I can't believe I forgot to update! I'm so sorry!

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Chapter 37: Home is where you belong

"Most of American life consists of driving somewhere and then returning home, wondering why the hell you went."

- John Updike

White, that was the first thing that Selene saw. The second thing was that there were a lot of people there as well. She immediately let go of Zexions hand, and distanced herself from him. She missed the contact keeping her steady, but at the same time she didn't want these people to think badly about her. Shinikoru jumped around and was saying high to everyone, except for one person who he even growled at. He even jumped up to say hi to a girl with blonde hair and a white dress, almost knocking her down. But whenever this guy with red hair took a step near him or Selene he would growl menacingly, making the red head stop immediately and scowl.

"Selene I'll introduce you to everyone later, for now I'll show you where your room will be." Zexion said. Selene nodded and followed him, whistling for Shinikoru to follow her. He followed grudgingly, but not without whining first. After a bit they arrived at a room, and Zexion led her inside. It was filled with books, and looked recently used. As if sensing her thoughts, Zexion started to talk.

"We have a shortage of rooms, so you will be staying with me in my room." Selene nodded her head and placed her bag down, and began to look around. She was immediately drawn to the window seat, and sat down. She felt like she was returning to a place that she hadn't been to in a while. She relaxed there and looked out the window, but immediately sat up again, staring at the moon. It was heart shaped here as well; giving her reassurance that she hadn't traveled to far.

The sound of the door opening and closing brought her out of her thoughts, and Selene discovered that she was alone, and that both Shinikoru and Zexion had left. Ever so slowly she moved around the room and started to look at everything that she could, trying to gather as much information that she could while she was alone. It seemed that all that was there were books until she looked under the bed and discovered two bags. One was a red and black over the shoulder bag, and the other was a duffle bag.

Selene sifted through the over the shoulder bag first, but there were only some books in there so she quickly put it to the side for later. In the duffle bag were clothes and some other objects but nothing really of interest. Until she got to the bottom and discovered large leather bound book. It seemed to be a collage of news articles, starting with a rather tragic one.

Mother died in car accident, leaves two children behind.

The next one was years later, but still just as sad.

Young man missing presumed dead.

The final one was from more recently, only about five years ago.

Richard Izumi found guilty.

Every single one had the mention of a girl named Emmaline Izumi in it, always referred to as Emi for short. Whoever this girl had been, she had been through a lot in her life. And either she had put this together or someone had loved her enough to put this together for her. For some reason the thoughts of this girl made Selene want to cry, but keeping a neutral face she held back the tears that threatened to spill. Slowly she closed the book and placed it back in the duffle bag, leaving it where she found it.

As she made her way to the door to find her way back to the main room, a voice stopped her. Behind her a woman stood, with waist length curly brown hair, and bare feet. She smiled softly at her, but Selene's guard was up from wondering how this woman got in.

"I told you I'd keep my promise Emi." She said in a soft voice before she moved forward and raised her hand and lightly touched Selene's forehead. Before Selene passed out, she was left wondering how the woman got from five feet away to right in front of her.

-X-X-X-X-

She awoke groggily on the ground, blinking blurrily at the area around her. She was still in the same place before that woman had come, and she still felt the same to. She sat up from the ground, holding her hand to the place the woman had touched it. Then out of nowhere it was like a damn broke in her mind, memories seemed to pour through her mind out of nowhere.

Her mothers death, when she was raped, Vanitas dying, meeting Zexion, her trails, Selene, her father finally getting arrested, becoming the leaders of the vampiric society, getting kidnapped, and finally agreeing to have her memories erased. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she bolted out of the room, trying to move as fast as she possibly could to Zexion. Her mind was going a mile a minute, trying to process everything while still being sane. One thought kept going through her mind.

Five years, I've been gone for five years…

That thought alone made her go even faster until finally she made it. With no hesitation at all she burst through the doors, making every head turn in her direction. But Emi paid them no mind, because all she was looking for was Zexion. Finally she spotted him and ran to him, leaping into his arms. Sobbing even more than before she kept saying his name as a chant, the only thing keeping her sane. His face was buried in the crook of her neck, taking in the scent he had missed too much. Zexion would say her name as much as she was saying his, his arms wrapping around her waist to keep her close as her arms went around his neck.

They didn't know how long they stayed like that, but it was like they were trying to make up for lost time. Finally though when they moved apart just a little the entire room watched as instead of pulling apart further they slowly kissed. As soon as they did the entire room burst into applause, everyone clapping and smiling for joy. When they broke apart, Emi went and gave hug to her sister, who had also started crying. But she never ventured far from Zexion's side.

"Emi…where have you been?" Namine finally asked. The entire room seemed to freeze as Namine asked the question that they all wanted to.

"Well, why don't you ask Axel? I mean he was the one who caused it all." She said. Everyone turned to look at him.

"What? She's lying." Axel said, throwing his arms up in defense.

"Really Axel, so you're not the one who kidnapped me? You're not the one who was responsible for me being gone for five years?" Emi stepped forward, a harsh lint in her eye, summoning her blades. As she walked forward, she raised her blades to strike him down, but a voice stopped her.

"That is enough." Selene appeared out of nowhere. Everyone was shocked except for Emi and Zexion.

"Axel, from here on out you are banished. You are now the lowest of the low. No other vampire is allowed to talk to you, and every human will be afraid of you. You are to forever walk this Earth, with no solace to be found." Selene declared. Then she was gone in a flash of white, like she had never been there in the first place.

"You heard the Goddess. You have two days to pack and say goodbye." Zexion suddenly said.

"What? You can't do this to me!" Axel yelled, everyone ignored him though.

"So…what have I missed?" Emi said effectively breaking the silence.

Review please! Let me know how you feel knowing this story is almost over?