Disclaimer: Tis Clamp's and not mine ;;
AN: This is the final chapter of Karen's story. I hope you enjoy it. If you guys have any ideas as to what fics i can do like this and for which character, review and tell me. I hope you like it
I also want to thank all the people who have reviewed. Really makes me very very happy
Back at the church
-------------------.
"One grain falls towards the earth and dies. Then from it, its roots grow to link with others." says Karen and she stands up. "I'm sorry Aoki. It seems that I won't be able to keep that promise."
--------------------
Feeling the burden of sacrifice weighing heavily on her chest, Karen entered the small wooden box that is the confession box. She sat down on the chair in the box, the seat worn from sinners begging for forgiveness. She peered through the wooden fretwork to see if she could glimpse the priest. She sensed movement and faced forward again.
"Forgive me father for i have sinned"
" Tell me child of your woes and strifes"
"Father, i am not the woman i wished i was. I work for Flower. I am sure you know of what kind of women work there and what goes on there. I wish i didnt have to but.......since my mother died, the women of Flower were the only ones who would take me in. I was young, foolish and didnt know what to do. Alone in the world i took the first job i could get. Unfortunately, it was the job at Flower."
She paused as her thoughts started running through her head. Images of the past raced through her mind. Finally the images slowed to Aoki's face.
"....Would you like to continue?"
"Father, i have fallen in love with a family man. Although he has a wife and a beautiful daughter, i think that maybe he feels something back for me. Whether it be romantically or only as a friend, i know he feels something. I know that i have lost myself to him"
A smile teased at the corners of her mouth as she remembered their first meeting.
"I have come to confess, for i feel that the time has come for me to depart from this life"
Her voice began to shake but she remained still, calm and eyes dry.
As she conjured a small fireball in her hand, she felt her face warm with the glow of the flames. Remembering her last meeting with her mother in the church reminded her. Reminded her of what she really was. The flames were not beautiful..they were a sign of her power.
" .... i feel that i should confess further however .... i must be leaving.."
Her feelings ambivolent, she walked out of the confession box.
As she leapt across town, she held her crucifix tight in her hand as though holding on to her religion as she gave the ultimate sacrifice
"Oh Lord...i may not be your perfect lamb, but please, accept me as one of your flock". She kissed her crucifix as she braced herself for the challenge ahead of her.
Standing on the roof of the building, she sees Aoki plunge through the roof of the next building, wires wrapped around his body in a vice-like grip.
"..It is time.."
She watched the dragon of heaven lean over to speak to Aoki as she leapt towards him.
Sending a fire ball at the beginnings of Yuuto's water attack, she stood fuming on the rooftop.
"That wasn't the promise! I told you that the next time it would be me to challenge!" she raged.
She heard her name called by a small shaking voice but before she could answer, Yuuto retorts:
"I did say that, didn't I? Then I guess we'll change for a bit"
"I'll kill you with one blow!" says Karen building another fire blast.
She sends it at him, while he blocks with water blasts.
Her fire and his water attack merged to form a giant cloud of steam. They were temporarily blinded and could not attack.
She looked around her wondering from which direction he would come.
Her heart racing as she gazed through the steam, she stood calm and alert in the midst of confusion.
Then she heard his mocking words penetrate the mist and turned to see the person behind the voice.
"This happened again. Well, when it's water against fire, I guess it can't be helped. But why are you so determined to fight? Oh, is it him? Could it be that you actually love Aoki? I can't say I approve...since he does have a wife and child"
She flinched with disgust and hurt at his words. But she couldnt help but admit that he was right.
"Oh, but he has filed for divorce, so I guess it works."
Feeling her hatred towards Yuuto grow, her anger welled up inside her making her that much more powerful.
'With my powers i was meant to protect the ones whom i love. To protect people, i will become stronger. So that i can defend him'
She caught sight of Yuuto and grabbed her moment and jumped towards him.
"That was not how I hoped it to be. Don't you know? When one grain falls towards the earth and dies, its roots will grow to link with others." They land on their feet.
"What is that?" asks Yuuto. Provoked by his ignorance she created a fire tower, within which she trapped Yuuto.
"A verse from the Book of Revelations." Karen said as she watched the flames flicker and lick around Yuuto's screaming body.
"It means that one should sacrifice your own life for someone precious so that they may be able to love on in the world. That is what it means to protect the ones you care for!"
As Yuuto burned away into nothing but a small pool of water, Karen begged for God's forgiveness once more before she ran towards where she last saw Aoki, hanging precariously from a few wires.
Suddenly she felt someone grab her from behind and she realised that it was Yuuto, reformed for revenge.
As the cold hard metal blade pressed into her neck, she found it difficult to swallow, afraid that the blade would slit her throat. 'I dont want it to end this way' she thought
"I didn't want to attack a woman from behind her back, but after being burned, I think I'll return the favor." said Yuuto.
The water engulfed her once more and she realised that this was the way it would end...unless.
There was one more thing she could do. If she couldn't save her own life, at least she would save Aoki's.
She gripped her crucifix once more and blasts the water tower apart.
For a time, everything went dark..seeing a small pinprick of light ahead of her she reached towards it.
It did not flicker as flames did but shone bright, white and pure.
Suddenly, she heard a voice calling her..
She opened her eyes to see the soft concerned eyes of Aoki.
"Aoki...are you...alright...?"
"Yes. Thanks to you."
"Thank goodness. A nice...father like you...can't die..."
"And you're a wonderful woman!", he cried. His voice beginning to sound frantic and panicked.
"Thank you...I'm...truly happy...to have...protected...you..."
As she felt the warm skin of his face in her palm, she felt her need to live come to an end. She had done what she had wished for and protected Aoki. Her hands went limp and she died.
Aoki holds her close. "Karen..."
-----------------
The cushions in the living room lay scattered in disarray. The apartment was still and quiet and alone on the table stood a small glass of wine.
Only Paul sat in the midst of it all awaiting the end of the day.
One candle was left burning, the flame dancing and tall. As the breeze lifted and crept through the open window, the candle went out.
-----------------
AN: What did you think? Was it a good ending? i tried as hard a i could
Like i said at the beginning, if there are any character you would like me to do the same for, just review and tell me
Thank you muchly. FOr all your reviews and Zippy's proof reading. MAjor happiness dances around room that she finally finished it.
AN: This is the final chapter of Karen's story. I hope you enjoy it. If you guys have any ideas as to what fics i can do like this and for which character, review and tell me. I hope you like it
I also want to thank all the people who have reviewed. Really makes me very very happy
Back at the church
-------------------.
"One grain falls towards the earth and dies. Then from it, its roots grow to link with others." says Karen and she stands up. "I'm sorry Aoki. It seems that I won't be able to keep that promise."
--------------------
Feeling the burden of sacrifice weighing heavily on her chest, Karen entered the small wooden box that is the confession box. She sat down on the chair in the box, the seat worn from sinners begging for forgiveness. She peered through the wooden fretwork to see if she could glimpse the priest. She sensed movement and faced forward again.
"Forgive me father for i have sinned"
" Tell me child of your woes and strifes"
"Father, i am not the woman i wished i was. I work for Flower. I am sure you know of what kind of women work there and what goes on there. I wish i didnt have to but.......since my mother died, the women of Flower were the only ones who would take me in. I was young, foolish and didnt know what to do. Alone in the world i took the first job i could get. Unfortunately, it was the job at Flower."
She paused as her thoughts started running through her head. Images of the past raced through her mind. Finally the images slowed to Aoki's face.
"....Would you like to continue?"
"Father, i have fallen in love with a family man. Although he has a wife and a beautiful daughter, i think that maybe he feels something back for me. Whether it be romantically or only as a friend, i know he feels something. I know that i have lost myself to him"
A smile teased at the corners of her mouth as she remembered their first meeting.
"I have come to confess, for i feel that the time has come for me to depart from this life"
Her voice began to shake but she remained still, calm and eyes dry.
As she conjured a small fireball in her hand, she felt her face warm with the glow of the flames. Remembering her last meeting with her mother in the church reminded her. Reminded her of what she really was. The flames were not beautiful..they were a sign of her power.
" .... i feel that i should confess further however .... i must be leaving.."
Her feelings ambivolent, she walked out of the confession box.
As she leapt across town, she held her crucifix tight in her hand as though holding on to her religion as she gave the ultimate sacrifice
"Oh Lord...i may not be your perfect lamb, but please, accept me as one of your flock". She kissed her crucifix as she braced herself for the challenge ahead of her.
Standing on the roof of the building, she sees Aoki plunge through the roof of the next building, wires wrapped around his body in a vice-like grip.
"..It is time.."
She watched the dragon of heaven lean over to speak to Aoki as she leapt towards him.
Sending a fire ball at the beginnings of Yuuto's water attack, she stood fuming on the rooftop.
"That wasn't the promise! I told you that the next time it would be me to challenge!" she raged.
She heard her name called by a small shaking voice but before she could answer, Yuuto retorts:
"I did say that, didn't I? Then I guess we'll change for a bit"
"I'll kill you with one blow!" says Karen building another fire blast.
She sends it at him, while he blocks with water blasts.
Her fire and his water attack merged to form a giant cloud of steam. They were temporarily blinded and could not attack.
She looked around her wondering from which direction he would come.
Her heart racing as she gazed through the steam, she stood calm and alert in the midst of confusion.
Then she heard his mocking words penetrate the mist and turned to see the person behind the voice.
"This happened again. Well, when it's water against fire, I guess it can't be helped. But why are you so determined to fight? Oh, is it him? Could it be that you actually love Aoki? I can't say I approve...since he does have a wife and child"
She flinched with disgust and hurt at his words. But she couldnt help but admit that he was right.
"Oh, but he has filed for divorce, so I guess it works."
Feeling her hatred towards Yuuto grow, her anger welled up inside her making her that much more powerful.
'With my powers i was meant to protect the ones whom i love. To protect people, i will become stronger. So that i can defend him'
She caught sight of Yuuto and grabbed her moment and jumped towards him.
"That was not how I hoped it to be. Don't you know? When one grain falls towards the earth and dies, its roots will grow to link with others." They land on their feet.
"What is that?" asks Yuuto. Provoked by his ignorance she created a fire tower, within which she trapped Yuuto.
"A verse from the Book of Revelations." Karen said as she watched the flames flicker and lick around Yuuto's screaming body.
"It means that one should sacrifice your own life for someone precious so that they may be able to love on in the world. That is what it means to protect the ones you care for!"
As Yuuto burned away into nothing but a small pool of water, Karen begged for God's forgiveness once more before she ran towards where she last saw Aoki, hanging precariously from a few wires.
Suddenly she felt someone grab her from behind and she realised that it was Yuuto, reformed for revenge.
As the cold hard metal blade pressed into her neck, she found it difficult to swallow, afraid that the blade would slit her throat. 'I dont want it to end this way' she thought
"I didn't want to attack a woman from behind her back, but after being burned, I think I'll return the favor." said Yuuto.
The water engulfed her once more and she realised that this was the way it would end...unless.
There was one more thing she could do. If she couldn't save her own life, at least she would save Aoki's.
She gripped her crucifix once more and blasts the water tower apart.
For a time, everything went dark..seeing a small pinprick of light ahead of her she reached towards it.
It did not flicker as flames did but shone bright, white and pure.
Suddenly, she heard a voice calling her..
She opened her eyes to see the soft concerned eyes of Aoki.
"Aoki...are you...alright...?"
"Yes. Thanks to you."
"Thank goodness. A nice...father like you...can't die..."
"And you're a wonderful woman!", he cried. His voice beginning to sound frantic and panicked.
"Thank you...I'm...truly happy...to have...protected...you..."
As she felt the warm skin of his face in her palm, she felt her need to live come to an end. She had done what she had wished for and protected Aoki. Her hands went limp and she died.
Aoki holds her close. "Karen..."
-----------------
The cushions in the living room lay scattered in disarray. The apartment was still and quiet and alone on the table stood a small glass of wine.
Only Paul sat in the midst of it all awaiting the end of the day.
One candle was left burning, the flame dancing and tall. As the breeze lifted and crept through the open window, the candle went out.
-----------------
AN: What did you think? Was it a good ending? i tried as hard a i could
Like i said at the beginning, if there are any character you would like me to do the same for, just review and tell me
Thank you muchly. FOr all your reviews and Zippy's proof reading. MAjor happiness dances around room that she finally finished it.