Disclaimer: All Bust-A-Groove elements belong to Enix. I own nothing.

Note: Here we are, peeps! End of the line! This chapter finally reveals who he is. Once again, if you are NOT OPEN-MINDED, do not read this chapter. And if you don't like the guy I picked, too bad! When I started writing this fic, I knew all along who it was gonna be. I would have revealed it in the second chapter of La Rima Tibia if not for a very useful review. Oh yeah, and expect my Pander Forever to start getting updates again.

Special Note: When you review, be sure NOT TO REVEAL HIS NAME AND IDENTITY in your review!!!! People are gonna find out before they read the story!!!!

And now, presenting...

El Ritmo Frio

(Cold Beat)

Chapter 4: At Last

by ArchFaith (formerly known as the ArchPrincess of Saturn)

Felt the sun on my face, in my eyes, in my soul. It felt good.

The sun is shining on me now...as I walk up the path from out of the forest road up to the bank of Tokyo Bay. I wear my hip-hop threads again. Columbo is not present; he doesn't need to be, anymore. I've found my own identity.

After my recovery, my parents kept their word. They started spending large amounts of time with me. Any time they could squeeze in, they were with me. I loved it. After all these years, they were finally warming up to the fact that I was their daughter.

Everyone in BAG was overjoyed. They threw me a welcome home party when I arrived back from the hospital. Balloons, streamers, dancing...you name it, they had it. I was showered with presents...opening them, laughing, hugging the giver. The last present I received was from him. It was a beautiful locket that had a tiny painting of Paris on one side and an image of me and him. Shaped like a tear, for all the sad tears I had shed, and all the happy tears I would shed.

I wear it now, as I stroll up the path to stand under the willow trees. He is already there, lying on a checkered red-and-white picnic blanket. He looks up into the blue sky, his eyes shielded by dark glasses, trying to keep out the sun's glare.

I stand over him and smile. "Hey Shorty-pie," he greets, patting the area next to him. I lie down and place my head on his shoulder. We watch the sun sliding down under the billowing clouds, not quite out of sight yet.

"Paris was fun," I mumble unconsciously.

"Yeah. I know you had fun," he answers, shifting.

"I wish that could happen every day," I whisper honestly.

"Wouldn't you get bored?"

"Nope...Would you?"

"Maybe," he replies jokingly. He strokes my pigtailed hair. "I think we have both grown a lot over the last few weeks, Shortstuff. I mean, you and I..."

I grin. "I know I'm definitely older," I reply.

"You're not the naive little kid I used to know."

"I was never naive!"

He laughs and sits up. I rise with him. "Yeah, and you used to be a jerk!"

"Every guy in Bust-A-Groove was a jerk at some time or other."

"But you were the jerkiest guy of all!"

"Hey!" He shakes his head. "Okay, I used to be, but now I'm not. 'Sides, I got skills no one else's got."

"For real? Hey...the convention was about...?"

"Investing."

"You mean like business?"

"Yeah. Business investing."

"I never knew you did anything like that."

"What, you think I stay at home and pick my nose? I go out and do stuff." He crossed his arms. "You know so much about me and you didn't know that?"

"Well, you ARE secretive sometimes."

He laughs. "So are you." He leans back on the blanket. We snuggle and watch the sun disappear beneath the clouds. Boats floating in the Bay start to pull up their anchors and head to the piers.

"We should be leaving soon," he tells me, hugging me close.

"Just a little longer," I plead. I point to the sky. "Look! The stars are coming out!"

"Make a wish," he suggests. I close my eyes and wish: I wish this happiness stays with me forever.

"Now you make one," I tell him.

He shakes his head. "I made one a few weeks ago. It already came true."

"What was it?"

"That I would find the right person for me." He looks up at the twinkling stars, beginning to shine brightly. "If you wanna know the truth, I never thought I'd be ending up with you, Shorty. Out of the other girls—Frida, Comet, Kitty-N, Pinky, Kelly-you were the one I thought the least of."

"Actually, I never really thought I'd be with you either," I answer. "The other guys were so much better!"

He playfully tickles me. "Hey!"

I give his outfit a tug and snatch the glasses off his face. "HEY!"

We calm down and laugh. "Hahahaha," he chuckles. "Why do I put up with you, Shortstuff? What do I love you like I do?"

I grin and embrace him. "'Cause you can't resist loving somebody as cute as me."

We lie there, still and quiet, under the stars. I smile, contented.

All this searching, all this loneliness, all this torture...it's gone.

I feel safe. Looking into his eyes, I can tell he feels secure as well.

I feel your warmth full blast...

"Hiro."

THE END

ArchFaith is not responsible for any seizures you might be having at this time.