Living in a Dream
Chapter 9
Author's jibberish: Last chapter. I'm glad you all stuck with it until the end. It really shouldn't have taken this long but I lost this notebook twice before I could type the whole thing out. Personally, this story was hard to write because of the Ghost concept. I tried to find a way to fit it in the St. Tail world. Anyway, I'm just blabbing. I want to give a million thanks to everyone who read and review. You all are awesome and deserve a cookie.
Some of you left some interesting comments. But feel free to skip to the story.
Natsume: "I will eat you if you do not continue this." This is the last chapter, so don't eat me please. I probably don't taste like chicken.
Amethyst blossom: "…but I know it's going to be meimi (duh)! lol but how's she connected to heiko?...are they even connected?" I think chapter 7 covered it. Heiko and Meimi are identical. It never really said, but Kidai and Asuka are identical as well. It's just that Heiko and Kidai are slightly older by a year or two compared to our star couple.
ri-spirit: "Amelia-is that for Amelia Earhart? She disappeared without a trace… maybe its an explanation?" The naming of the character did come from Ms. Earhart, but that's about it. It was like a random thought as I tried to brainstorm a western name.
Fleur: "Where did you ever think of such a creative plot for a Saint Tail fic?" Honestly? Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Season 2, episode 19 'I Only Have Eyes for You.' Basically, two ghost are possessing others, reliving the night they died and somehow hope to find peace. And also Princess Rosa's mirror. The idea that an object can show who a person really is seems kinda weird, but inspiring at the same time. So, I altered it: what if an object shows you your soul mate. That's it.
Starcherry: "Why was Meimi dressed as St. Tail anyway?" She's helping her lost lamb, Asuka Jr. Honestly, I didn't think she changed to St. Tail enough in this story so this was an excuse.
"I do not believe it."
"I will not let you have him."
"Amelia, what are you talking--."
"You are engaged to be married. You have no use for Kidai."
"Reassignment?"
"Yes. Since Heiko-sama will be married soon, there is no need for personal security."
"Otou-san, where will I be sent to?"
"You will be the escort to the ambassador's daughter, Amelia."
"I see."
"He left? When?"
"This morning."
"Without a proper goodbye?"
"Well, it is alright. Now we can concentrate on the wedding."
"Yes, Wasanata."
"I saw them. They will be accompanying each other at the banquet, Heiko-sama."
"That is all, Seori-san."
"I am sorry, Heiko-sama."
"Leave me be."
"Cold…I can feel the blood run out of my body. Kidai…I just wish I could see you one last time."
"Why? Gods, Heiko, why did you leave this world? Why did you leave me? I…I will be with you shortly, Darling."
I want to see Kidai again. I want to speak with him, hear him, touch him…one last time. I need your help.
"Meimi-chan? Meimi-chan, wake up!"
Saint Tail's eyes shot open. She jolted, sitting up and felt a quick head rush.
"Meimi-chan, are you alright?"
"I'm fine," Saint Tail rubbed her temple.
"What happened?"
Saint Tail was shaking, taking in quick breaths. "Kidai…"
"What?"
"Asuka Jr…"
"Meimi-chan? What's wrong?" Seira watched as Saint Tail's eyes flashed back and forth between colors of grey and blue.
"I need to see him…Kidai…Asuka Jr…" she clutched Amelia's Dream in her hand, as she stood. "Kidai…Asuka Jr…" she repeated.
Seira caught her arm just as she was about to leave. "Meimi-chan, wait!"
But Saint Tail gave Seira a good shove and pushed her aside. Seira fell against the pew, shuddering. She recalled the eyes of Asuka Jr. under the influence of Amelia's Dream and the changing colors Meimi's eyes were experiencing.
"Kidai…Asuka Jr…" Saint Tail muttered and her legs quickened, as she found her way to the door.
Seira fell to her knees in front of the altar. "Lord, please watch over them and guide them."
"I have to see him…Kidai…Asuka Jr…" Saint Tail snuck her way into Asuka Jr.'s room. She found him sleeping in his bed and let out a shudder as she could barely hear his breathing. Saint Tail closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "Alright…I'll help." When she opened her eyes again, they were a deep grey hue. Without hesitation, she slipped under the covers beside him, placing Amelia's Dream under the pillow.
"Kidai…" she muttered softly, grazing her fingertips against his cheek in the dark room.
Asuka Jr's body jolted and his eyes shot open, revealing the same grey of her eyes.
"Kidai," Saint Tail murmured softly. Tears were falling from her eyes.
Asuka Jr., in a low voice, responded. "Gods, Heiko…is it you? Is it really you?"
In their eyes, there was a change of scenery. What was Asuka Jr.'s bed was now Heiko's bloodstained bed. They were surrounded in phantom tapestries of blue and beige.
"I snuck in here to find you bleeding…"Asuka Jr. gently grasped the hand she used to touch his cheek. He could feel her warm blood on his palms. "Gods," he said hoarsely, trying to hold back his sobs. "Why? Why?"
"I was to be married the next day."
"We could have run away together."
"You were with Amelia."
Asuka Jr. shook his head. "No. She does feel for me, yes. I tried to share it…but I could not."
Saint Tail buried her face against his chest. "I am so sorry, Kidai. I should have talked to you. I--," she stopped as she felt a warm liquid against her cheek. She could feel it and smell the coppery blood against her skin. "Kidai…you…"
"I didn't want to live without you, to put it simply. I saw your body and I could not go on."
"Oh, if only I was not so foolish," Saint Tail cried. "We could have been together. We…we could… have…"
"We are together now, are we not?"
Saint Tail nodded. "I am truly sorry…"
"I still love you, Heiko. You are the only one who holds my heart; not Amelia, not the gods, not anyone else. Even after all this time…I died, loving you with even my last breath."
Saint Tail sobbed and their lips met in a passionate kiss. They held each other tightly, pressing their bodies against each other, as if they were afraid to part again.
Magically, their world faded.
Asuka Jr. slowly opened his eyes, feeling warm lips against his own. The person he was holding seemed all too familiar… then Asuka Jr.'s thoughts came to a halt. Who was this? Why was he kissing someone?
"Asuka Jr.?" her voice asked.
His thoughts cleared. He knew that voice. "Saint Tail?"
She started to sob. "You're okay…you came back."
Asuka Jr. was lost. "What happened? What are you doing here? Why are we--?"
Saint Tail stood up, interrupting him. "It doesn't matter. What's important is that you came back to me."
"Wait!" Asuka Jr. called, but she already jumped out of his window.
Asuka Jr. let out a heavy sigh. It was early morning, as he was so very confused.
A few hours ago, he woke up, with what looked like old bloodstains all over his shirt. When he undressed, there was no trace of scarring on his body. His father was very glad that he was awake and not in his state of half-consciousness. But Asuka Jr. wondered what made him so strange in the first place; he couldn't recall anything he had done for the past few days.
Asuka Jr. was walking towards school when he reached in his pocket. He pulled out that toy he bought from Little Gems and stared at it. He couldn't help but think about what caused the trinket to do such a thing: the red stone had turned clear, into a crystal.
He also didn't realize he was being followed for about a block. When Meimi saw him, her heart skipped. She couldn't remember what happened while under the influence of Amelia's Dream but she remembered the aftermath. She and Asuka Jr. kissed. Even though she washed the mysterious blood off her outfit, and as much as she wondered how it got there, her thoughts still returned to his warm kiss. Meimi could feel herself blush as she walked a couple of feet behind him.
She watched him pull something out of his pocket. At first glance, it looked like Amelia's Dream but she took a second look: it was a gold cross but the jewel in the center was now a crystal.
Curious, she sped up her step. "Asuka Jr., is that what I think it is?"
'Drat,' he thought. He didn't have enough time to hide it. "Uh, it's…"
"Amelia's Dream, right?" Meimi guessed, pretending she didn't know he had it. "I saw it at Little Gems. I didn't know you bought it."
"Uh, yeah," Asuka Jr. continued to walk.
"So, does it work?" Meimi asked. "Can you really see your soulmate?"
Asuka Jr. thought of it as absurd. Sure, he had been acting strange for a couple of days, he dreamt of kissing Saint Tail, and he was also haunted for the past few days by a girl that sounded and looked so much like…
Meimi tapped his shoulder. "Asuka Jr.?"
Then again, seeing that girl that looked so much like her, kissing Saint Tail, who reminded him so much like… He snapped out of his thoughts. "Huh?"
"Did Amelia's Dream work?"
Asuka Jr. just shrugged. "Don't be stupid!" But in his mid, he said a silent, 'Maybe it did.'
…end --