Vandread Fanfic - Until the End
Epilogue - Until the End...
Rating - G / Romance / Sci-Fi
Author's Note - sob sob Is this the end?
I need your love
'cause I'm on fire
I need your love
come on and run to me
Dave Simon- I Need Your Love
Vanguard X emerged from hyperspace and was approaching a planet nearby.
"That's Terra alright. At last, I'm home..."
Rick checked the monitor for any sign of possible threats.
"Looks like they abandoned this planet completely. There is no sign of enemy whatsoever. "
Rick maneuvered Vanguard X into atmosphere and look for a suitable place to land without attracting any unwanted attention.
"Look. This area is surrounded by mountains. We'll land here."
Rick landed the Vanguard X and jumped out of the cockpit. He scanned the area around him.
"You stay here. I'll go and find a town. There should be one around here."
After hours of treacherous journey from the mountains, Rick found a small town. It is different from the place he used to live in. There are no tall buildings. No high-tech things he used to see. It's just a normal, small country town. All seems ordinary as people go on with their business. An old man greets him as he entered.
"Welcome to Gale, son."
"Gale? I've never heard of it."
"Which cave did you came from? This town has been here for almost ten years."
"Ten years? I'm sorry. Either I really never heard of it or my knowledge of geography really sucked."
The old man then looked at him in the eyes.
"Um? You looked familiar. But...nah."
"Is there a woman by the name of Sara live around here?"
"Yup there is. She's living at the end of town. Near the workshop."
"She's a mechanic?"
"Yup. And a beauty to boot."
"Thanks. I'll go find her." Rick then bid the old man farewell.
"Aya-chan! Where are you going?" A woman dressed in blue called out the little girl, which is her daughter.
"I've got a feeling that my father is here in this town. I'm gonna find him." The blonde haired girl then ran away leaving her mother with loads of cars to repair.
"You've been saying that for the last three days. Why don't you just help your mother at this workshop...?" She sighed and sat down. Thinking about him. The man she loved. Aya's long lost father. Rick.
(Rick, it's been nine years now. Where have you been? Aya wanted to see you so badly. Will I ever see you again?)
She remembered his last words.
(I promise I'll be back for you...)
The little girl called Aya was walking around town to look for her father that she never met before. She only heard from what her mother said about him.
"Let's see...blonde hair, black outfit, dark eyes and...oh yeah, a black guitar."
Suddenly, she bumped into an old man. The old man who greeted Rick at the entrance.
"Aya, good to see you. Where's your mother?"
"She's at the workshop. What happened to you, Grandpa Jack? You looked like you've seen a ghost."
"Maybe. There's a stranger in this town. He reminds me of someone...."
Upon hearing this, Aya got excited.
"Oh oh, did he wear black outfit and had a blonde hair?"
"Let's see...nope. He's in white suit and had a flowing, black hair with a stroke of white in the middle."
"Did he have dark eyes like me?"
"Nope. He got a pair of sparkling blue eyes. I've never seen that before. The eyes that drawn people to it."
Disappointed, she sighed.
"Oh well..."
"Wait, I think he had a black guitar at his back."
Aya's face lightened up.
"Oh, do you know where he's going?"
"He's looking for your mother. I think he's heading for the workshop."
"Thanks Grandpa Jack. See you."
Aya ran back to the workshop as fast as she could.
(Father, I always knew you will come back to see mom.)
Rick is walking in front of a local restaurant when he realized he didn't eat anything since he arrived.
(I don't have any money. How the hell am I going to eat? Ah well, better give it a try...)
Rick entered the restaurant and the whole place ceased to silence. Every pair of eyes looked at him. Rick ignored it and walked to the available table. A waiter approached him.
"May I have your order, sir?"
"Well...ah...better tell you this. I'm broke right now. I'll do anything as payment for the meal."
The waiter grinned.
"Sir, did you read our notice outside? Today's Valentine's Day. Everything's free of charge."
"Oh, Valentine's Day? Yeah, sorry about that. Can you give me today's special?"
"Today's special is 'Love Soup'. Anything else?"
"Do you have any Chateau Lafitte '85?"
"Ah, of course. I'll be delivering your orders as quick as possible."
"Thanks."
The waiter then walked away.
(Valentine's Day? Man, am I lucky or what? No wonder most of the people around here are love couples.)
A few minutes later, the waiter returned with his orders. With him is a man in black tuxedo. He looked familiar to him.
"Here are your orders, sir. By the way, this is the manager of this restaurant, Mr. Raymond."
"Raymond...? You're not happened to be THAT Raymond? The boss of the recording company."
"I see you still remember me...Rick. My waiter here was once a fanatic fan of Project Zero."
"It's an honor to meet you in person, sir. I instantly recognized you when I saw your features and that black guitar."
The waiter bowed slightly.
"Actually I'm lost here. What happened to this world?"
"Lyle, get back to work. Rick and I have a few things to catch up with."
"As you wish sir."
"The invaders occupied this planet for about seven years and two years ago, they left for no apparent reason. However, they destroyed every major city and we have to rebuild everything from scratch. Say, you've changed so much. Where have you been?"
Rick remembered Nirvana, its crew and...Meia.
"Well...some things better left unspoken."
Raymond raised an eyebrow.
"Okay, let's leave it at that."
"But nine years? I thought I left for only about a year or so."
"Hah! No wonder you didn't age that much. Guess all that space traveling slowed down your ageing rate."
"Yeah, you can put it that way. Oh yeah, is Sara living around here? I need to see her."
"Yes. She's here. I'm the one that helped her out from the imprisonment of those invaders."
"Thanks."
"I did what I have to and you did yours."
"But I shouldn't leave her like that..."
"Hey, as long as she's alright there's nothing to worry about."
"Yeah, guess you're right."
"So, how about it?"
"What?"
"I want you to sing for these couple in the restaurant. C'mon. Show me that 'mad skillz' of yours."
"Well, ah...guess so."
Aya is dragging Sara around town, in search of Rick.
"C'mon mom. Father should be around here somewhere."
"Aya-chan, how do you know your father is here?" Sara asked her. She is still in a mess, dirty all over her clothes because of her workload at the workshop.
"Grandpa Jack told me. Besides, I could feel his presence."
They were walking in front of the restaurant when Sara heard a familiar voice, singing...
I'm all alone in the big city
thrown away like an empty can
If love is love until we know everything about each other
Then let's sleep forever...
Until the end of the world, we won't be apart
I wished it for countless nights
Why does the past destroy itself
even the worn-out heart that shines?
Melancholically fleeting thoughts... on this tragedy night
And so, people seek an answer
And lose something that's irreplaceable
A city filled with desires, even the stardust
in the night skies doesn't shine on us
Before the world comes to an end, please make me listen
A catastrophy well suited to a flower in full bloom...
While everyone wishes, no one believes in eternity
...Even so, they certainly dream about tomorrow
Short-lived days and... this tragedy night
Until the world come to an end, we won't be apart.
I wished it for countless nights
Why does the past destroy
even the worn-out heart that shines?
Melancholically fleeting thoughts... on this tragedy night
This tragedy night
Wands - Sekai ga Owaru Made Wa (Until the End of The World-transliterated)
Slam Dunk Second Ending Theme
The audience in the restaurant gave a big clap as soon as Rick finished. Some of them even started to cheer.
"You've improved. I'm impressed." Raymond commented.
"Yeah. Thanks. I'd better be going now. I have a promise to keep."
Raymond was looking at the entrance and said,
"Looks like you don't have to. She already found you."
Rick looked at the entrance. Sara stood there, her eyes widened and tried to contain herself. Aya looked at her, and then Rick. Then, she looked back at her mother.
"Mom, is that...?"
Sara didn't reply. She walked towards him and stopped within a few feet.
"Sara, I..."
Sara narrowed her eyes and punched Rick in the gut. Rick reeled back, clutching his stomach. Raymond was shocked by her actions.
"Ouch...Sara, it's me. Rick."
She then cried in his arms, beating his chest repeatedly.
"YOU...WHAT TOOK YOU SO LONG? MY LIFE IS A LIVING HELL WITHOUT YOU!!!"
Rick closed his eyes and hold her tight. With tears flowing on his cheek, he said,
"I'm sorry. I knew that I shouldn't left you in the first place. However, this time, I will never, ever leave you again. I promise, until the end of the world, until the day I die, until hell freezes over, I will never leave you ever again..."
"You've changed so much...I almost didn't recognize you if it wasn't your voice and grandpa's guitar..."
"Sara, my looks might have changed, but my feelings for you will never change. Today, tomorrow and forever..."
"Rick, say it...I want you to say it..."
"Sara, I LOVE YOU. Straight from my heart, I LOVE YOU." With that, he kissed her on the lips, passionately.
The people that watched the whole scene clapped once again. The females were crying after watching it. Then, Aya ran towards Rick and tugged his coat. Rick looked at her. Curious, he asked Sara.
"Sara, who is this?"
"Rick, this..." Then her reply was cut short.
"Dad!! I knew you will come back!!" She then hugged Rick, crying. His eyes widened.
"Dad? Then she's..."
Sara gave a nod.
"Yes. She's our daughter, Aya."
"My...daughter? I think I'm gonna..."
Then he fainted, flat on his back. Sara kneeled beside him and screamed,
"RICK!!"
"DAD!! Wake up!!"
"Haha. Guess he's in shock." Raymond laughed. Sara and Aya tried to revive him.
On the other side of the universe, spaceship Nirvana. Nine months and ten days since Rick left. An eventful...event was about to happen.
"Oh, I can see its head!! Push harder, Meia!!" Jura said to Meia.
"I'm...urghh...trying..." she replied between her breath.
"Meia, you're almost there. Just a few more..." Ezra said as she tried to pull Meia's baby out.
"Easy, Ezra. We don't want to hurt the baby." Duero cautioned her.
Meia suddenly saw Rick standing beside her, holding her hand, smiling.
(Meia, try harder. You're almost there.)
She smiled at him despite her pain and Rick leaned and kissed her forehead. Then, he disappeared.
Meia pushed with all her strength and let out a shout.
"AAAARGGHHH!!"
Then, everything went black.
A few hours later...
Meia opened her eyes and looked around her. Everyone including Magno was looking at her. She stood beside her and held her hand.
"Congratulations, Meia. You are now a mother."
"Leader, congrats." Dita said to her.
"I want to see my baby..."
"Of course. Hibiki, bring the baby to her." BC said to Hibiki.
"Why do I have to do this?" he sighed. He reluctantly carried the baby and put it beside Meia. Meia looked her own child. It has sparkling blue eyes, just like someone she loved. Meia had an uneasy feeling when she touched her child.
"It's so cuuute!!" Dita said excitedly.
"Meia, your baby is a boy! Who would have guessed?" Jura answered her curiousity. Meia smiled.
"A...boy? It must be him then..."
"Eh? You mean the Oma wasn't even a woman?" Barnette asked her.
"Yes. This baby...is Rick's...son." She gave a hesitant reply.
Magno grinned but the others stared at Meia in disbelief.
"Meia, how you and him...do it?" Jura asked her curiously. Meia was slightly blushing when she heard it.
"Well...it is embarassing to tell..."
"Hey! You're hiding something!!" Barnette said to her.
"I promised him, not to tell anyone..."
Magno smiled and said,
"I see. We have to give him a man's name then."
"Pyoro 2!!" Pyoro hopped up and down beside the bed.
"Hmm...Muramasa?" Duero gave an opinion.
"That's not right. Masamune is better!!" Bart chipped in.
"Uhh...Hyuga..?" Hibiki said.
Meia smiled.
"Thanks. But I have another name in mind."
"Oh, what is it?" Dita asked as she playing with the baby.
Meia kissed the baby on the head and said,
"From now, your name is Axel. Axel Gisborn."
"That's a good name." Duero said. Bart and Hibiki nodded in agreement.
"Seems that Karu-chan likes your baby." Ezra said as she struggling to restrain her daughter, Kahlua from reaching Meia's new born baby.
Everyone in the room laughed.
She then touched the baby with her hand. Then the baby, which is name Axel, laughed and held on to Meia's index finger. She closed her eyes and the thought of Rick entered her mind.
"Rick, I hope you're happy out there..."
I wish I could just make you turn around,
turn around and see me cry
There's so much I need to say to you,
so many reasons why
You're the only one who really knew me at all
Phil Collins- Against All Odds
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Man, it was like I won an Oscar or something. But then again, I feel compelled to write this since this is my first fanfic that I posted on the net. It is also the most life consuming fanfic I ever written. (I also wrote some unreleased fic. In addition, I'm considering about writing a sequel but that will take another lifetime to complete.)
First, I wanna thank myself for writing this piece of crap and wasted most of my time doing it. I also wanna thank my PC for didn't crash on me while I'm writing this fic.(Microsoft products ain't that bad after all.)
I wanna thank my parents for didn't know what am I doing late in the night writing this stuff. Then, special thanx to my lecturers for extending the dateline for most of my assignments. Gomen-na. Don't worry; I'll complete my 3D animation project on time. (Man, I didn't even start a storyboard for it.)
I also wanna thank my best pal, Murder of Crows (sorry, he didn't want any of you guys to knew his real name.) for giving me ideas to finish this fic even though it is not intentional. (And I still hold on to your phrase 'when you're at the top, the only way to go is down' since 1998
- Yeah, those good old days.) Hear my advice: go out and get yourself a girlfriend.
Special thanx to vandreadML and vanfanfic on Yahoo! Groups. Without you guys, I'll never take up a chance to write a Vandread Fanfic. To , arigatou for letting me be one of many crazy headed 'fanfictioneer' over there.
Thanx to reviewers that reviewed this fic. All your comments (constructive & destructive) are appreciated. Thanx again.
Finally, to you readers out there, a really huge THANX for reading this fic. I love you all!!
WHITE SHADOW
-I AM PROUD OF WHAT I AM-
23rd JULY 2002
