod, Takeo smirked, "Kanna, you're still so weak," he sneered. Kanna's eyes had turned bright red in fury and she bared her teeth at him angrily.

"It's useless," Takeo said. But right then, his smug look vanished when Kanna shrieked all of a sudden and he was simultaneously thrown back against the wooden bridge with the force of a train. Akabane could tell from where he was, about sixty or seventy feet away, that the force from the landing had probably broken a few bones. Sensing the end of the battle approaching, Akabane hurried to reach the bridge as fast as he could before things got worse.

Kanna slowly approached, bringing forth a single rod to her hand. She flew down at Takeo, wrapped her free hand around his throat and raised the rod up. For the first time, Takeo's eyes shone with uncertainty and fear. Kanna's held no emotion except for anger and hatred. She braced her hand to strike.

Akabane paused at the edge of the ravine, breathless and exhausted. "Kanna!" he yelled.

For a single moment, Kanna froze. She raised her head slightly to spot him standing by the support pole of the bridge, staring back at her. For just a second, her eyes reverted back to their original emerald.

"Kuroudo?" she muttered.

Suddenly, she grunted in pain and froze in shock, staring into space. Takeo had taken her moment of hesitation to summon one rod to his hand and stab it into her side. Akabane's eyes widened in horror, but he found that he couldn't move; he was frozen in place.

Kanna's body shook, her eyes glowing bright red again. She snarled down at Takeo and slashed her own rod down at his throat, severing his neck halfway through with a single strike. Takeo's head lolled to the side as he began to bleed out.

"Kanna," Akabane muttered as the flame surrounding Kanna dissipated back within her body. Her head fell limply against her chest as she collapsed to the side on the bridge, unconscious. The rod in her side melted back into blood, allowing her wound to bleed freely. Kanna was sure she heard something or perhaps someone....

"Kanna!!"

But total darkness enveloped her and she heard nothing after that.

//ooo//

Kanna felt a stinging pain in her side as she felt herself slipping back into reality. How long had she been out? She wasn't sure. She wasn't even sure how she'd gotten in such a state in the first place. The only thing she knew for sure was that she wasn't on the bridge anymore.

She opened her eyes to see a blank white wall swathed in darkness, a single shaft of moonlight filtering in through the window as the only light source. She was in a bed. But where was she? She tried to sit up, but winced at the sting in her side and fell back down with a sigh. Her body felt heavy. She turned her head. Someone was sitting beside the bed, apparently dozing. She frowned. "Kuroudo?" she said weakly. His head shot up and he looked down at her, smiling. "Kanna, you're awake," he said quietly.

"Where am I?"

"The hospital. That was quite the close call you had,"

Kanna frowned in confusion. "Close call? What was I doing, again?"

He reached out and brushed her hair from her eyes affectionately, still smiling in relief that she was all right. "Just sleep, Kanna. I'll talk with you when you've rested," he said. Kanna knew better than to argue. She sighed and closed her eyes, forcing herself to try to rest. But her mind was awake and she found it difficult to relax. Finally, she allowed herself to drift into a deep, dreamless sleep.

//ooo//

Kanna awoke to sunshine streaming into the room. She moaned slightly and opened her eyes, squinting at the light. After another failed attempt to sit up, she sighed and glanced around. There was no one in the room, so she was by herself for the moment. But how did she end up in the hospital? She remembered a sharp pain in her side followed by a strange red haze. But that was all. She worked herself into a somewhat upright position and tried to see out the window.

She jumped when the door opened, raising her hand instinctively to summon a blood rod if she had to before remembering that she was in the hospital. She relaxed a bit when Akabane appeared. "Good morning, Kanna," he said, "Did you sleep well?"

"Not entirely. What happened? How'd I get here?" she asked. He sighed heavily and frowned. "Do you honestly not recall what happened?" he asked her. She shook her head slowly and turned away. "No, I don't," she mumbled. "I remember Takeo and a red haze throughout much of it. I remember that we were fighting on some bridge a good ways from here. But everything turns to the red haze after a little while."

"I see. I think I understand, then," Akabane said, moving to sit down beside the bed. Kanna watched him carefully, but he betrayed none of his thoughts through expression.

"So?" she said, "What is it?"

"You accessed your fox form," he told her, "And this clouded your vision and actions during the duration of this activation of your power. I suppose it could be described as a schizophrenic phenomenon that occurs whenever this happens, but we don't know enough yet. Besides, I'm not entirely certain you'd want to remember all the details."

"And Takeo, is he okay?" Kanna asked uncertainly. Akabane shook his head slowly. "No, Kanna, I'm afraid not. There was no hope for him; he was dead in seconds." he said. Kanna's face fell and she clenched her fist around the blanket. "How did he die?" she asked.

"I'm not going to tell you, Kanna. It would only upset you," he told her firmly. Her eyes blazed, but he held her gaze adamantly. Finally, she turned away, glaring into space. "I killed him, didn't I? I don't remember how, or even if it was quick, but I know that I killed him."

"It was quick, Kanna. I'll reveal that much," he said quietly. "He likely didn't feel a thing."

Kanna just shook her head. "I'm a horrible person," she mumbled, "I killed my own cousin. I killed my last living family member!"

She hunched into a ball. "How could I do that? I killed him!"

"Kanna, you had no other choice," Akabane tried to tell her. But Kanna just kept shaking her head. "I just...I just...," she kept muttering. She grunted suddenly when she moved the wrong way and started to hurt again. "Wha-?"

"Don't move around too much, Kanna," he said, "Fortunately, it was a minor incision that missed all of your vital organs. A few days' rest and you'll be just fine,"

Kanna sighed. "I'm sorry," she said, "I made you worry, didn't I?"

"Yes," he admitted bluntly, "However, if I recall, a good relationship will have its share of worries, am I right?"

Kanna had to smile at this and he chuckled. "There you go. You're looking better already. Now then, I have to return to my rotation, but I'll be back to check on you, soon."

"Oh, so I'm just one of your patients, now?" Kanna teased.

"For the time being, I'll have to see you as such." he replied, smiling. "Just wait a week, or so and things will definitely be different."

"If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were flirting with me, albeit somewhat poorly." Kanna said, leaning back against the wall. He just smiled and left the room. Kanna shook her head and stared up at the ceiling, stewing in her own thoughts. Takeo was dead, Sumika was dead. She was the last survivor of the Miyazaki clan. The name would die out with her, or die if she ever married. Somehow, even though she'd dreaded Takeo's control over her and the constant stress he put on their surname, she felt strangely saddened by all of this.

"Grandma, what would you do if you were me, right now?" she asked the empty air. Of course she got no response. Instead, she sighed, pulled the blanket up to her chin and snuggled into a tight ball. At least she wasn't completely alone, anymore. Her most important person was still somewhere down the hall and just too far away for comfort.

//ooo//

Three months passed. The Japanese government was in conflict with some other country. It was possible that a war was looming ahead in the near future. This was worrisome, but for the moment, it was only a rumor.

With the coming of spring, new memories are created and stashed away and new beginnings cropped up everywhere to be found. For Kanna, life had exchanged her basket of lemons for a basket of apples. Things were much better, now. She had consulted a lawyer concerning Takeo's death, which had been ruled as self-defense in Kanna's predicament. Once the messy details had been taken care of, Kanna had returned to the condominium she'd once shared with Sumika. It was a bit difficult, but knowing she wasn't alone was a big help. She and Akabane spent almost all of their free time together, never doing much, just enjoying one another's company. Occasionally, Kanna would feel the effects of being the last survivor of her clan and she'd grow melancholic once again. Akabane still worried about her when this happened, but she always assured him it was nothing.

Late June signaled the warmer parts of the summer. The trees around the hospital were bright green and healthy. Flowers bloomed in the soil all around the building. Visitors of stricken patients often took to escorting them around the grounds to enjoy Nature at its brightest.

Kanna still accompanied Akabane to the hospital during the day, even though she was finally safe for good. She enjoyed watching him work. She told him that he truly seemed to enjoy what he did. In truth, Akabane enjoyed having her there. Whenever he got a chance, he'd take a break from his rotation and they'd chat for a half hour or so. He was always sure no one paid any attention, but of course, he was wrong. As always, Sanae noticed.

Akabane was busy running through his paperwork as he approached a corner in the hallway.

"You two are so cute together!" Sanae shrieked behind him suddenly. He yelled and whirled, dropping his clipboard and scattering the papers. Sanae stood there, staring blankly. "Woah, you must have really been deep in thought. I don't usually manage to scare you like that." she said in awe. Akabane sighed angrily and knelt to gather up the papers. "Sanae, what are you doing?" he growled.

"I saw you talking with Kanna, again!" Sanae chimed, rocking back and forth on her toes. Akabane threw her an 'evil eye' and snatched up the last paper, straightening up with a sigh. "I see. So you were avoiding Ms. Yoshida, yet again, were you?"

"Oh, stop threatening me with Ms. Yoshida, already!" Sanae screeched.

"Honestly, you're like an annoying little sister," Akabane mumbled. Sanae's face went bright red with fury. "I'm what!? Say that to my face you-you numbskull!"

"Wrong insult for the current situation, Sanae," Akabane said, rolling his eyes. Sanae had gone back to normal almost immediately following Kanna and Takeo's battle. Sumika had vanished by the time Akabane had gotten Kanna back up to the car. It was a little saddening, seeing how she never got to tell Kanna the truth or say goodbye to her. But the old woman's spiritual strength had finally given out and Akabane hadn't heard from her since. Now, Sanae was back to normal with absolutely no memory of ever being possessed.

"Oh, whatever!" Sanae growled, crossing her arms and blowing a raspberry.

"Go back to your shift, Sanae. I have work to do," Akabane told her sternly. She opened one eye and peered at him. "So is it working out?" she asked quickly.

"What?"

"You and Kanna. Are you guys working out?"

"That really isn't any of your business, Sanae," Akabane grumbled.

"Well, I'm making it my business! I'm the mature one around here and I've got make sure you're not doing anything stupid!"

"Oh yes, Sanae, you certainly are the mature one around here," Akabane taunted, moving off down the hall. Sanae kept up with him, fuming. "I know when I'm being patronized! Don't you make fun of me! I might just channel the spirit of some maniac and hunt you down with a vengeance!"

"You do that," he mumbled. Sanae huffed angrily and shoved her hands into her pockets. "You're irritating, you know that?"

"Thank you. I try my best."

"I wasn't complimenting you. So anyway, how do you think you're gonna propose?"

He stopped, sighed irritably and whacked her on the head with the clipboard. Sanae yelled and rubbed her head furiously, glaring after him as he continued on. "Hey! What the heck was that for you big dumb meanie!?" she exclaimed.

"Please return to your shift, Sanae, I need to concentrate," Akabane said without looking back. Sanae hissed through her teeth and pointed after him, "You just wait! I'll get you back with my ultimate trick!"

"You've already pulled the water over the door trick, Sanae," Akabane called back. Sanae blinked and snapped her fingers. "Damn, I didn't think he'd remember that one." she grumbled. With that, she stalked off, plotting.

Akabane sighed, staring into space. Sanae was insane; this was clear. But what she'd said had gotten him thinking. He and Kanna had been dating for almost five months. It was hard to believe that time had flown by so quickly. It seemed like only a couple of days ago that they'd met. Were relationships always like this?

He decided he'd think on it some more.

//ooo//

That evening, Akabane found himself sitting outside once again, feeling like something was missing. He got this feeling a lot, nowadays. Ever since Kanna left to live in Sumika's old place, he'd felt like something had been taken from him. He'd been with Kanna for so long that now, he wasn't sure what to do without her. Before, he hadn't minded too much. But now, this place just seemed...empty.

He sighed and got up, heading back inside. He glanced at the phone and hesitated. Then, he shook his head and turned away. He stopped when the phone rang suddenly and he turned back. He answered it on the third ring.

"Hello?"

"...Hey, it's Kanna,"

He smiled slightly at the sound of her voice. "Kanna, good evening. Is something wrong?" he asked.

"No, I just...well, I just wanted to hear your voice. It's kind of different, you know?"

"I understand." he said. "I must admit; it's strange without you here, anymore."

"Yeah, I'll bet. It's weird for me, too. I mean, we spent so much time together, it's kind of like something is missing in a way,"

"I know."

They both fell silent for a minute or two. He wasn't sure what to say. He could tell she didn't know what to say, either.

"Um," she said finally.

"Yes?"

"Is it...is it okay if I come over? I just...I just want to see you."

He smiled lightly and sighed. "Kanna, you are always welcome here." he told her. "I'll be here."

"Okay. I'll see you soon, then," she said. "Thanks."

"Of course." he replied. They hung up. He sighed and stared out the window. He wasn't sure why everything felt so different now that she lived elsewhere, but he knew there was really nothing to be done for it.

It wasn't yet fully dark out. He knew that Kanna and Sumika hadn't lived too far away, so he figured she'd probably walk. He found himself bracing every time he heard footsteps outside the door, fully expecting them to be hers. He just shook his head and sighed. He was getting to edgy. But he just couldn't shake this weird feeling.

After a while, he heard a slight knock at the door. He made his way over and opened it to see Kanna standing out there looking somewhat downhearted.

"Kanna?" he said. She looked up and smiled faintly. "Hey," she said. He stepped back and she made her way inside as he shut the door. She paused in the breezeway, staring at the floor. "I'm sorry to bother you like this," she said.

"You're doing nothing of the sort, Kanna. Is something the matter?" he asked, moving beside her.

"No, it's just that, well, I just couldn't settle at home, for some reason. I just...." she muttered, trailing off. "After spending so much time with you, I just can't seem to be alone, anymore." she said quietly.

Akabane sighed heavily. "For the record, Kanna, I understand you completely." he answered. Kanna played with the fabric of her shirt. "Hm," she said. "I see. So, it seems we have a bit of a predicament here,"

She moved to stare up at the painting on the wall. He just watched her carefully, not saying anything.

"Um," she muttered.

"Yes?"

"I just wanted to know...um, never mind." she stammered, shaking her head. He smiled and sighed. "Shall I drive you back to get your things?" he asked. Kanna turned to face him, smiling gratefully. "I'd appreciate it." she said. She moved into his embrace, feeling more at peace. He held her tightly, finally relinquishing that emptiness that came from her absence from his daily life. From then on, he'd look back on that moment, knowing that single gesture had decided everything.