So, this is it. The last chapter.... Sigh, by the time you're reading this, I should be in school...but I finally finished this before the going back to school. Well, I don't think I'll write anything else anytime soon...not until I get a break from school...oh yes, I'm involved in a lotta school activities. So, hope to see ya all reading my future fics when I come back^^
Oh yeah, how can I forget the "before reading warnings".... Hmm, well, you all know the drill, right?
***
(Third person view)
By the time Serge and his company all crammed into the hallway on the second floor, they could see that the door to the balcony is wide open.... Each of them stopped dead in their track when fierce winds blew the cold air from the outside into the hall, making Kid shiver and shake her body as she wrapped her arms around her body to protect herself from the coldness. It happened so abruptly, yet the weather has never been like this around Viper Manor...it's like a premonition that something big will happen...something...that not everyone appreciates...
"By the dragon gods..." Kid muttered, "What is Steena doing outside?"
"I...I don't think she has any...any elements on her..." Riddle said as she started to shiver as well, "I just hope nothing bad happens..."
'I have a very bad feeling...' Serge thought as he made his way up the stairs to the balcony, "Well guys, let's go!" Kid and Riddle nodded instantly and ran past Serge and the door that leads to the balcony, but Glenn just stared down at the floor...with an Einlanzer in his hand.
"Glenn?" Serge could probably guess what's happening, "What's wrong?"
"...What should I do...Serge?" Glenn asked apathetically as he clutched his hand at the Einlanzer and stood there, looking down at the floor, "The person who killed Leena...the person who separated us...will be standing right in front of me..."
"Glenn..." Serge put on a face full of sympathy for the dragoon, "As long as...you don't kill her---"
"I can't guarantee you on that," Glenn replied suddenly, cutting Serge off, "I might lose myself again...like yesterday..."
"...I'm sure Leena wouldn't wanted you to do that..." Serge said, and Glenn raised his head to look up at Serge, "We were, including Steena, all friends before! Leena wouldn't want to see another one of her friends die...especially at the hands of her fiancé..."
"..."
"If you're killed and can see everything from up there," Serge pointed at the top, "...And you left Leena behind, would you want to see Leena avenge for you by killing one of your friends, too...?"
Glenn squinted his eyes, and kept quiet. Soon afterwards, he withdrew the Einlanzer and released the sword, letting it fall on the hallway. Serge gave Glenn a nod as he walked up the stairs barehanded.
"Thanks..." Glenn whispered when he walked up to where Serge is, "Let's go, they're waiting for us..."
As they went out, they could see Steena leaning on the tip of the balcony, back facing them, and looking upwards at the sky. 'That spot Steena is at...is the spot that Kid and I fell off the Manor when we intruded this place...so long ago...' Serge thought to himself. Steena was silent, and she seemed to be impervious to the cold winds that blew savagely at the balcony. The other two girls are standing beside the pond; Serge glanced at Kid, but she just shrugged in confusion. Looking at Riddle, she only shook her head with a worried expression.
Serge took a deep breath...and walked towards to where Steena is standing...but the other people remained standing near the pond. When Serge got to about 5 feet away from where Steena is, the winds suddenly died down...
"...It's so beautiful, isn't it?" Steena asked monotonously with her back still facing the rest of them, "I am talking about the stars...."
Serge looked upwards at the sky. True, the night sky is twinkling with millions of shimmers...and there are six huge moons that scattered around the sky...each glowing in its specific color...it was absolutely amazing.
"Guile and I...used to watch stars in Guldove all the time..." Steena straightened herself up and looked down at the bluffs, which is directly under the balcony, "...He would tell me...all these stories about the constellations..."
Silence.
"But...I never thought we would end up like this..." Steena chuckled lightly...in a remorse tone, "Everyone will hate me...for what I did..."
"Steena, it's not--- " Serge tried to interrupt Steena.
"Lady Riddle, allow me to express my apologies..." Steena cut Serge off as she turned around. Steena had a mild smile...but unlike her everyday expression, it was a gloomy...sullen smile, "This was, indeed, supposed to be a happy gathering of all of us...but I ruined it for everyone..."
Riddle bit her bottom lip and shook her head slowly. She couldn't think of anything to say.... The person standing in front of her is the killer...but she's also her friend...
"Glenn...I am so sorry...you can kill me now like you said yesterday..." Steena turned her head to face the dragoon.
Glenn turned to face elsewhere. He didn't want to look at Steena directly, because he didn't know how to react to Steena's words.... Of course, this is the killer, but Serge's words from moments ago and his thoughts are struggling with each other...he just didn't know what to do...
"...No? And Kid..." Steena looked at her, "Sorry for putting you through all this..."
"Steena..." Kid could only manage to speak her name...she focused her gaze at the shaman...
"Serge..." When Steena spoke his name, Serge looked down from his gaze up to the night sky, "If you didn't find out about this...I'll still end up the same way..."
"W-wait, what do you mean?" Riddle asked as she stepped closer, but Kid immediately grabbed her garment and shook her head. Riddle got the message and slowly retreated to where she was standing, "Steena...?"
"Steena...don't do anything stupid..." Concerned...and confused at her words, Serge reached out his arm, "Come back inside...please?" But Steena only backed herself slowly to the tip of the balcony.
"Serge...thank you..." Steena gathered herself and smiled...her usual smile..."Thank you...for giving me this ring back..."
She fell.
The remaining people on the balcony immediately crowded onto the tip of the balcony and looked down. Steena was falling up-side-down, head first, but she didn't scream.... Tears skidded out of her eyes...she looked...more peaceful than anyone.... Soon, a loud noise was heard, but it was not the sound of waves splashing.... The girls instantly drew back their head, sickened...
Steena was two feet away from the water...
~
(Serge's POV)
"...I still can't believe all that that has just happened..." I sat on my bed and mumbled to Kid in my room. It was now 5:00 in the morning, but it's still pitch black outside. Kid went into the restroom for a long time now...the sight of Steena's death must have really hit her mentally. It's so hard to see one of your friends end his/her life like that...it's disturbing.
"Yeah...I can't believe it either..." Kid replied sadly from behind the wall. She seemed to have lost all her energy after the whole ordeal....
"The guests...all left the Manor..." I laid flat on the bed, trying to relax myself and clear my mind, "None of them spoke much...what would happen to all of us if we keep on like this...?"
"I don't know...Riddle is very depressed, too.... She kept saying that it's all her fault..."
"Well, she helped me a lot...if it wasn't for her, then I couldn't summon Janice into the Manor on time..." Yes, as I recall correctly...
*~*
"...Okay, it has been done..." Riddle said to me as we watched her maid hurried out of the room, "But...may I ask...why...?"
"It's a key to determine who the killer is," I said plainly and took a look at the clock in her room, it's about 3:00 in the afternoon, "Do you think we can make it in time before dinner tomorrow?"
"You need not worry..." She replied with a usual smile.
*~*
"But she still can't take her mind off of thinking that she's at fault...?" I sighed, "Never mind that, what happened to everyone in the Manor...?"
"Karsh, Zoah, and Marcy still have to go on with their duties in the Manor, ye know?" Kid replied, "Same goes for Luccia and Orcha..."
"...What about Glenn?" I asked. Yeah, what exactly happened between her and Glenn when I asked her to go check up on him two days ago...?
"He said he needed some time to rest..." Kid replied casually.
"Huh, hey Kid...I've been wanting to ask you this for a long time but..." I said, "What happened between you two?"
"Nothing much..." Kid replied coolly. Right, like I can't see through that...
"Kid...tell me, or did you---"
"Wait, Serge, just a moment, I'm almost done...!" Kid interrupted.
"What..." I sat up on my bed, having the slightest idea of what she's up to, "What are you---"
Then, she walked out, in a totally different costume. It was an evening dress, and I recognize that dress...it was the one that she planned to wear on the originally planned dance. I have to say, she looked gorgeous...she's not the tomboy I know anymore. She wore earrings made of ruby...and her dress is just light red...which suited her perfectly...
"What's this...all of a sudden?" I chuckled...completely mesmerized by her look.
"In case yer' wondering," Kid pointed her gloved hands at me, "Glenn only told me...what happened between him and Leena...and it's as simple as that..."
"Oh...? So what's this?" I asked, going back to the subject.
"Oi, Glenn also told me...to treasure the time you and I have together..." Kid blushed, "Because, ye never know what would happen next..." She stepped towards me and grabbed my hands to put one on her right hand and the other around her waist. Then...we began to dance slowly....
"Kid...?" I noticed that something's wrong with her...
"...Leena...did something similar to this to Glenn...the night before she died..." Kid dived her head into my chest, she's smiling, but she also seemed to be sobbing...
"You know, I could always hook Glenn up with the other Leena...but it's a completely different person...yet it's the same person..." I said, contradicting myself. It's such a pain to deal with alternate universe...
"I know...but I'm only sad because of this whole thing..." Kid replied, still sobbing.
"..." I couldn't think of anything to say, so I only pulled her closer to me, and she looked up...facing me directly. There's only a few inches of space between her face and mine...and slowly, she reached up to me and closed her eyes....
I put my index finger on her lips to stop her advancement.
"...Serge...?"
"There's no rush...we can just stay like this...forever..." I said.
The room was dark...the only thing that was lighted was the damp light from the lamp. But I know that soon the sun will rise...and all this...would come to a conclusion.
We danced slowly, Kid rested her head onto my shoulder...it seems like we really can go on like this...forever...and...
"...And ever..." I finished my line.
***
Finally done with da whole thing! Well, I should be in school...but please, review for me...? I'll come back and read it, even though I can't respond...(I actually won't have time to do that...)
Dixxy – You thought it was Pip? Very interesting...^^ Hey! Maybe you should write a suspense fic in your upcoming stories...yeah, so you're definitely going to go with story #2, right? YEA~~~~ ^___________^ Oh yeah, keep up with "Marooned!"^^
Tami – Thank you...this fic started all because of your encouragement! If it weren't for you...then...I wouldn't be typing this at midnight.... Thank you so much!
Credits:
Idea of the ring/some dialogs: Kindaichi volume 17~18 (Castle with wax figure)
Ice machine/carbon dioxide trick: Konan "Special" volume 7 (I think...) The very first story
Guile's death trick/poison needle trick: Konan (regular) volume 10 (I think)
The above all corresponds to Manga volumes.