Believe in me Chapter 38: From the Heart, a mega man fanfic

YAAAAAAY! i finally got this done!! i should have been finished 2 weeks ago, but something came up and i had to leave for college football camp before i could finish it. 2 grueling weeks of hard work on the field and i finally had enough time and stregth to finish this chapter... the conclusion to the 3rd story arc is here!

This is the thirty eighth installment of Believe in Me. (BUT NOT THE LAST!)

story

"talking"

thinking

emphasis

(me talking)

Enjoy! (the moment... it draws near!!)

Believe in me

By: Flashgunner

Ch. 38: From the Heart

What is a rivalry? How does a rivalry begin? How does a rivalry become bitter? So many questions yet at that moment neither Zero nor Colonel could have cared about them. They weren't lost in their past battles, neither were they bent on old competitions. They both had new reasons to fight, new reasons to drive them as they locked in a new battle. This time there was no pride on the line. The stakes were higher and much more tangible. With nothing to follow as if they had fought for the first time, the two realized that this was a straight up fight.

"RAAAH! The two yelled in unison as they blew up large dust clouds in their wake.

"Hienkyaku!" Zero yelled the instant before they clashed. In a heartbeat Zero was behind Colonel. Colonel predicted the attack pattern and turned to block a quick slash before Zero used the Hienkyaku again to attack from above. Colonel barely blocked this one and the force knocked him off balance. He quickly regained himself with a hand spring.

"Pulling out moves already Zero? That's not like you." Zero landed a few meters away and stayed in his battle stance.

"I'm just sick of always running into fights every time things seem so settle down. All I'm doing is trying to move this along." Colonel's wrists began to spark lightly as Zero finished.

"I'll humor you then…" Colonel fired backward and landed on the side of the base. Zero followed this movement with his eyes and took off towards his rival. As Colonel rocketed from the base, the shockwave shattered the windows and knocked loose corroded sections of the structure. As the two closed in and clashed the glass and debris rained upon them gradually. They were soon locked in an intense mid air test of each other's sword play. Again and again their swords connected at high speeds, each clash sent out a large shockwave that made the falling glass and debris dance around them as they fought. They eventually landed and broke apart; they circled each other for a brief moment before Colonel fired a sonic boom towards the black clad hero. Zero swung his free arm at the sonic boom and dissipated the energy of the attack. Colonel had followed the blast however, in attempt to attack in the sonic boom's shadow. Colonel shifted to a low incoming stance with his saber reared back, but keeping it pointed forward with the tip near his own face.

That stance… Zero thought as Colonel approached. Colonel's basic attack pattern! Doesn't he realize I know this sequence by heart? Zero readied himself to counter. Colonel pushed his saber forward straight towards Zero's face. Thrust! Zero moved his head to the side slightly and let the saber pass right by him. Colonel twisted his wrist slightly. Swing! Zero stepped back as Colonel cut horizontally at the air. After missing he spun around and primed the saber above his head. Smash! Colonel swung down fiercely. Now interfere the attack right HERE! A little more than halfway through the swing, Zero swung upward, hitting Colonel's saber at just the right angle at just the right time to disrupt Colonel's form and balance, ultimately sending the swing right back in the direction it came from. Now attack! Zero moved in for an attack; however Colonel dropped the saber out of his forced back right hand behind his back and into his left hand below his waist. Using a left handed backward hold on his saber, colonel quickly swiped a surprise attack. Zero caught glimpse of this maneuver an instant before impact and flipped his wrist to get the saber up as fast as possible. He blocked the blow, but was tossed off balance because his balance was weak in the awkward stance he was forced to take. Zero glanced back up at Colonel from the ground to find a saber pointed at his neck.

"Never forget to expect the unexpected… especially when you are sure you know what's coming."

"Lectures Colonel? This is new…" Zero cocked a sarcastic smile.

"I just didn't think you'd fall for such an easy trick."

"Maybe I'm not trying hard enough…" Colonel face tightened at this comment.

"I don't think you're taking this seriously enough… maybe missing an arm would help you focus!" Colonel swiped the his saber to the right, but Zero twisted his waist so the saber passed right under his left armpit, and to Colonel's surprise, Zero dropped his saber and clutched the energy blade of Colonel's with his hands. "What!?"

"Expect the unexpected Colonel!" With a jerk, Zero wrenched the saber out of Colonel's grip and thrust the hilt into Colonel's chest. Colonel focused on his saber, grabbed it, and forced it out of Zero's hands. With Colonel focused on his weapon, Zero moved in to strike and drove his elbow into Colonel's face with enough force to lift him off his feet and send him careening into the building with a loud crash. The minor tremor at the building's base caused a large portion of the side to collapse as well, leaving behind a pile of rubble. Zero dropped his stance for a moment, but immediately took it again when the pile of rubble began to shift. Suddenly a bolt of lightning struck the pile and the debris was tossed up into the air as if hit by an airstrike.

Oh no! Ciel! Zero dashed toward Ciel who was screaming at the pile of rocks heading for her. Zero managed to get in front just in time to cut the incoming rocks to pieces. As the rest of the debris fell around the landscape, Ciel sighed in relief and Zero glared towards the lightning bolts impact zone. Colonel stepped out of the crater as if unfazed by the previous events of the battle.

"I can't quite discern it…" Zero cocked an eyebrow.

"Discern what?" He asked the approaching soldier.

"Before you fought you said you had made a discovery that would aid you in battle." Colonel rested his saber on his shoulder. "I can't quite put my finger on it, however you are radiating a familiar energy… tell me!" Colonel looked somewhat irritated.

"I thought I told you to figure it out yourself." Colonel removed the saber from atop his shoulder and struck a piece of debris so intensely that it shattered.

"Don't play games with me! Everything you've done since we've fought has had a strange feeling to it… I almost felt drawn to it, I pressed harder because I had to know. Why is it like this?!"

"Maybe… because the energy your feeling, I gained from Iris…" Colonel's eyes shot open.

"WHAT!? You expect me to believe that!?" He clenched his saber tightly.

"It's true. When I was out cold before awaking in your base, I had a vision. A vision born from the connection I shared with iris…" Colonel's grip tightened on the saber. "She told me that I had to stop you and make you understand. She reminded me that her heart will always be with me and that as long as I harness the power of our connection you will never defeat me."

At that moment something snapped inside Colonel, his eyes began to glow with hatred, and his body suddenly began sparking all over with the red electricity of his rage powers. There was a shockwave that created wind as the energy output from Colonel reached its max. "ENOUGH!! YOU WILL SPEAK NO MORE OF IRIS!! I DON'T CARE WHAT HAPPENS NOW!! I'M GOING TO KILL YOU!!" Colonel burst forward with tremendous speed. Zero sidestepped away from Ciel to divert his opponent away from her. He took to the air right as Colonel Thrust forward with his saber. Zero readied his saber for a diving strike, but Colonel changed his direction in an instant and Zero found himself helpless in the air.

"ZERO!" Ciel shrieked as she saw Colonel stab through him, or so it looked. Zero twisted his waist just in time to only receive a gash on his side. He escaped death, but received another slash across the chest.

"ARGH!" Zero grunted as he tried to regain mid air control, but Colonel kicked him down to the ground. Zero got to his feet to see Colonel charging again. He's using his basic thrust form, but with his rage energy output it has become a deadly attack! Zero watched the tip of Colonel's sword fly towards his face again. If I take to the air, the same result will ensue… instead… Zero thrust the tip of his saber to a point right behind the tip of Colonel's. Counter and disru… Before Zero could initiate the attack, Colonel knocked Zero's saber away from the zone between them and delivered an elbow to Zero's face, knocking him to the ground again. Realizing the same attack could come yet again, Zero rolled backward and got to his feet quickly to see Colonel preparing to charge again. This time I'll take the initiative! Zero charged forward. Colonel reacted by thrusting early, but Zero disappeared. Zero had tried shifting below and attacking, but Colonel saw right through it and thrust his knee out to hit Zero in the chin. Zero flipped mid flight and landed on his feet. DAMN! Is anything going to work!? Then Zero remembered.

"But what if even that is not enough?"

"Then use the power of the last heart that belongs to you…"

Zero glanced at Ciel, who had her hands clasped together over her heart as she viewed the battle from afar. That's it! Ciel…with you and Iris with me there is nothing I can't overcome!

Ciel noticed Zero glancing at her briefly. He's taking a beating! But… theres nothing I can do……… physically… She closed her eyes. My heart is yours Zero! I will pray for your success!

With a newfound motive, Zero took an offensive stance as Colonel rushed toward him with the same thrust variant attack in mind. Zero merely sidestepped the thrust. Colonel immediately went into a side slash before Zero could react, or so it seemed. In a split second, Zero brought up his saber to block the attack, but instead of taking time to remove his saber and attack, he dropped his saber and rode the force of impact into a circular motion like a centrifuge. As he spun Zero called out his triple rod and ended the rotation with a mighty blow to the back of Colonel's neck. Colonel was sent careening foreword and collided with a large pile of debris.

"RAHHHH!!" Colonel pushed himself off the pile and rocketed toward Zero. Zero in turn, charged as well, exchanging the rod for his saber as he past. There was an impact as the two whisked past each other. "RRRGGGHHH!!" Colonel grunted as he looked down to see a new gash cut into his body. Zero was now on the offensive and charging at Colonel. Colonel wound up a vertical slash and swung just as Zero reached him, but halfway through the swing he suddenly did not have a saber anymore. Zero had used his left hand to rap Colonel on the wrists to loosen the grip on the saber and then kicked the saber away.

"Heeya!!" Zero roared as he swung at the weaponless soldier. But midway through his swing, his hands were shocked by a volt of electricity. Zero looked down to see Colonel's right hand sparking and sending a small energy output to his hand. Before he had time to think, Zero met a barrage of punches. Zero was hit a lot at first, but he eventually slipped in a guard and took the blows to his forearms while he strategized his next move. But when Zero moved in for his own attack, Colonel shifted behind him and got a choke hold on him. He's… trying to snap my neck off!

Zero struggled violently, but he could not escape the iron grip.

"Zero! You can do it! You can break free!" Ciel's encouraging words caught not only Zero's ears, but also Colonel's. He suddenly shot a heated glare in Ciel's direction that made her shrink back in fear.

"Hey you! I told you to keep her out of this!" Zero yelled as he thrust his head backward into Colonel's face.

"ARGH!" Colonel grunted as he dropped Zero. Zero landed on his hands and hand stand kicked Colonel in the lower jaw, sending him into the air. Quickly pulling out his chain rod, Zero latched it into Colonel's chest plate and swung downward, sending Colonel slamming to the ground violently as if he jumped off a skyscraper onto a pile of bricks. Zero returned the chain and stood silently near Colonel's body. Colonel was still breathing a grunting out of anger.

"You see Colonel? With Iris's heart I was able to defeat you, all it needed was a little boost from Ciel's heart. Colonel slowly picked himself up off the ground and glared into Zero's eyes with a painful wish of vengeance still burning deep in his rage. "It's over Colonel, stay down."

"NO!"

"Colo…"

"SHUT UP!! I SAID I WOULD KILL YOU!! AND I WILL!! I WILL DO IT FOR IRIS!!" The sparks reanimated themselves from his body. Zero was surprised to see he had any energy left. "I'LL DO ANYTHING TO KILL YOU AND THAT GIRL!! EVEN IF IT MEANS EXCHANGING MY CONSIOUS FOR POWER!!" Steam began to rise off of his body as the sparks became more and more intense.

"Colonel stop! You'll destroy yourself!" But he was already gone. Colonel's eyes were pure white. Zero only saw two movements. First Colonel was standing over his saber, then suddenly he was behind Zero with his saber wound up and ready to strike. Zero used the Hienkyaku to dodge the attack and create distance, but when he cancelled the dash boosters Colonel had managed to keep up and was behind Zero again. With his saber out in front around Zero he tried to slice Zero's neck, but he was stopped by Zero defending with a quick block from his saber. He's rid himself of any conscious thought! He's like an empty shell with only one purpose… to kill! He really sacrificed his soul for more power! Zero realized that Colonel was no longer behind him. He had dropped his saber and was now making his way in front of Zero, but Zero himself could barely follow his moves. Before he could put together a plan, Zero received a fierce punch to the stomach. As he stepped back from the sudden impact, Colonel delivered more high impact punch followed by a kick to the chest and a tremendously powerful blow to the face that sent Zero crashing into the old Repliforce water fountain. Zero supported himself with one arm as he struggled to see what was happening from the debris of the fountain. Colonel had taken to the air and was now flying towards Zero like a missile. There was nothing Zero could do. Ciel closed her eyes as the impact sounded through the plains. She opened her eyes only to be met with an even more terrible sight. Colonel had pushed Zero to trench through the ground and they were now right next to her and his armor was no longer black. Colonel picked up Zero by the head and smashed him into the ground, and repeated the process five times. Tears came to Ciel's eyes as she watched the torture. To finish, Colonel jumped high into the air and thrusted Zero down with much greater force.

"ZERO!!" Ciel yelled as the impact shockwave blew her off her feet. She was blown back a good ten meters and landed with a thud on the front walk of the base. She looked up and saw Colonel standing over Zero. "No… Ze… Zero……" Colonel turned to her and began advancing. "Zero… get up…" Half of her was yelling at her to run, but the other half didn't want to move away from Zero. Colonel was now upon her. Clenching his fists, he was ready to strike.

…

"ZERO!! I BELIEVE IN YOU!"

Colonel suddenly flew forward, right over Ciel and landed upright before turning to see Zero. His eyes were also white with no sign of expression. This worried Ciel. No! Did he give up his conscious as well!? Suddenly Zero offered her a hand. Surprised, she took it and he gently helped her get up before rocketing in Colonel's direction. He still has some of his conscious! He didn't fully sacrifice himself!

"RAAAAAAHH!!" Zero cried out as he punched Colonel across the face. The force made Colonel fly off his feet. Zero shifted behind and below Colonel, kicking him skyward. Colonel rounded himself in mid air and kicked at Zero, but Zero changed directions and flew around him in a wide angle. Colonel pursued Zero, but met nothing when he caught up. Zero appeared beside Colonel and full out launched a kick into Colonel's chest sending him flying to the ground and through the base.

"GRAAAAAHHHH!!" Colonel burst out of the debris as Zero touched down and dashed toward him. Colonel punched forward, but Zero kicked flipped off the ground, flew over him, kicked the ground again upon landing and stuck his knee into the back of Colonel's head. Colonel flew forward again, but with a quick handspring, was back on his feet. He charged at Zero and threw another punch, but Zero sidestepped it and was now face to face with him. Zero unleashed a fury of punches. Colonel was helpless in the face of this assault. The punches were so fast that not even Colonel could counter or even block. Zero finished with a mighty blow to Colonel's stomach, and let him fall to the ground. Colonel was incredibly damaged. Armor punctures, slash marks, and dents covered his body. Oil and other fluids were seeping from the ruptures. Colonel's eyes slowly faded back to normal and he regained his conscious.

"cough argh…. Impossible… I had Iris… with me… have I truly failed…?" Zero approached Colonels tattered body. "Looks like I lose Zero… now send me to my sister…"

Zero stood over Colonel and raised a fist into the air for the final blow.

…

But he stopped.

"Whats… urgh… wrong Zero? Finish me… i… have failed… to avenge… Iris… a reploid… that fails its purpose… is… a reploid not worth… anything…"

Zero remained stationary and silent, but lowered his fist and looked at it with the unconscious eyes still set in. His fist was covered in Colonel's oil and fluids.

"Kill me… Zero!! Allow me… to join my sister!! DO IT!!"

…

"No."

Zero's eyes returned to normal and he let his fist drop to his side.

"I'm not going to kill you."

"ZERO!! DON'T… COUGH DO THIS… TO ME!!"

"I'm not going to kill you Colonel."

"AAARRGGHHH!! COUGH WHY?! Wh… Why… Zero!? Don't deny me my sister……"

"Colonel… do you want to know why I won't kill you?" Colonel didn't answer. The disheveled warrior just lay still. "Because a promise was made." Colonel faced straight up.

"A… A promise…?"

"Yes… Long ago I promised Iris that I would bring you back alive." Colonel's eyes grew, but he remained silent. "And that is a promise I intend to keep. Iris would be pretty mad if anything were to happen to you, don't you think?" Colonel lay still. And eventually a tear came to the soldier's eye.

"But… you killed…… why would you…"

"Why would I have the honor to fulfill a promise yet still kill in cold blood? I know that's what you think Colonel, but… I loved Iris, and she loved me… her death may have been by my hands, but if you want to blame anyone for her death, blame sigma for forcing her to fight me." Colonel continued to lay still.

"You speak as if I've had a blind purpose…"

"No." Colonel was surprised. "I killed your sister, whether or not sigma had a hand in the circumstances… I was the cause. Your revenge was justified, but dragging my friends into the mix was a bad idea. I would have gladly taken you on privately, but you made a few wrong turns and almost became a murderer." Colonel closed his eyes. "Search yourself Colonel… Iris is with you, let her show you the way."

"I…" He paused. "Oh Iris… how could your own brother be so barbaric?" His eyes opened and he turned his head to Zero. "Zero… forgive me… for involving others… and I apologize for all the trouble…"

"You have no idea how much I've wanted to hear that."

"And thank you… for helping me see the true colors of my deeds…" a small panel flipped up from Colonel's left arm and he began pressing buttons. "Again I thank you… but I think it would be best if I disappeared for a while…"

"Wait!" Ciel ran up. "Do you want us to give you medical attention?"

"Ah, even after all I've done you are willing to help me… you truly are a pure soul Ms. Ciel… but there is no need, I believe these wounds and scares will serve as a reminder…" he paused briefly and exhaled. "You probably won't see me again… I need to be alone, to think things over…" Zero hobbled back a few steps as a bright light surrounded Colonel. "Zero… perhaps someday… we can have a friendly duel… just like old times…"

"Perhaps we could… someday…" Colonel smiled in return and disappeared in a beam of light.

Zero and Ciel stood silent for a moment. Now was it over? Now could they settle down? Zero sighed heavily and turned to Ciel, but after one step he lost balance and collapsed in a heap on the ground. Ciel gasped and crouched down next to him.

"Ugh…… that was a tough battle…" Using his right arm to support himself, Zero removed his helmet with his left hand. His hair poured out from underneath the helmet and he rolled over to be on his back. "Phew! That thing was starting to get uncomfortable!" Ciel smiled and moved closer to him.

"Come here, I bet the dirt isn't very comfortable either." She gently lifted his head and placed it on her lap. "Better?"

"Yes…" Zero shut his eyes and let out a yawn. "Wow… that fight REALLY took a lot out of me…"

"Well it serves you right… you never take it easy on yourself, even when I beg you to."

"Heh… if I took it easy I wouldn't be able to protect the ones I care about… I guess it's my way of showing how much I care…"

"You must really care then, because you usually pop up to the base half dead."

"Hey one time I was able to get to Cerveau myself!"

"One time being the key phrase…"

"Grr you…" Ciel laughed.

"Alright enough… just rest for a bit until we figure out what to do next."

"Okay…"

The two fell silent. As seconds became minutes the silence spread itself butter side up and down, leaving Ciel time to think.

Come to think of it this is the perfect time to tell him how I feel about him… but then why… what's holding me back? She looked to the sky.

Mother… what would you do? I've followed your guidance through all of my life, but here I just… don't know where to go.

--In times of pain, suffering, and disaster, people need something to believe in… something to look up to and help them feel safe even though the world weighs catastrophe upon them. We can give the people their ray of hope…--

…… Mother… we gave the people a ray of hope when we defeated sigma… but what about my ray of hope? She closed her eyes, feeling the breeze against her face. Maybe… our own ray of hope… needs to come from our heart… She clenched her fist and took a deep breath. "Zero… I…" Say it! "Zero I love you!"

She felt so proud of herself for letting it out, but then she looked at Zero… and he was asleep. DAMMIT! She mentally yelled at herself. So much for that…Suddenly a heavy gust rushed past them and Ciel put her hand up to keep her hair out of her face.

"Zero! Ciel!" Ciel looked into the sky and spotted a large silhouette in the light of the sun. As it drew near she made it out to be a resistance transport. She smiled and waved up to it. In no time, Harpuia and Leviathan landed beside them. Ciel gently put Zero's head on the ground and stood up to great them, but was almost tackled by Leviathan.

"Oh you guys are alive!!"

"I knew it…" Harpuia said to himself as he took one knee next to Zero. "You just never die." The transport landed and a team brought out a stretcher to carry Zero in. As they worked Alouette sprinted out to Ciel. Ciel knelt down and hugged her tightly as she cried into Ciel's arms. Cerveau directed the team into the transport and they lifted off, leaving behind the scene of a great battle that will never be in history and never be told in tales of epic duels, but will always remain in the memory of but three individuals.

…

Two days later Cerveau finally finished the repairs on Zero and everyone was looking forward to giving him a true welcome once he was done resting. The day past slowly as Ciel recounted the events of the battle for Harpuia and Leviathan.

"So by believing in his bonds with you and Iris Zero was able to overcome another challenge…" Harpuia pondered out loud. "Is there nothing he can't do?"

"I don't know, but he pulled through again just like always… hopefully the peace won't be disturbed anymore." Leviathan looked at Ciel. "So how are things going with you two?" Ciel blushed. "Oh! Harpuia sorry, but could we talk alone?"

"Hm? Am I being kicked out?"

"Yes, girl talk, now shoo." Levithan brought up her hand giving the shooing motion. Harpuia sighed.

"Very well." He scooted his seat back and rose from his chair, leaving the two behind.

"Sorry I forgot Sage was there… now where was I? Oh yes… please tell me…" Ciel hesitated for a moment. She wasn't sure she wanted to tell Leviathan about everything that happened while they were in the base.

"Well…"

"Hey everyone!" Cerveau's voice cut her off. "Zero's awake, let's all greet him!" Ciel almost sighed in relief. The two of them rose without a word and moved to Cerveau's medical center along with the rest of the resistance. They all gathered in front of the door and Cerveau stepped in front. "Ok lets all welcome back Zero!" The door slid open… but the room was empty. Only Zero's helmet lay on the table. "What!? Where? Cerveau looked all around the room but Zero was nowhere to be found. Everyone was bewildered…… except for Ceil. She smiled and giggled to herself before turning from the confused crowd and heading to the stairs…

…

On the roof…

"I knew I would find you here…" Zero opened his eyes slowly to see Ciel leaning over him.

"Am I that predictable?" he smiled.

"Only to me." She smiled back at him. Zero lifted his head and hands off the floor and sat up against the AC unit, brushing his hair out of his face. Ciel took a place on his right. The two sat silent for a moment, simply enjoying each other's company. They gazed out at the sunset as the sky turned deep reddish orange.

"What a beautiful sunset…" Ciel spoke up.

"I find it much nicer when I have no worries around the corner…" Zero added.

"Heh… true…" Ciel turned her head to him. "Zero… this may be a tough question… but what do you intend to do now?" Her main worry was that he would disappear into the city again like he had after the battle with Sigma. Zero thought for a moment.

"Well… to be honest I really don't know…" Ciel was surprised. Zero was never one to not have a plan. "I think… I'll just stay with you." Ciel slightly blushed.

"With… me?"

"Yes…… remember what I told you? About how time flows downstream and change is inevitable? Well as I do recall you denied me saying you wished that we would never be away from each other no matter what changes may occur." Then Ciel remembered. She did recall saying that, but she was thrilled that he remembered. Zero stood up and took a step towards the sunset. After a moment he turned and offered a hand to Ciel, "And you know what? …" She took his hand and he pulled her up gently. "I also hope that never changes…" Ciel's blush turned bright as she looked right into his eyes. She wasn't sure what was going on or what he planned to do, but something told her to go along with it, as if something was guiding her. They began to move closer to each other. "Oh and by the way…" They were now inches apart. Zero reached up and slowly removed Ciel's headpiece, letting her hair down fully for the small gusts to dance with. "After the battle…" He slowly slid his arms around her waist.

…

"I wasn't asleep…" He drew her in and kissed her. She did not hesitate or take any moment to think. She closed her eyes and threw her arms up around his shoulders and put all her feelings into returning the affection. She was finally in the position she had wanted to be in for so long. Zero felt her return favor and intensified the connection. They were both lost in a world of their own with nothing else around to bother them or tell the otherwise. It was true paradise.

After becoming familiar with each other in a whole different aspect, the two of them broke away in silence. Zero opened his eyes, to see Ciel with her eyes still shut.

"Wow…"

"Did I surprise you?" She slowly opened her eyes.

"No… I just wasn't expecting how it would feel…" She paused for a moment and sighed. "For a reploid… I wasn't expecting you to feel so… human…" They smiled at each other briefly. "So you heard me say it then…"

"Yes I did…"

"And I think I know the answer…"

"But there's more to it."

"More?"

"Yes… Ciel… after Iris' death I locked myself away… buried my feelings and emotions believing they would only bring me pain… I was a chest without a key, a room with no doors… I was locked up with no ray of light showing through. But then you came along. You molded the key to the chest… you found the concealed door to the room… you found the ray of light hidden deep within my soul and touched it… It was unbelievable. I couldn't comprehend it. It's as if my feelings were waiting patiently for a messiah to come and set them free…" He paused and raised his eyes to the sky letting the breeze catch his golden hair. "So Ciel… Let me say the words that you've unchained from the deepest dungeon of my sorrow…" He leaned in close to her ear and whispered softly,

…

"I love you…"

…

Ciel nearly lost all strength in her body. There was no better way he could have worded it and no better way he could have built up to it. She was sold… completely. Small tears formed in her eyes as she leaned in again. The two met again to connect themselves further, this time a little longer than the first, but just as fervidly and affectionately. After a while they reluctantly parted and gazed at each other once more.

"You are incredible Zero… almost too perfect… I can't believe I'm here… like this… with you…"

"Shall we then?"

"Shall we what?"

"Put our newfound bond to good use and protect this new era together?"

"I don't think we'll have to worry much…"

"Why is that?" Ciel leaned up and kissed him on the cheek.

"Because… your efforts have given the people the courage to live… And just as I always have… They believe in you." Zero smiled as he locked a hand with hers and the two left the roof, just as the last glimpse of sun set behind the night horizon.

Emotional Vengence

THE END

Believe in Me

To be continued…

awww didn't that turn out well? i was very please by my final product for the scene i've been building up for such a long time... i hope you all liked it too! BUT THIS IS NOT THE END! i still have 2 or 3 induvidual chapters im planning on sticking into the story to lead up to the Epilouge... so don't count me out just yet!

Once again i would like to thank everyone who has supported me through this deeply... you guys have been great and i hope you continue to read up to the final conclusion.

Please read and review!

Flashgunner over and out!