Ok so I had hoped to have this done before Origin was released but I guess I'm only a day late really. So without further ado, the conclusion to this little tale!
~The Last Ronin~
The waves crash against the base of the cliff far beneath my feet, the spray casting rainbows in the moonlight. A light breeze blows my hair across my face but I don't bother to brush it away.
"I'm not going to jump," I say as a pair of strong arms encircle my waist and pull me against a bare chest. Despite myself I sigh and lean back into the embrace.
"I know," my lover replies, kissing my neck, "I just missed you in bed."
My lips pull up into a smile. I'm not fooled for an instant. Jumping would be so easy - it's not like I haven't considered it before - but that's exactly why I won't do it too. I'm a fighter and while I may think about it, I'll never take the easy way out; I've survived too much to quit now. Besides, it wouldn't be just my life I was taking and I don't want anymore blood on my hands - I've enough for several lifetimes already.
"I just couldn't sleep is all," I explain needlessly.
"The nightmares again?"
"Among other things," I nod.
"After ten years I would have hoped they'd have faded."
I shiver as I recall the nightmares - or rather, what gave birth to them. I'd hoped time would fade them as well but now I don't think they'll ever go away. Not completely at least.
Perhaps that's to be expected though. For a long time I was a broken mess because of what Daedalus did to me. Scars like those don't ever fully heal. That's ok though, I've learned to deal - to endure. And...it helps that I'm not alone either...I'll never be alone again.
Blonde hair drifts across my face as my companion leans forward to look at me and I offer a small smile. I'll love Ash until the day I die for what she did all those years ago. Some might not understand that considering what she did was rob me of my choice in two decisions that should have been mine alone to make. But I hadn't been in any shape to be making life altering decisions at the time so she made them for me.
Sure I was angry at first, but in the end love won out. It had to because she made the same choices I had wanted to make myself. I just couldn't because of the pain of what had happened to me. So yes I'll always love her for that.
"I don't know if I'm ever going to get used to your eyes changing color like that."
My answering chuckle is silenced by a pair of lips capturing mine and I sigh happily against them. With all that I've done I doubt I'll ever get to Heaven, if such a place exists, but surely this right here is a small piece of it. I can be content with just this.
I can't say I really know what Ash did to me but when I finally came to in Luc's hideout my head had been clearer than it had been in years. Perhaps that had something to do with the blonde highlights in my light brown hair or my eyes periodically changing color from grey to blue. Really though, I think it had more to do with Ash being gone.
It was a long time before I saw her again and when I did she wouldn't tell me what she'd done. I'm ok with that though, really. We all have our secrets and so I can't begrudge her a few.
Actually, I have a secret of my own that I need to share and I'm more than a little nervous about it. But this isn't something I can really put off any longer because it'll be noticeable soon anyway. Perhaps a few more minutes though. Surely we can have a few more minutes of peace before I turn our world upside down - not that mine hasn't already been upended.
"Tell me what's on your mind Kitten," my husband turns me around to face him.
I sigh. Apparently he doesn't share in my sentiment of wanting a few more minutes of a normal, dull life. Oh well. I might as well just get this over with. Despite my misgivings I can't help the smile that plays across my face as I look at him.
"I was just thinking about how much I love you Daemon," I press a kiss to his lips as my smile spreads into a grin, "and I was wondering what we should name our daughter."