Disclaimer:Obviously, I don't own it.

A/N: Ah, my dear readers, the story is now about to come to an end!

Final Stage (Part Two): Sayonara

Dark opened his eyes just in time to see Starr fully receiving the blast without hesitation. With no more power to defend herself, Starr had done the only thing she could do. She had flown up with difficulty and had shielded Dark with her wings and body.

Starr's wings crumpled and she stared to pummel to the ground.

"Starr!" Dark shouted.

A surge of adrenaline washed through him and he broke free of Krad's feathers. Dark dived down with lightning speed and caught Starr in his arms before she hit the ground.

"Damn it!" Krad shouted.

He threw another energy blast but Dark dodged it and sent out his own energy blast at Krad. It hit him at full force and he was thrown forcefully against the wall. The white angel slumped down, unconscious.

Dark looked down at the girl in his arms.

"Starr……" he whispered.

The silver-winged girl's breathing was shallow, coming out in difficult gasps. It was as if every breath would be her last. Dark forced his tears back. He didn't want it to be true, but it was.

Krad's blast was fatal.

Starr was……dying.

"Dark……?" Starr looked up at him, a smile on her lips. "Dark……you're safe."

"Starr, you saved me," Dark managed to choke out. "But……why? You should've just flown away."

Their eyes locked. Starr's gaze burned into his. She took a deep breath before answering.

"Dark…………I did it because…………I………I love you."

Dark felt like he was hit by a bolt of electricity. He understood everything. All this time, she had loved him and had kept it secret. She endured all the torture Krad had put her through because she had irrevocably loved him with all her heart. Even when she knew he had loved someone else, she didn't stop him.

"Is……is that why you never……?" Dark began to say.

"I told you before, I never wanted to kill anyone." She smiled weakly. She was so close now. "Especially you."

Dark's POV………

Now, it was my turn to cry. It was the first time I ever really cried, which I realized that I wasn't afraid to show how I really felt. They say that a man is a true man if he had the strength to even shed one tear. Is that what I was now? But why did I feel so weak?

"I'm so stupid, Starr. It's my fault that Krad put you through so much pain. I should have known and protected you."

I bowed my head and my tears flowed down my face, dripping unto Starr's dress. Suddenly, I felt Starr's gentle hand on my face, wiping my tears away. My eyes met hers, and I saw her sincerity. She really did love me.

She was smiling at me, trying to hold on as long as she could, but even she knew that her strength was giving out.

It pained me more to see her slipping away from me.

"It was never your fault," she said softly. "It was my choice whether to kill you or not. And I never wanted to."

I hugged her close to me, taking in her sweet scent.

"I've always wanted to tell you," I whispered, "that I………love you, too."

Her eyes grew wide in disbelief. "You……you...love me?"

"Truly, I do." I caressed her face, her skin smooth like silk beneath my fingers.

"But…...I thought you loved Harada Rika……"

I shook my head. "Yes, I did love her, Starr. But I believe that we always get a second chance. You told me to stop dwelling in the past. So I did. And I found you waiting for me in the future."

For the last time, she smiled. This time, it was a smile that spread throughout her whole being. She was like an angel. No, she was an angel. My angel.

"Dark……don't cry anymore," she said, her voice growing faint, her breathing getting more and more difficult. "The last thing I want to see is your smiling face. I want to see you happy."

I tried to stop my tears as I held her closer to me. I gently ran my fingers through her hair as I bent down and kissed her one last time.

I poured out my heart and soul into the kiss, pressing her closer to me. I spread my wings out and wrapped them around us, like a warm black shawl. I could feel her hand on my chest and her other hand still on my cheek.

She slowly broke away and looked at me, her heart in her bright purple eyes.

"Thank you, Dark, "she said, her voice growing fainter and fainter. "Thank you……for everything. And………goodbye."

With those words, she closed her eyes and her hand dropped from my face, falling limply across her abdomen as her last breath escaped her lips.

Tears welled up in my eyes again as I hugged her tightly as I felt one last tear fall from her eyes.