(a/n): Welcome back, everyone. I'm really happy that you all are enjoying this story, really. This is the last chapter, make the last of it. I have a surprise stored for all of you. Hope you all would love this surprise.

Here are my thanks.

Fun: Haha. Thank you for such a lovely review, Fun. Really, you inspire me a lot and I appreciate that. Well, what can I say? Enjoy this last chapter, this chapter is dedicated to you.

Daniel Wesley Rydell: Thank you, thank you, thank you. Well, I'm glad you didn't think of the last chapter as a cliffhanger, because I know how it hurts. Well, keep writing your story because it's an interesting start. Well enjoy.

For now,

Enjoy.

Epilogue

Fading Tears

One month later…

            Tanya was standing above the grassy fields, morning zephyr caressing her hair across her face and over her shoulders. If only life was like this; beautiful and peaceful like this meadow she's in. Life is so tender to those that have to give something back.

            Tanya's black dress kicked in the wind as she stood in sandals in the grass. It was yet another morning, a morning where someone is dearly missing, but it was time to leave. No matter how long she waited, he didn't come home.

            There was no hope; Tanya learned it the hard way. But what she learned from her vengeance is that, there is no faith. At least not for her.

            Tanya closed her eyes as fresh tears ran down her cheeks. Life wasn't tender to her. It has taken her to many places, death, loss, tears, anger, hate, and despair. But one thing it had brought her was love. At least she got a taste of what it is, but she will give anything to see Dessloch again.

            Dessloch, her own Dess whom she loved so dearly. She never expected to meet someone like him. He wasn't like everyone else, he made her laugh, cry, angry, but above all, he made her fall in love with him. It wasn't foolish, it was beautiful.

            Tanya took a deep breath as she looked across the sky. How the world is beautiful, how wonderful it is to breathe in fresh air, see the sky, feel the rain and the wind across your face, but nothing as beautiful as staying with Dessloch.

            They were in harsh times, the tournament toughened them, gave them nothing to believe in. At first it started out in hate, but then everything changed. The hate soon turned to love, but she knew that love hurts, hurts more than anything else.

            Blind rain started to fall, drooling from her face to her chin and shoulders, her long hair starting to stick to her face and shoulders. Shiver running up her skin, as more tears started to fall that was lost within rain.

            She could not accept the truth, she has lost so much and she just wouldn't accept it. Life is cruel but she had something in this cruel humanity, but that was taken away too. Taken away like everything else; her dreams, her hopes, her life.

            It was time to leave, leave this horrible place. She could not see it anymore, a place where blood was spilled more than once. She wants to go away more than she has to. The new Earth Government is taking more control. Soon this place will be taken away like everything else.

            Tanya turned around and looked at the mansion she lived in. "Rest in peace, Father." She quietly said as she put a white rose on the grassy fields, but she didn't leave. She looked out again, back into the sky and smiled. There is no faith, there is no hope. She lived without it all her life and she has survived.

            "Tanya." A soft voice called out as an umbrella blocked the rain. "Hi Zack." Tanya sounded as if she was lost in thought. She felt a hand on her right shoulder. "Everything is ready." Zack said quietly like he understood that this must be kept short as if understanding what she is thinking.

            "Yes, of course. I will meet you in the garage." Tanya said sounding depressed. "I will be waiting. Take as much time as you need." His voice was light against the beating rain on the umbrella. "By the way." He spoke again. "You want the umbrella?"

            Tanya shook her head, "No, no. I'll be fine." Zack nodded and gave her a squeeze on her shoulder before walking off, rain falling freely on her. Tanya concentrated on the past this time. She hated the future, she was sure of that, but she managed to stay out of it, for she despises the past just as much only she keeps on living in it.

            "Be with me. Be with me until the end." She whispered quietly to nobody. "Because you will always be in my heart." She smiled. "Never forget." More tears ran down her and she promised herself; these are the last tears she'd ever cry. "Good bye, Dess." She closed her eyes. "Good bye," she whispered once more.

            Tanya turned around and started to walk towards her house when a voice interrupted, "Is this what kind of hello I get after days of searching and suffering? Boy, I need a vacation." Tanya's eyes widened as she turned around.

            "Dessloch!" She leaped at him to hug him but they both fell to the ground. "Oh, Dess." She cupped his face and kissed him. "You left me, dammit." She said as she was crying again.

            Dessloch looked at her with tiring eyes as he put his arm around her neck. He leaned her down and kissed her. "I promised. I promised, Trish, remember?" He asked her against her lips.

            She pecked his lips. "That's right." She said softly. "Now do you believe in hope?" He asked her as she pulled back an inch. "Never." She said and smiled as she hugged him. "Okay, but I can still call you, Trish, right?" He sounded sincere as she broke into tears of joy. "I give up. You can call me Trish." She kissed him.

            "Oh, Dess. Don't ever leave me. Don't ever leave me." She fought back her tears but they were falling with rain. "I won't." He said, pushing her hair back behind her ear. She hugged him again, too afraid of letting him go. "I love you, Dess." She quietly whispered, nudging her nose against his ear. "Oh, I love you so much."

            Dessloch kissed her on her cheek, answering, "I love you, too, Trish."

            "Take me somewhere, Dess." She pleaded as she pulled back and took his hands.

            "Take me somewhere far away." She said, ignoring the rain completely. She wished time would freeze, just this instance. She didn't want this moment to just disappear. She doesn't want to remember it, she wants to keep on experiencing it, and she just wants to stay with him.

            She laid on his chest, listening to his heartbeat, a slow rhythm thumping through his body. She closed her eyes as his arms wrapped around her. A silent agreement that they have made to one another, an agreement to just be here for a moment, to enjoy this time that she fears they'll never have again. But why was she afraid? They have their whole lives ahead of them.

            "Where do you wish to go?" He asked her after a moment of silence.

            "I don't care." She said dreamily. "As long as if it's far away, I don't care." She looked at him.

            "Alright then." He looked at the sky with the droplets pouring on his face. "I'll take you somewhere. I'll take you somewhere far, far away."

            She smiled. "You promise?" She asked him. "You won't disappear?"

            "Never. I will always be with you." He took her chin. "I'll take you to the Lunar Colonies."

            "Hm. Is it nice there?" She asked dreamily.

            "No tournament, there." He said with reassurance.

            She laughed. "But promise me one thing." She dropped down to a whisper as Dessloch leaned her closer to him.

            "What's that?"

            "Promise me." She said quietly for his ears alone. His hand went over her cheek and she traced it.

            "Promise me, be with me—be with me until the end." He kissed her passionately.

            "I promise." He said against her lips as he kissed her again.

            I promise.

-Fin

(a/n): Please see the next chapter. There I thanked all my gracious fans who reviewed. Thank you all. Also, a sneak peek of a sequel to this story. Yep, that's the surprise a Sequel to 'Vengeance For Blood.' Thank you everyone.