A/N: I thought I would die before I finished this story. But since I'm not
writing from beyond the grave, you can see it's done. Amazing that a little
one shot turned into this. 16 chapters. I cannot believe that I have
written all those. And gotten all those reviews. One review per chapter,
maybe two, were all I thought I'd get. I'd thank all you guys personally,
but I think that will take forever.
Yes, this is the last chapter. As you can see from my profile, I have a lot of ideas in there. And I have more that aren't even posted. However, I have left this story pretty open, so a sequel may be in the works. I promise I won't leave you hanging like old Miyazaki. But I could never match his talent.
Over the months (wow, has it really been that long?), I've seen this story improve so much from how it started. I can't believe I got this far. I never thought I'd do it, and yet, here I am with a sixteen-chapter story. Amazing.
I hope you all have enjoyed the ride. I know I have.
~Lady Rhiannon~
/Safety First: Don't drink the luminol\
Disclaimer: Do I look like Miyazaki-san to you? Didn't think so. Now read the story.
Leaving Chapter 16 Epilogue
She stopped at the center of the small bridge, in the middle of the park. As she did so, the man by her side halted as well. Crossing to the rail, she looked over the edge to the small slow brook that passed below. The man followed her. "Chihiro, what are you doing?"
His voice seemed to bring her from her thoughts. "I can't believe they're going to tear down the bridge in just a few days. For all the years it's been here, it seemed as if it would last forever."
"They will build another. You know that. You helped make sure of that."
Chihiro sighed sadly as he placed his arms around her and pulled her close. "Yes. But it won't be the same, Kohaku. So many memories are tied to this place. It seems so strange that our child will never see this place as it is now."
As she spoke, he placed a hand over her belly. It was true, that so many significant events had taken place here. This was the spot where, years before, he had told her he loved, though they had both known. Here was where, when she was considered old enough by human standards, he had asked her to marry him. Where she had told him she was with child, his child. So much had happened here.
He kissed the top of her head reassuringly. "Beloved, they will build another bridge. Our child can make her own memories, instead of reliving the past."
Turning her head, Chihiro looked at him, amusement dancing in her eyes. "Her? What if it's a he?"
Kohaku laughed lightly, causing Chihiro to smile.
Rin watched them from a slight distance, before finally rolling her eyes and retracing her steps to where the couple stood. She cleared her throat, causing the pair to look at her. Although she looked somewhat impatient, there was a slight hint of a smile. "Are you two lovebirds going to sit there all day are can we go?"
It was Chihiro's turn to laugh as she pulled away from the arms of her husband a beloved and followed behind Rin down the path. Kohaku followed slightly behind the two women as they talked. As she stepped off the bridge, Chihiro looked back once. And for this moment, she thought, life was perfect.
She knew it wouldn't always be. But they would take the good and bad as it came, Kohaku and her. Their child would do the same, and make her own memories along the way.
Leaving
Yes, this is the last chapter. As you can see from my profile, I have a lot of ideas in there. And I have more that aren't even posted. However, I have left this story pretty open, so a sequel may be in the works. I promise I won't leave you hanging like old Miyazaki. But I could never match his talent.
Over the months (wow, has it really been that long?), I've seen this story improve so much from how it started. I can't believe I got this far. I never thought I'd do it, and yet, here I am with a sixteen-chapter story. Amazing.
I hope you all have enjoyed the ride. I know I have.
~Lady Rhiannon~
/Safety First: Don't drink the luminol\
Disclaimer: Do I look like Miyazaki-san to you? Didn't think so. Now read the story.
Leaving Chapter 16 Epilogue
She stopped at the center of the small bridge, in the middle of the park. As she did so, the man by her side halted as well. Crossing to the rail, she looked over the edge to the small slow brook that passed below. The man followed her. "Chihiro, what are you doing?"
His voice seemed to bring her from her thoughts. "I can't believe they're going to tear down the bridge in just a few days. For all the years it's been here, it seemed as if it would last forever."
"They will build another. You know that. You helped make sure of that."
Chihiro sighed sadly as he placed his arms around her and pulled her close. "Yes. But it won't be the same, Kohaku. So many memories are tied to this place. It seems so strange that our child will never see this place as it is now."
As she spoke, he placed a hand over her belly. It was true, that so many significant events had taken place here. This was the spot where, years before, he had told her he loved, though they had both known. Here was where, when she was considered old enough by human standards, he had asked her to marry him. Where she had told him she was with child, his child. So much had happened here.
He kissed the top of her head reassuringly. "Beloved, they will build another bridge. Our child can make her own memories, instead of reliving the past."
Turning her head, Chihiro looked at him, amusement dancing in her eyes. "Her? What if it's a he?"
Kohaku laughed lightly, causing Chihiro to smile.
Rin watched them from a slight distance, before finally rolling her eyes and retracing her steps to where the couple stood. She cleared her throat, causing the pair to look at her. Although she looked somewhat impatient, there was a slight hint of a smile. "Are you two lovebirds going to sit there all day are can we go?"
It was Chihiro's turn to laugh as she pulled away from the arms of her husband a beloved and followed behind Rin down the path. Kohaku followed slightly behind the two women as they talked. As she stepped off the bridge, Chihiro looked back once. And for this moment, she thought, life was perfect.
She knew it wouldn't always be. But they would take the good and bad as it came, Kohaku and her. Their child would do the same, and make her own memories along the way.
Leaving
