Remnants of the Sky
By Zell's Girl
Rating: PG-13
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Chapter Eleven: Parting
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This is a story young woman's search of love and the broken heart of a noble knight. Remember: as hopeless as things seem, love is something to believe in.
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Yumi walked into the bar, pushing her way through the over-packed room. The entire place was loud and disorderly, which usually was how parties ended up. Looking about frantically, she quickly spotted Sir Percival, Lady Chris, and Sir Salome talking in the corner of the room. Yumi walked over, assuming these were the people he'd look for if he were here.
"Hello there, Lady Chris, Sir Percival, Sir Salome," Yumi greeted, "by any chance, have you seen Sir Borus?"
"Nope."
"Not tonight."
"Can't say that I have."
"Oh," she sighed, "do you know where I could find him?"
Percival laughed, "He's probably getting a drink or something. Well, anyway, I suppose you're leaving soon, Miss Yumi?"
"Uh huh, when Yuiri gives the word, I'm leaving. I'm already packed and ready to go," she informed the knight.
"It was very nice to have met you, Miss Yumi." Salome offered.
"We'll miss you, Yumi. You're a good fighter," Chris said with a nod.
"It was an honor to serve here at the sides of such famous knights. I am glad to have met you, Lady Chris, Sir Salome. And you," Yumi chirped, pointing at Percival, "it was great getting to know you. I am truly blessed to have a friend like you."
Percival beamed at the praise, which made Chris and Salome grin as well. "I enjoyed our time together, Yumi, I hope you have a wonderful time back at your village." Percival gave Yumi a friendly hug. When he let go, she shook his hand.
"Hey guys, how are all of you?" Borus asked, approaching his fellow knights. "Hope you guys saved some fun for me." Yumi turned to see Borus behind her.
"Hello Sir Borus."
"Miss Yumi," He bowed quickly, "will you be departing tomorrow?" Yumi looked sadly towards her feet.
"Yes… yes I think so. Whenever Yuiri decides to leave I'm going with her. She's quite anxious to get back to the village, I think."
Borus sighed, "then this would be goodbye?"
"I suppose," Yumi murmured.
With that, Borus embraced Yumi tightly. He quickly whispered into her ear, "I love you." The room was loud so only she Yumi heard him, or so he hoped.
"I love you too," she whispered in response.
Borus let her go.
He let her go forever. Tomorrow she'd walk out of his life. Tomorrow she would disappear. He was given so little time, but he knew he loved her. It was all far different then what he had felt for Chris. What he fel for Yumi was much more quiet, much more peaceful, not as much a feeling as a part of his spirit.
As she pulled back, she held onto the knight's hands. "May the spirit bless you all the days of your life."
She didn't want to let go. Neither did he. Tomorrow she'd be gone but tonight… they had tonight. She knew his crimes, she knew his pain, but they didn't matter. What mattered was now. What was palpable this moment…
"Best of luck to you too," he murmured. Borus continued to force a smile.
"Yumi!" her sister shouted, making her way across the floor. The elder Shaman girl pushed through the crowd, forcing her way to her sister. "Miss Viki said she could teleport us home at around eight tomorrow morning. Are you all packed and ready to go?" Yumi turned to her sister. She blinked several times.
"Yeah. Yes, I will be ready to go then," Yumi muttered. Borus' gaze became more hollow and distraught with the conformation of her departure. Yuiri grinned and departed, en route to find Sir Dios once again.
Yumi looked down at her feet. It was over.
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The party lasted well into the next day. People were still drinking and chatting in legendary numbers even as Yumi and Yuiri stood at the portal waiting for Viki. Borus was waiting inconspicuously near the door to the appointer's, watching Yumi. Yumi stared at him. He silently stood there and watched, he waited. Yumi smiled at the knight, who grinned in return.
"I'm coming!" Viki yelled, running down the hall. As Viki skidded into the room, she accidentally knocked over a Calerian urn that sat on a small brown desk. "Oops! Sorry I'm late! I was visiting Bishop Sasarai in the infirmary and kindddddda lost track of time!
"Well then, are you ready to teleport?" She asked cheerily. "Alma Kinan Village, right?"
"Right!" Yuiri nodded.
The dark-haired mage waved her staff about, opening the portal within the blinking mirror. "Okay, all aboard!"
Yuiri smiled and offered a quick 'thank you' before running to the other side of the mirror. Yumi paused. She gave Sir Borus one last look. He waved at her, smiling. Yumi waved back at him, and walked through the mirror.
She then walked out of his life for what could be forever.
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Borus walked back to his quarters, a wave of depression coursing through him. He walked up the stairs sadly. When he opened the door and found the room empty, he sat at the oh-so-familiar desk.
There, on the desk, waited the usual stack of papers. He had work to do, which the others were relying on him to complete. Though his life had changed, his world had changed, he was still there. He was still alive. He was still bound to his duty and bound to that paperwork.
He could only hope that Yumi was happy and was resuming normal life too.
"Sir Borus! We're departing tomorrow night after dinner!" Louis called through the door. "Salome says to finish the paperwork before we leave!"
"All right Louis."
It looked like he was going back home to his normal life too. Things had changed so quickly, which didn't surprise the blonde knight at all. As easily as she entered his life she left it. All the while, there was change, and after, more changes would still occur. Change is the one constant in life.
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Yumi blinked as she reached the other side. The familiar green grass and wooden cabins sat peacefully beyond the pine wall. Yuiri walked through the gate and Yumi quickly followed.
"One two three… Surprise!" cried an entire village of female warriors.
"Welcome back Yuiri and Yumi! It's been so long since you left!" chirped a young villager.
"This was so nice of all of you! How did you know we were coming back?" Yumi asked, smiling at all of her people.
"Great Auntie said the spirits foretold your return." An older woman informed.
"Oh yes!" Yuiri recalled, "I have that runic book for her! Is she still in the main building?"
"Yuh huh!"
"Yumi, I'll take your bag back to the house. We'll unpack later, okay? I just need to drop off that book." Yuiri told her sister. Yumi handed her black bag to Yuiri as she began to speak with Yulen and Yensa, two of the members of her old platoon.
Entering her house, Yuiri dropped her bag on her bed. She placed Yumi's near the door, leaning it gently against the wall. She opened the bag happily and quickly spotted a piece of paper. "What's this?"
Yuiri unfolded the paper and quietly read it to herself.
Dearest Yumi,
Is love something that can be found? Is it something that is tangible to your average person, or is it only for those the Goddess deems worthy? Perhaps it is just falsehood, an illusion the human mind concocts? Love is the question and answer, the paradox.
The world seems like a cruel place. People are manipulative, and will do anything for power and money, including hurt each other. In a world like this, where does love fit into our lives? Somewhere between the cracks? In the unnoticed cogs? Love is something that seems unnecessary some days, but it's all that matters on others.
Love is not something to be forced. The heart makes its own decisions. It defies knowledge. It spits upon the greater good. Love seems senseless and stubborn. It seems to fool and deceive the most reasonable of people. But, for every shadow, there is twice as much light. That light is just unnoticed when we're blinded.
But, even the blind can sense things. It does not take much to read a person's eyes. The human face gives us many kinds of signals. Signals can be crossed. Signals can be misinterpreted. Not to mention, there is the hazard of a lying tongue. With all these risks, why do people bother?
I'll tell you, it's not because of pride. Nor is it because of stature. It is not due to selfish needs or self-pleasure. It is not to keep that one, lingering moment of happiness. Love, truly, is a selfless act. As the ancients said, 'The only reasonable act is love'.
Grasp that notion and take it with you. Never lose it. There's something reassuring there. Despite the pain, despite the sorrows, despite the situation, love is there. It's sensible and reasonable and logical to love, to feel. It's not a sin to have a heart.
Love looks past so many things; love is blind. The past, the present, the future; they don't matter—love is timeless. Love makes you believe in yourself and in others. Love can make a believer out of most people, regardless of who they are.
Troubles may arise. Faith may be broken. But regardless, love is there. Love is a wonderful thing. I am happy to have known it. I am happy that you may know it. At least, we have that. Despite dilemma, despite chaos… I know that I have loved.
In your smile I have seen all the love the world has to offer. In your tears I have suffered more then any blow a sword could deal me. In your heart, I have seen more truth then in anything else. And in your eyes, I have seen sparkling rays of hope.
You made me believe in myself. For that I'm thankful. You treated me so kindly. I am most gracious. You made me laugh and you made me smile. Thank you. You were always yourself, and for that, I love you.
I swear I will fight for love. I will fight for you all the days of my life. I put this upon my honor and I hold it close to my heart. The heart that used to be so cold, so frigid, which you thawed with such ease.
Just a few short days before I wrote this letter, you told me you didn't know love. I know, now, that then, neither did I. You see, though I have seen much of the known world, I am far from omniscient.
Perhaps we have met before, in a different time, a different reality. Perhaps each time we have left each other in the same way. I know in all these possible times before, if we parted ways, I always loved you. As I swear, and may have sworn many times before, I will always be at your side at heart.
Do you believe in happy endings?
As of now, I most certainly do.
I believe this in the depths of my soul—I did not know love until I knew you. This is one of the greatest gifts you could give me. I know that as you read this, we have already parted ways. But, even if years have past since I wrote these words, I swear that even now, I love you. Now, Forever always.
With all the love I am able to offer you,
Borus Redrum
Yuiri blink several times. She knew what this would do. Yumi would read it… and she would leave. She'd walk out of the village (if not run) without the slightest consent of anyone else.
Yuiri knew what she had to do she'd regret. She'd look back on this day and rue her action. But… she'd lost too much. Yun was dead. Dios was gone and out of her life. If she lost Yumi… She would be alone. She'd have no one left.
Yuiri then committed the most selfish act of her life. She pulled a small chest out from beneath her bed and opened it. Closing her eyes, Yuiri took the letter and placed it amongst several small trinkets and pieces of jewelry. She closed the box and returned it to its former place.
Yuiri shook her head and grabbed the book she'd come for. She walked quickly to the main building, trying to cast away the guilt.
She did what she thought needed to be done.
Humans do as humans will. They betray, they lie, they cheat, they steal. But, humans can only rely on other humans. Betrayal is constant. Pain is constant. Change is constant. Love is trapped somewhere in the middle, going on into dharma and chaos, unto the end. Loves gathers up the pieces of life and holds them together, the same as the heavens gather together the remnants of the sky…
Now,
Always,
Forever.
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End Chapter Eleven
Author's notes:
VIOLA! ::chirping crickets:: Is this the end? Is is? I don't really know. I thought, "Hey, I should write one more chapter" but then I thought maybe this was a fitting end to a tragic romance. Oh! One thing. I REALLY gotta thank some people RIGHT RIGHT RIGHT now! First and foremost, Al Kristopher! My Beta tester, Muse, and driving mental force, you are like the anvil that squashes my head and makes all the writing spill out. Next, those reviewers who just keep on giving. I love you guys! And lastly, the Konami dudes. I love you guys. Your minds must be filled with like.... Candy and Violence and all the other pure and true things in the world. And I'm out of stuff to say... so... fill your days with the good things, like hatless Sasarai and sausage pies... yeah... live it up! OH! TELL ME WHETHER TO CONTINUE OR NOT PLEASE!!!
Love, Peace, and Squiggles,
Kate
AUTHOR UPDATE!
I went totally nuts without writing another chapter, so I decided I will write ONE MORE CHAPTER. "Do you believe in happy endings?" Now I'm gonna get working. Love Kate Again!!!
