Beyond the Weave: The Final Loose Thread
He had rented a one-room apartment in West Desert City, where he stayed and studied while he waited for news. Claire, Ruenis and everyone back in Carona all rooted solidly for him, and Klaus was already certain that Rue would make it in.
It rained the entire morning of the day he got his Ephlesia U. entrance results. He was one of the top ten examinees.
He reached for the phone to call Claire, but his hand suddenly stopped midway. For some reason, he wanted Mint first to know. But he hadn't seen her once since they had taken the exam together, and he realized he had none of her contact numbers and he didn't know where she was staying in the city. Off-hand, he couldn't help but wonder if she was doing it on purpose.
He called Rod (no answer), and Mrs. Cartha (who didn't know either). He had no idea where to go, but feeling restless, he decided to wander about West Desert in search of the princess's possible haunts with the feeble hope that he would get lucky.
Much later, to his surprise, Ruenis met him as he was heading back to his room. "There you are, bro! Where the heck have you been?" He handed Rue a message written in plain white notepaper.
"What's this?" But Ruenis only winked once, jokingly snickered at his older brother's obliviousness, and then scooted away on his hoverboard to explore the city. Rue hastily opened the note.
I'll be at the tower where the sunset meets the sky.
Of course. He couldn't help but laugh quietly. There was only one place she would go. As chance would have it, something had possessed him to bring the violin case with him to West Desert, and he made a detour for it, certain he would need the weapon for the necessary climbing he would do later. He took a train back to Carona, and ran all the way to the Tower of Eternal Sun.
And finally, finally he found her.
Mint stood by the railing, gazing out into the sunset with her back towards him. The sky had cleared by then, and the lake waters rippled calmly far below. Her fiery hair was tied up in the reassuringly familiar twin ponytails and blew gently in the slight breeze. She seemed unaware of his presence.
Without warning, she spoke. "Tell me, Rue… do you believe in legends?" He didn't know how she knew he was there, or how she knew it was him. She continued, "I don't, but… I don't mind it either if they do happen to come true." She turned towards him, holding up something in her hand.
It was the Dewprism medal.
The medal was identical to the one he had. Suddenly he didn't know what to think. "H-how… where did you get this?" He touched it, somewhat cautiously, not sure if he was going to believe it.
She smiled. "Maybe you haven't heard about it, but when I was sent out as a student diplomat of East Heaven, they transferred me into one of Carona High's sister schools in Gamul. Well, you know me," she shrugged. "It was fairly easy to win the medal after that."
"Mint, I… I made into Ephlesia U."
Mint's smile reached all the way to her eyes. "I never doubted you would. So did I." She pocketed the medal, and then put her hands on her hips reproachfully. "What took you so long to find me? I was expecting you much earlier than this," she smirked. "Oh, I forgot, we're talking here about the guy who took five years to find a lost girlfriend."
Rue's face flushed, taken aback. "Claire is NOT my girlfriend!"
"Oh? Then why are you blushing?"
He flushed even more. "Look, if you're just going to make fun of me…"
Suddenly he found himself with an armful of girl. Mint threw herself against him, embracing him tightly about the waist and burying her face into his chest. Timidly, almost hesitantly, he wrapped his arms about her. The girl's entire body shuddered as if sobbing.
"A-are you crying?!"
She nodded. "I missed you so much."
His arms tightened reflexively about her, drawing her close. He had never held her that way before—he had never held anyone that way before—but right then, all he wanted was to hold her that way forever. It amazed him, the way she could so easily tug at his heartstrings—how she had managed to irritate him in spite of his longing to talk to her alone for weeks and weeks, and then quickly made him feel panicky in one instant, and then suddenly melted his insides in the next. But right now, she was in his arms, and that's how he wanted it to stay. I missed you too, Mint. More than you'll know.
"Oh yeah?" she answered him, as if he had said it aloud. Her words were muffled when she spoke, since she still pressed her face against his chest. "I know Claire isn't your girlfriend. She can't be, not when you're in love with someone else."
Are you reading my mind? Rue closed his eyes, sighing heavily. When next he spoke, his voice was a rough whisper. "That's not fair."
"Since when have I ever been fair to you?" He could hear the emotion pervasive in her tone. "You can't fall in love with a pseudo-psychic of the East Heaven bloodline without her knowing it… especially not if she loves you right back."
She pulled away then, wiping at her blurry eyes with the side of one palm, and couldn't help smiling at Rue's stunned expression.
"You should be flattered. I don't remember crying in the past ten years, and I just broke a promise because of you." She blinked back more tears, and paused as if thinking. "Say, Rue… remember the time I got drunk and you had to carry me to my dorm room?" He nodded. "I've been sober for almost two years now, and I still haven't had my first kiss."
Neither had he. So, you do remember that, huh? You really are the most infuriating girl I've ever met. He stepped forward, pulling her face up by the chin so he could gaze straight into her bright, bright burgundy eyes. "In that case, can I kiss you right now?"
"I'll think about it," was what she said. But he didn't give her the chance.
Thus these threads of fate are woven.
Author's Notes
18 September 2003. YES, I uploaded the last four chapters within the past eight hours alone. It's finished! FINALLY!! Thirteen months has this story been a pain in my hair… *shudder*.
Still to come: Appendices (explanations of concepts, technology, history and timeline), Bloopers, and pictures. Target launch of my website is the 23rd of September.
http : // www . geocities . com / kireene /
ToFCH available in printable book form—I'm that meticulous, and from the start this had been meant to be a book anyway (a present for a dear friend. Kathy Flores, Carona High is for you).
There are drafts of the sequels, but I can't promise anything. It all depends on my workload and inspiration. If you want those sequels, you're free to bug me, because feedback does inspire authors to write more.
Once again, I thank everybody who has read this story. I could never have done it without you all.