Disclaimer : IF we own SD characters we would be rich and popular but we don't. .

Warning : nashi

Authors' Notes: Regarding the chapter 11, gomenasai... we didn't know it was fast. We thought the chapter's story pace was similar to the preceeding chapters'. It has nothing to do with the readers.

Across Time

by: Asashouryuu



- Chapter 12 -

"Ne Hana, I'll make sure no harm will come to you... so please... please... wake up...open your eyes Hana" he continued as he started wiping the dirt and blood from his face.

And Rukawa fell asleep, begging for a miracle, embracing Sakuragi and crying at the same time.

Rukawa woke up and from the way the cave was lit with columns of yellow light, he knew it was already morning. He looked at Sakuragi hoping he would wake up.

"Ohayou Hana" he greeted hoping he'll be greeted back. But all that greeted him back was the sound of the gushing waterfall, the sound of the water dripping and the cries of the eagles and birds.

My voice didn't reach him. The miracle I was begging and hoping for didn't happen, Rukawa thought weakly. Are we meant to be separated? Am I meant to be alone?

Unshed tears started gathering in his blue eyes making those eyes glistened. "Hana" his voice shaking, fear written in his eyes. "You're not going to leave me right?" he asked slightly shaking his lover "You promised... we promised".

Rukawa was so engrossed in his sorrow that he didn't hear feminine laughter followed by a masculine one echoing throughout the cave.

Finally the owner of the feminine laughter came into view and immediately stopped in her track as she found a raven-haired boy cradling a redhead.

The owner of the masculine laughter came into view behind the female and hugged her. "Gotcha you!" he claimed softly. When the girl didn't react, he looked at where the girl was looking.

'Gods' he uttered.

"Hey mister" the girl said "Why are you still cradling someone who's already dead to the world? Do you want us to help you bury him? "

The girl's voice brought Rukawa back to his surrounding. And as her words registered in her mind, he was torn between rage and amusement. Rage because the girl stated the half-truth about Sakuragi and amusement because she offered a helping hand.

He looked up and saw the intruders. Rukawa observed that their skin was almost translucent making them look ephemeral; their clothes were made from the finest silk produced by the finest silkworm and their height was not more than 2 feet. He was sure that these creatures are resident fairies of this island.

The two stared at Rukawa and were surprised as they noticed that his blue eyes were brimming with unspeakable grief.

'Are gods also vulnerable to emotions? Just like us and humans?' the female thought.

"Will you bury me together with him?" Rukawa said hopefully which surprised the two fairies.

"Y-You're joking right?" the male inquired looking perplexed.

Tears started flooding from Rukawa's eyes and in his eyes they saw the seriousness of Rukawa's question.

"Back then and also now, they have stolen him away from me. What would my purpose of living be if he's not with me?"

Unable to answer, the two fairies just stared at him. With every moment spent in staring at Rukawa, their hearts were gripped with sympathy and provoke from them sorrow.

"Kouki-sama, Sorasama" a voice rang out but was ignored by them. An old fairy with his white beard touching the ground entered the cave. "There you are" he said as soon as he saw the two young fairies. The three of them looked at the old man with sad eyes which took the older man aback.

"What happened?" he asked.

Sakuragi's smiling face appeared on his mind. He could hear Sakuragi's laughter mixed with his own. He saw himself embracing and kissing a laughing Sakuragi. Hana, Rukawa thought, I believe in our love, I believe you'll come back to me that's why I'll believe in miracles.

"This place is dark and cold but its fine." murmured Sakuragi who was in a fetal position "At least in here,I will feel nothing; see nothing; hear nothing. Nothing will ever reach me... nanimo..." Translation: nothing

The hair at the back of his neck stood up when he heard a voice calling him. He opened his eyes and suddenly he realized he wasn't falling anymore nor was he floating. He had landed unharmed but the place was dark yet he saw a pale Rukawa smiling at him. Without further ado, he stood up and run like hell and Rukawa started pursuing him at the same time asking him to stop running.

Sakuragi didn't know when that line of golden light appeared few meters in front of him, he just saw it. He ran after the moving light as if it was his own sanctuary. He ran faster, he could almost reach the light... just one more desperate reach. He thought he grasped the light but all he did grasp was the air. How could that be? he asked himself as he stopped. He was sure he grasped it. The light stopped one meter away from him. And a hand started materializing from that light and that made Sakuragi scared. He looked behind him and saw Rukawa standing few meters away from him.

"No! Don't Hana" Rukawa cried out when Sakuragi reached for the hand. "Don't leave... Don't be sucked into that vortex".

Sakuragi looked at Rukawa then looked back at the hand. And amazingly the rest of the body materialized from the light. And both of them gasped.

"Rukawa!" Sakuragi exclaimed at the one who just came out from the light. What the hell is going on? He demanded. There are now two Rukawa. On the right was the Rukawa who pursued him and on the left was the one who came out from the right.

"Let's go Hana... let's go back home" the two Rukawa said in unison and they were both extending their right hand to Sakuragi who was looking at them over and over again. The Rukawa on his left has an expressionless face while the other one had an encouraging look. Sakuragi moved to the Rukawa on the right and placed his hand on his.

"Do'ahou Isshoni ikiru" the Rukawa on the left said coldly. Translation: Do'ahou let us live together

Sakuragi's head snapped at him.

His face is expressionless but love is written on his blue eyes. His voice is cold but his words are loving and warm. Sakuragi thought. I am not mistaken for I had seen these a thousand years ago.

He snatched his hand from the Rukawa on the right before the raven-haired boy could clasp it.

"Kaede!" Sakuragi cried as he ran to the Rukawa on the left. Rukawa's arms wrapped around him the second Sakuragi's arms were around Rukawa's neck.

"How did..." the Rukawa on his right wasn't able to finish his question as he disappeared into black smoke.

"Do'ahou!" Rukawa muttered before he took Sakuragi's lips. And the dark world started cracking and then it splintered apart.

In the real world, nth teardrop fell on Sakuragi's closed eyelids. As the teardrop touched his eyelid, its muscles contracted. And slowly his eyelids opened. Sakuragi's view was still blurry but he can make out the tear-stained blue eyes and he can feel the gentle wind as the rainbow-colored dusts started settling and disappearing around them.

"Kaede" he muttered and he knew Rukawa heard him because he felt him froze.

Rukawa looked at him. "H-H-Hana?!" he asked with doubt written all over his face. Before the redhead can reply, Rukawa embraced him tight and Sakuragi embraced him back.

The fairy named Sora was still faintly glowing after she had used her powers but she including the other two male fairies were smiling as they watched the two gods hugging each other.

"Hana, I don't know what your nightmare was but it's just a nightmare. I'm here..."

Sakuragi just nodded "It's only a nightmare.... I'm so happy... You came for me" he whispered.

"I thought I'm gonna lose you forever."

"Shh" Sakuragi comforted Rukawa "Its okay... I'm already awake."

Sakuragi then leaned backward.

"What's wrong?" Rukawa asked as he saw the panic look on Sakuragi's face.

Sakuragi didn't answer him as he was busy searching something from his jeans' pockets. His hand went to the left pocket, then to the right then to the back of his jeans then back to the left again. Relief immediately replaced the panic look when he found what he was looking for. Sakuragi held his closed hand under the column of the sunlight. Rukawa looked at it as it slowly opened and then he saw a platinum ring.

"I lied to you", Sakuragi confessed, "This is the real reason why I can't play ball with you"

A happy look spread across Rukawa's flawless face. And that look intensified when Sakuragi took his hand and placed the ring on his ring finger.

"Do'ahou" Rukawa said as he kissed Sakuragi who eagerly kissed him back. Somehow Sakuragi noticed that he and Rukawa were not alone and he broke the kiss. When he turned to his left side, the fairies were already silently leaving the place.

"Who are they?" Sakuragi asked.

Rukawa smiled "They are the ones who help us".

"Hey!" Sakuragi called out to them. The three looked over their shoulders.

"Thank you very much" Sakuragi said with a wide grin while Rukawa was just smiling gratefully and boyishly.

The three smiled back.

"Be happy you two!" Kouki called before they resumed walking with the old man walking ahead.

Sora leaned towards Kouki "Ne, I'm just wondering is your love for me similar that blue-eyed god's?".

Kouki draped his arm on her shoulders, pulling her close "Baka" he said "Of course" he answered softly.

Rukawa and Sakuragi grinned at each other.

"I love you" they both uttered at the same time before their lips met for another kiss.

There was nothing gentle with the kiss they shared. It was blatantly carnal, passionate, hot and deliciously wild.

~ TSU - ZU - KU