Guilty Gear, its characters and settings are property of Sammy Studios, and are being used in this fanfiction without permission. This fic is rated R for violence and sexual content, and it contains yaoi material.
Culmination
Epilogue
The last sensations Ky Kiske remembered through the thick layers of unconsciousness were the brush of a Gear's soft fingertips against his cheek, followed by a touch of warm breath, the whisper of lips over his mouth. They were faint echoes of a body not his own. His lips parted, as if in an attempt to respond, but his throat felt tight and his breath thin. And then that familiar warmth was gone.
Ky's eyes fluttered slowly open. It was dark, and he could hear the patter of light rainfall stretching towards him from behind closed glass. For a moment his senses tossed him back, and he was certain that when his sight cleared he would find himself among cold stone, the smell of wet leather, and flashing crimson eyes—things he had once forgotten. But when he moved his hand it was drawn across clean, dry fabric, and his body was clothed in soft warmth. His gaze focused on a tall white ceiling. And then, the face of a young boy leaning over him. "Bridget…?"
"Ky?" As Bridget's features drew into focus Ky could clearly see his warm smile. "You're awake."
Ky reached up to rub at his eyes, only dimly surprised to find that his hands had again been bandaged. He hadn't been very kind to them lately. "Where am I?" he asked, stretching his body experimentally. There was a tightness in his ribs and a dull ache in his skull, but otherwise he seemed to be all right.
"The Healing Ward in Benevento," Bridget answered, tugging his chair a little closer to Ky's bed. "You've been out for almost two days—you must be getting used to this."
Ky chuckled quietly as he let his hand fall back to his stomach. By now he could make out his surroundings in full: the white room, Bridget seated beside him in new attire, and the window off to his right that shielded them from the rain. "What happened?" he asked hesitantly. "Is everyone…?"
"Everyone's fine," Bridget quickly assured. He was dressed in denim jeans and a light blue, long-sleeved and high-necked sweater. "Anji and Chipp both woke up and were fine when they left—they're going with Baiken to the Colony, I think." His voice lowered slightly. "The Ninth is dead, and so is the doctor that worked with him. Potemkin said they're not sure yet what they're going to do with Dr. Galleon, though. He's in jail right now."
Ky sighed. "I see." The Ninth was dead. Which meant that Testament must have finished it; the thought of which rose thick emotion in his throat. "What about…." He faltered, lips pursing in a thin frown. He wasn't even sure how to begin asking what had happened—he remembered nothing after his last exchange with Sol, and looking back on it now he should have been ashamed of his rash, selfish behavior. "Bridget, I…."
Bridget's smile deepened as he slipped his hand into Ky's. "It's all right—no one's mad at you. If that's what you wanted to ask." He tilted his head to the side. "Everything worked out, right?"
"Yes, I suppose so." Ky stretched again, settling himself more comfortably against the mattress. "I know…it must not make much sense to you," he murmured. "And I know I was foolish. I could have gotten one or both of us killed…and if you'd needed me…." He closed his eyes as his lips curved in a bitter smile. "But I'm glad. I was able to feel a power I never had before. It was amazing."
"Do you think you'll go after him again, when you're better?" Bridget asked softly.
Ky chuckled dryly. "For now, I'm satisfied." He lifted his gaze to the ceiling, watching it with distant eyes. "But I will face him again someday. As long as Sol stays ahead of me, I'll have something more to fight towards. As long as I chase him, I'll become stronger."
Bridget grinned, giving his hand a light squeeze. "He wanted me to tell you that it was a good match."
The officer felt a brief swell of pride at those words. "Did he?"
"Yeah. But…you won't go after him for a while, right?" Bridget persisted. "He beat you pretty badly."
Ky chuckled again. "No, not for a while." Sol had complimented him…how strange. He wasn't sure how to accept that. He reached up with his free hand, stroking the length of his jaw; he clearly remembered the force of the hit, the sensation of bones breaking. The heat that had healed him. "Bridget," he asked thoughtfully, "was it the Ward Mages who healed me?"
"Nope. Well, maybe a little." Bridget's eyes sparkled secretively. "Testament put your face back together just after we found you. He did a good job, right?"
"Testament…." Ky traced his fingertips along the side of his face, recalling the different paths of magic that had spread through him, knitting bone and flesh back together. He hadn't known that Testament was capable of such power. When he realized how he must have learned, he felt his chest tighten. "Dizzy…."
"Hm?"
Ky shook his head lightly. "Nothing," he assured. He sighed quietly, a worn, pleased smile drawing his lips. He felt as if he were being warmed by too deep emotions; he wanted to see him. "Where is he?"
Bridget seemed to understand, as his voice tipped quietly, eyes softening. "Waiting for me. They let me in because they think I'm the one that helped rescue you from the Ninth, but Testament didn't want to risk letting people see him. He's just outside."
"Is he?" Ky turned his head toward the window, and was only a little surprised to see the blurred figure of Rael perched on the fire escape rail just outside. She was trying to hide from the rain beneath her wing. "She's been watching over me, hasn't she?" he murmured.
"Yeah. And doing a good job." Bridget paused for a moment, and then drew Ky's attention back with a light tug on his hand. "Ky, I'm…going to go with Testament," he said at once. "We don't know where we're going yet, but we're going to be together. So you don't have to worry about us, okay?"
Ky stared at him curiously, though he couldn't help feeling suddenly relieved. "What about the Jellyfish?"
"They'll manage without me." Bridget winked, but then grew more serious. "Besides, I'm trying to be more manly, right? Johnny's great, but I don't know if all those girls are gonna help me much. Testament promised to help train me. And…." He ducked his head a little. "I don't want him to be alone. He'd be lonely."
"Yes…." Pleased more than he could say, Ky nodded, giving Bridget's hand a squeeze. "Thank you, Bridget, for everything you've done for me. Will…you thank Testament for me, as well? I wouldn't want him to get in trouble, just for trying to come see me." Though it made his throat ache slightly with the realization that the pair would be leaving him, he tried not to let that disappointment show in his face.
"I will." Bridget hesitated, then leaned forward suddenly, pressing to Ky's lips a short, but tender kiss. Ky took in a surprised breath but by then Bridget had already pulled back, blushing. "From Testament," he explained sheepishly. "So you'll get better soon."
Ky's expression softened. "Did he tell you to do that?"
"Well, no, but…I think he was afraid you wouldn't remember the other one he gave you."
He smiled. "I remember."
"Oh." Bridget pushed out of his chair, his face tipped down shyly. "Well, then, it was from me, too. So get better, okay?" Still blushing he gave Ky's hand one last squeeze before heading for the door. "Don't you worry about us one bit! I'll take good care of Testament for you."
Just as he reached to open the door Ky's fingers curled, and he called his name. When Bridget looked back he offered him a gentle grin. "You look very handsome."
Bridget's cheeks brightened. "Go to sleep," he retorted around an embarrassed grin, and he turned, unable to hold back a happy giggle as he slipped out of the room. The sound of his skipping on light feet could be heard echoing down the hall as he departed.
Ky sighed, sinking happily back into his pillow. For a long minute he was silent, just listening to the rain, letting it help him remember the events of the past week that now seemed so far away. When he opened his eyes, he found himself watching a pair of small black ones; the crow that was Rael had somehow entered his room, and was now perched lightly on the edge of his bed, watching him. Ky smiled. "Rael." He reached up to draw his fingers lightly over her smooth feathers. "Thank you for watching over me. Will you do me one more favor?"
When the bird puffed up her feathers, Ky took that to mean a yes. "Tell Testament," he said, "that when I get out of here, I expect him to come visit me in Paris."
Rael regarded him silently a moment, unblinking, until suddenly taking to the air. Ky let his hand fall as she slipped like a shadow through the window, his eyes falling shut once more in search of much needed rest, a smile in his lips.
Testament watched the hospital from across the street—safe from the rain, this time, beneath a large dark umbrella. The long gray cloak purchased in the city days before served as a coat to keep the evening chill away from him. He had stood there a while now, drawing little attention from anyone as he waited. Which was fine with him; he wanted nothing to disturb his vigil of the hospital window.
A black shape swooped down toward him, and he lifted his umbrella slightly so that Rael could descend to perch easily on his cloaked shoulder. She spoke to him as she preened her damp feathers; Testament's eyes opened a little wider as he took in the news of Ky's awakening. "He said that, did he?" he asked quietly, and his features were graced with a smile of his own as he turned back towards the building where Bridget was just emerging from the main entrance. "In that case…maybe I will."
Bridget trotted up to him, anxious to get under the umbrella himself. As he began to relate his conversation with Ky the pair started down the street, disappearing into the crowds of people already moving about in the rain.
~End
Thanks, everyone, for reading my fic! And big hug-thanks for everyone that reviewed, especially you guys that have been with me since the beginning (^_~). I hope you liked my fic. I'm not sure yet if I'm going to write a sequel, but if you're interested in or bored enough to read some of my ramblings on Culmination or it's possible continuation, I've put up some stuff at my livejournal. I don't know if I'm allowed to put links in a story on FF.net, but…here it to drop in with questions, comments, suggestions, whatever you like! (^o^) I'd love to hear from ya.
