. 36 .

Name on a headstone...

:--:

"...Edward."

"Colonel."

"Come to pay your respects?"

"What else?"

"Who knows? ...Perhaps you came to spite her, and the mess she left behind."

"...No."

"No?"

"Why? Is that what you're here for?"

"...I don't know. Maybe. I... I don't know enough to know."

"Yeah."

"...She told you?"

"Yeah."

"...And?"

"And... don't... hate her. You can blame her, but... she was trapped. Long before either of us were born. That's what she said. She was just doing what we were doing; fighting for what she could. Only in some ways it hurt her more, because a part of her didn't want to. A part of her wanted to be human, to be able to fight for things she lost, and couldn't get back."

"...I see."

"You're still suspicious."

"I can't help it. I want to believe there was more to it than the lies, but..."

"There was."

"...Very well. It just sounds too much like an excuse."

"A reason. Not an excuse."

"...Heh. You really liked her, didn't you?"

"I trust her. Like you do. And what's that got to do with anything??"

"Nothing, I suppose. It doesn't really matter now. She's gone; there's nothing else we can do now but remember her here."

"She isn't here. And that's not true."

"What?"

"There are still things we can do; we can keep fighting, for things we believe in, things she was never able to fight for herself."

"You're being awfully philosophical, Edward."

"Is there something wrong with that?"

"No, not at all. I suppose... it just means you've grown up some, after all this. So if nothing else... Anyway, you said she isn't here?"

"Yeah."

"...So where is she?"

"I don't know."

"What do you mean? Weren't you there?"

"...That was pretty tactless, especially for you, Colonel Shit."

"...I'm sorry."

"...She was cremated."

"When?"

"Then."

"By wh--?"

"Him. It. That thing that had her bound."

"Edward..."

Golden flashing eyes.

"What? It's true! That bastard--!"

Clenched fists.

And knowing it isn't true.

"…She's gone, anyway."

Finally free.

"Gone where?"

Everywhere.

"Wherever it is you go after you die. Physically, she's everywhere; her ashes were scattered."

"So she is here."

"...I guess... she is."

:--:

A single red rose, blood red, fire red; ashes on the wind:

"Another chance, little one;

"I'll be waiting."

:sonryz:
And that's it. It's finished.

I can hardly believe it.

I've never finished anything in my life that was longer than five chapters...

Wow.

Is this an achievement worth fussing over? Please, let me know your final thoughts, because this is truly the end of Playing the Angel; there is no more.

(and if there is, it's all up to you)

Thank you for staying with me this far.

-:until we meet again:-