Oh, this story is finally at the end. I thank you all so much for reviewing and taking the time to read it. I know I didn't get a new chapter out everyday as I used to with my old stories or as fast as I used to, but this past year, being my senior year has been more than hectic for me and I'm so happy that some of you have decided to stay and be patient with me.

This is NOT the last chapter though!

Now, I usually don't do this because song-fics aren't my thing, but this entire story was based off of a really great song and I've been dieing to put the lyrics in a chapter.

Kouha's POV

War, campaigns, battles, the set up was all so boring and dull, but when the actual fight came, it was always so worthwhile. I loved butchering people and seeing their blood fly everywhere. I couldn't help it, but it was special talent~. Reckless killing that is. It was nice to be able to go into battle yet again, though I had been missing [Name]. I was so selfish when it came to her, but I couldn't help it. I've never been in love before and I've never had someone that I wanted to cherish and take care of other than my birth mother. I didn't want to loose [Name] to anyone and I would make sure that I didn't no matter what that meant. It killed me now to not know her current state, but I trusted that she would stay put where she was and hopefully not run into any organization members beside Judal. I knew though, that all of my worry would be cast aside when I got back and married her. She would be mine forever and no one would be able to take her away from me. Not that girl magician and certainly not her family. Yes, I knew I was selfish when it came to [Name], but I couldn't help it. I've fallen for her and I knew that she felt the same for me, so why not do all I could for our relationship. "Prince Kouha, we're about to depart soon," Junjun said, entering the main tent. It had been a few months since I left. The war wasn't too long, and neither was the travel, but combined, the length wasn't something that I liked. I looked back at her.

"Yeah, I'm just making sure I didn't leave anything behind," I told her. With a sigh a grabbed my metal vessel and left the tent. It wouldn't be long now until I'd be with my fiance again. It'll be really nice to relax and just hold her in my arms.

The trip back was as boring as I expected it to be, especially since unlike before I had more of a reason to want to return. It was a nice feeling. The feeling of having someone to return to. Someone that would be there waiting for me with open arms. Not like En and Mei asking for details and worrying with their 'brotherly love' or Kougyoku just being her annoying self alongside Judal, but someone that I could spend hours on end without getting tired of and that I could share intimate moments with. Coming back after killing a lot of people would feel much sweeter since I'll have someone I love to celebrate my victory with. As before like when we had captured Magnostadt there were people along the streets cheering about Kou's victory. I didn't really care, but if anything it made me more anxious to see my wife-to-be. Once at the palace, the prisoners were taken away and I left all of the clean up for the workers. I looked around outside of the palace, wondering if [Name] would be waiting there or up in a balcony or something. I just shrugged when I didn't see her, because I knew I would later, first though, I had to report to my brothers.

I was a bit more anxious than normal to report, but that was just so I could get it over with. My three attendants appeared at my sides like loyal dogs. "You three, go prepare some tea for me and [Name]. I'll be in my room shortly," I ordered. With a nod they left to do the task at hand. Respectfully, I knocked before entering En's study. He and Mei were in there and Mei was looking a bit antsy for some reason. I didn't care since my mind was elsewhere. "I'm back, En, and like usual. It was a victory. We had ten causalities in all on our side, five wounded, and we've taken forty people prisoner. I think those are very good results," I spoke, wanting to get this over with. En nodded, his gaze was avoiding mine though.

"You've done a very good job, as always, Kouha," En spoke, still not looking at me. I rose an eyebrow, wondering if everything was okay or not. They weren't usually like this unless something was up. En liked to give speeches on how Kou would overtake the world, usually.

"Is everything okay?" I asked. Mei quickly nodded. I couldn't believe him, but if my brothers didn't want me to know something then I usually didn't prowl for details. "Well, is that all you need from me? I want to see [Name]." At that, En looked down. Now I was worried. Mei let out a sigh.

"Kouha, come here," he said. I had never been more reluctant to follow my brother's orders in my life. I did as I was told though and went over.

"Umm, what is it?" I asked. Mei grabbed my hand and placed something in it. The look on his face was a bit grim as was En's. I moved back slightly, since I had been kind of close and looked in my hand. "What?! Why do you have this?!" I couldn't stop myself from yelling. He had [Name's] engagement ring after all. "Is it broken or something?! Did she drop it?!" They were making me assume the worse, though I was sure it was nothing. En stood up.

"The Empress let her go," he said, "I'm sorry Kouha, but she no longer wished to be here. She and her friend left." I dropped the ring.

"Is this some kind of joke?! Because this isn't fucking funny!" I refused to believe that [Name] would leave me. Their silence answered it all. I bit my lip, feeling like going on a killing spree. "H-How did this happen...?" Mei sighed.

All this time is ash and sand
It's running through my hands
So what if I don't feel it?
So what if I don't see it?

"We don't know. All I know is that Judal took her to see the Empress, as said by him, and the next thing we know [Name] is gone. She put the ring on your bed with all of the clothing and things you got her. Kougyoku said she tried to stop her, but she wouldn't listen-" I didn't bother staying for the rest as I ran out to see my sister. I couldn't believe this! [Name] loves me! She loves me! She'd never leave me... There has to be more to this! I did everything that I could to keep her by my side.

Kougyoku was out picking flowers and handing then to Ka Koubun who was putting them in a basket. She didn't look too happy and he looked kind of tired. As I ran up to her, I nearly tackled her. "Did you see [Name] leave?! What the hell happened?!" I nearly yelled.

Torn apart from limb to limb
And put in place again

"Kouha, you're back," Kougyoku said, then surprisingly, she hugged me tightly. I couldn't find the will to push her off. "I passed by your room and saw her putting stuff on your bed with some girl. I went in to ask her about it and she just looked at me, not saying anything. Once they were done, she told me 'bye' and left. I tried to stop her, I really did, but she just ignored me." I pushed off from the hug, holding Kougyoku by her shoulders. I hated to admit this, but being cold to Kougyoku in a series manner wasn't something done often. So what happened with [Name]... Kougyoku sighed. "We were all worried to tell you since we know how you feel about her." I let go of my sister.

"Something must have happened. I refuse to believe that she left like this...I...I just don't know...," I said, feeling in defeat. Then I felt something light on my head.

"I made this for you," Kougyoku smiled softly. I reached a hand up to feel the flower crown that was on my head. "Kouha, I don't want to put any ideas in your head, but do you remember that time at dinner when [Name] said she would go back to her home country?" Kougyoku and Koubun went to pick more flowers, "She also had a lot of bruises on her face..."

So what if I don't feel it?
So what if I don't feel it?

Several months earlier, two girls were headed somewhere

Main P.O.V.

"Wow, [Name], you don't look so good," Sai mused as she sat down across from me. We were headed to my home country. My family was nice and they accepted me as a magician, so why not invite Sai to live there? I was sure that they wouldn't mind and Sai had no place to go. I wouldn't leave her by herself. Currently, though I was sick. I mean, it wasn't as if I wasn't overdue for some kind of aliment, but when we tried to heal it with magic, it didn't work, though neither of us were that good with healing spells. "Maybe on our way, we'll run into a really great magician and they'll help to heal you up." I nodded, letting out a yawn. I was pretty tired lately, but there was nothing too wrong with that, it was from all of the traveling most likely since we had been doing quite a bit. It was nice to be able to travel, though. We ran into Nero and it was like old times. We had stayed with him for a bit before moving onto our next stop. We were in a little cafe at an inn. Surprisingly, when Sai told the Empress she wouldn't be working for her because we were leaving, the Empress smiled. She even gave us money for our trip.

"Yeah, though I'm sure I'll feel better soon. It's nice that we can travel like this though. Maybe one day we can go to Sindria and see Aladdin and go to Reim and see Titus!" I smiled. Those did all sound like nice thoughts and now that I was fully free, I would be able to do as I pleased, but deep down...I missed Kouha. He was everything that I wanted and he made me feel so special. Even if he did beat me at first, he stopped because I asked him, too. I'm not sure if I'll ever find love like that. But...He did deceive me...

Innocence is gone and
You don't taste the same
But I know that you don't see it
I know that you don't see it

"[Name], stop it," Sai said, "I know what you're thinking." I bit my lip. During this journey, I've brought Kouha up a few times because I wasn't sure if what I was doing was right or not.

"Is it that easy to tell?" I asked. Sai was good at reading me. Maybe that's why we were such good friends. We knew each other so well. She nodded.

"I can see it all over your face. [Name], this man beat you, lied to you, made a fool of you, if he really cared he wouldn't have pulled half of what he did. You're way batter off without him." Sai was always there to bring reality back to me and sometimes, that's what I needed. Kouha was a fantasy. He was even a prince! He was something that was way too good to be true. After eating and resting, it was time for us to move on. "So carpet or carriage this time? I think there are carriages on the other side of the inn." I sighed.

The steps between us are starting to show
The space between us is starting to grow

"Let's go by carpet," I mused, "I'll drive." Sai laughed.

"You sure you won't get motion sickness again?" she teased. I blushed from embarrassment.

"I'm sure, I'm sure!" I pouted. In the end, I did get motion sickness. After several more stops, we made it to my country and to my family home. My parents seemed more than happy to take Sai in as did my younger sister. They were all of the family that lived there since my older siblings could now take care of themselves and wanted to be out in the world. I was nice though, being able to be with my family again. Sai and I unloaded our few belongings and my mother ran over, hugging us.

"Oh, you poor things! I heard about what happened with Magnostadt being taken over. I'm so happy you're okay!" she exclaimed. I smiled softly, feeling a bit bad about not notifying her that I was alright sooner.

"I'm sorry to make you worry mom, but we're okay," I mused. My mom pulled back, looking at us both.

"You're more than okay! You're glowing as if you've had a wonder adventure and I can tell that you've been eating well!" she smiled, happy tears in her eyes.

"Mom!" I whined.

,

,

,

,

That was a few months ago. Things have been alright and well for the most part. Sai fits in with my family well and I refer to her as my sister and my family sees her as if she's been with us her whole life. I just...I can't forget Kouha now. I just can't. I wanted to, I really wanted to and my mother knows that something happened. She badgers me about it, but I won't say and Sai acts like she knows nothing. My father gives me looks, but other than that he doesn't mention it. He's not all happy with the situation, but he accepted it. He's just upset with what probably happened. The scarring is still faintly on my back. Sai nearly lost it when she saw it, but I couldn't help but to laugh for some reason. I refused her offer to remove it with magic. I don't know why, but I want to keep it there. She's furious at Kouha right now, but I can't blame her. I, myself, am scared.

"[Name!]" I heard my mother yell, "Come here." I sighed, wondering what it can be, though as I walked to the kitchen, where I heard her voice, I saw rukh in the air, just fluttering passed. I stopped momentarily to admire them before continuing into the kitchen.

And I know that you don't
And I know that you don't

"You needed me-" I stopped, eyes wide as I saw Kouha.

And I know that you don't
And I know that you don't see it.

His eyes, however, manged to get wider than mine.

All this time is ash and sand
Running through our hands
So what if we don't feel it?
So what if we don't feel it?

The song is called Into the Flood by As Tall As Lions.

So, please tell me, did the fic go with it?