Epilogue disclaimer, I do not own the song 98 degrees does and I did fix up the song so it suited the story purposes. Also, do not own dbz
As Joey and I swam toward shore, I looked back at the hammerhead one last time. I remembered what had happened, after I had left the hospital. What I had to tell Mako…
I ran as fast as I could, Mako must have been worried sick about me. Wait a minute! I thought to myself, I don't have to run like this… I took out my Millennium key and ran into the nearest store. I went into the bathroom and concentrated. I placed the key next to the stall door and watched as teeth formed on it. I placed the key inside the hole and turned it, imagining the fresh sea air and boats all around me. I emerged right where I wanted to be.
I ran on board the Hammerhead into Mako's open arms. "Your back my star of the sea!" Mako exclaimed, embracing me with his bone crunching hug. I sighed, feeling torn and I knew what I had to do wasn't easy. I loved Joey, but I loved Mako too, so much it hurt. It reminded me of the song by 98 degrees.
"We both know that I shouldn't be here
This is wrong
And baby is killin me, its killin you
Both of us tryin to be strong"
My heart felt heavy as I hugged him as tightly as I could. "Are you ready to go my sea angel?" Mako asked me, smiling. I couldn't stand the look on his face, so innocent, trusting, and jovial. And I was about to ruin his day.
"I'm sorry Mako, but this is a goodbye hug…" I murmured sadly. He broke away from our embrace like I had slapped him. I looked away as I saw the pain in his eyes.
"I've got somewhere else to be,
Promises to keep
Someone else who loves me
And trusts me fast asleep"
"I thought you were going with…me." Mako said, I could tell his voice was laced with emotion.
I sniffed. "I'm sorry Mako…but I can't right now." I told him.
"Was it something I did, that made you decide this" Mako asked.
"No no Mako, please don't think that." I said, turning once more toward him. "All you ever did was try to make me happy." I took his hand in mine. "I love you so much Mako, but I love Joey too. It turns out he didn't cheat on me, and I made him a promise before you and I met." I explained.
It's the hardest thing I'll ever have to do
To look you in the eye
And tell you I don't love you"
I knew nothing I could say would comfort him. I remembered how awful I had felt the night before, when I thought Joey had cheated on me, how I felt like second place compared with Mai. Mako must have been feeling the exact same way. Mako looked at me as if he were about to cry.
It's the hardest thing I'll ever have to lie
To show no emotion, when you start to cry"
Can't let you see what you mean to me
When my hands are tied and my hearts not free"
I approached him cautiously, wanting to hold him but not knowing how he would react. "Mako, can we still be very good friends, I don't want to lose you, I'm sorry this happened." I said, tears rolling down my face.
Mako looked up at me, his eyes shimmering with unshed tears. He whipped the tears away from my cheek and smiled. "Of course we can Jade. I would never want to lose you. If I can't have you by my side, then I'll just be your friend."
We hugged again, for the last time. "When I'm out on the sea, I'll always have you in my heart and think of you. Whenever the salty sea wind blows across my face, I'll think of your tender hands caressing it, whenever the dolphins jump and leap out of the water, I'll remember your bravery and kindness, and when I see the beauty of the reefs, I'll never compare it to your beauty, because it is dull compared to your light."
"Mako, I don't know what the future holds, maybe, sometime later in life, It will be you and I, together. But for now. I choose to stay here…" I told him, not wanting to hurt him further. Maybe at another place and time we would be together, but now for now, my choice was to stay with Joey.
I clutched him tighter, he was so sweet, this was the hardest thing I'd ever have to do. Letting him go. Then, he pulled away and began maneuvering his boat away from the harbor. "I'll always have you in my heart!" He cried out to me.
I waved to him and stepped back behind the fish processing building. I didn't want Mako to see how much I was crying, and how much I was hurting. It had been a tough day already, no need to make it worse. "I'll be thinking of you while you're away Mako! We'll meet up again someday! I promise!" I yelled to him.
"I'll always wait for you!" Mako cried out.
We're not meant to be…"
As I awoke from my flashback, I smiled as Joey helped me out of the water. He pulled me into a tight hug and I smiled. "How's Serenity doing Joey?" I asked him.
"She's doin great, the operation must be almost ova." Joey answered as we broke away from each other. He put his hand in mine and held it. "Can yah take us back ta the hospital?" He asked me. "I don't want Tristan alone there with Serenity…"
I laughed in spite of myself. "Alright Joey, and maybe later, I can take you to a dimension where the ground is ice cream and giant donuts and pizza's grow on trees." I laughed.
"Really!!?" Joey cried out, smirking widely.
I used the Millenium key to get us back to the hospital, and as we stepped through the door, hand in hand, I looked at Joey's face and knew I had made the right decision. Even though I would miss Mako
terribly, I would be with Joey, and my promise would be kept.
Would anyone believe that this fic was supposed to be a oneshot? I got so many good reviews on it that I decided to continue it and was so happy working on it!
The sequel will be coming shortly too, thanks all of you for reading!!!
Jade: Glomps Joey I love you Joey!
Joey: blushes
Mako:What about me?
Jade:glomps Mako I love you too Mako!
Mako:blushes
Joeypouts Ya can't love us both, you gotta pick one!
Jade Oh Joey don't pout or I'll get out the feather pen!
Joey:grins widely no need ta do that…
Mako: oh pick me pick me!
Joey: She's not gonna pick you freaky fish guy! She's gonna pick me!
Mako: How many times do I have to tell you Baka, not to call me freaky fish guy! And she already picked you in the story! Now its my turn!
Jade: Oh will you guys quit arguing! I can't choose either one! I love you both soooooooooo much! There's only one thing to do!
Joey: Are yah gonna clone yaself?
Jade:sighs No Joey, I'm not going to clone myself.
Mako: What are you planning my mermaid of the seven seas?
Jade: Teach you two the fusion dance!
Mako and Joey look at each other and gulp.