Hello, everyone. Here is the final chapter of "Lost Melody," and my last author's notes.

Disclaimer: RahXephon and its characters are the property of their respective owners. This piece is not for profitable purposes.

Chapter 43: The End of Our World

December 28, 2012

In bed, I look over at the clock again, 3:00 AM. I shift positions, but am unable to get comfortable. My mind swirls with thoughts, of Mishima's return, New Year's, and the situation with my mother. Since that Sunday, I have spent as much time as possible out of the house, doing homework and reading in the library or the park where Mishima and I had our picnic. My mother and I have spoken little, and it does not seem that things are going to improve soon. I sigh quietly and get out of bed, deciding to read a book to help me relax. I return to bed with a book, and, after reading for a while, I take the picture out of my desk of Mishima and me in Kyoto, and smile as I look at it. I haven't spoken to her since the day we went together to choose the kimono, so I'm excited that she'll be returning today. She had promised to call, so I'll stay home, even if it means I'll have to deal with my mother. I reach again into the desk and take out the box holding the ring. I inspect it for a moment, as I think of how I'll phrase my question to her, and then carefully place it back in the desk. However, I do not put the Kyoto picture back in, I decide instead to leave it in the open standing on my desk, where it should have been all along.

I am startled when I hear a noise. I notice that I had fallen asleep leaning up against my pillow, which I had propped up last night. I go to turn off my alarm, but I notice that it says 6:00 AM. I thought that I'd set it for 8:00? I check, and see that it was set for 8:00. What was that sound then? Suddenly, I hear a noise louder than I had ever heard before, almost like a bomb. I open the curtains and gasp at the sight, there's a war going on!

I jump out of bed, and, instinctively, reach and pick up the Kyoto picture and run out, looking for my mother.

"Mom! Mom! We have to go find shelter now, there's a war going on!"

Frantic, I search all of the rooms, shouting for her, but she's nowhere to be found. I open the front door and call for her, but don't see her. I walk out to the sidewalk, where I look around quickly. I am startled when I notice that someone has grabbed my arm.

"Mom?"

I look and see that it is a woman from the neighborhood.

"Ayato-kun, come on, we need to go to the shelter."

"Wait, my mother, I don't know what happened to her!"

"I'm sure she's gone on ahead, hurry!"

She starts running and I reluctantly keep up with her. Where could my mother have gone? I look down at the picture in my hand and realize, Mishima! What if something happened to her!

"Ayato-kun, what are you doing, why did you stop?!"

I look at my neighbor and start running again, if I don't find shelter soon, I might never be able to look for Mishima.

My neighbor, I, and other people with us finally reach the shelter, where I run around searching and calling for my mother. People stare at me, with frightened or annoyed expressions. After looking for a while and asking for help, I slump down against a wall and stare at the picture. Mishima, I hope more than anything that she's safe.

Grasping the picture tightly, I intermittently wander the shelter throughout the day, searching for any sign or word of my mother, but unceasingly fail to find even a trace of her. Mamoru and Asahina aren't here either, and I have no idea if Mishima or my father are all right. I lean against the wall for support as I realize I am in a place without any of the people I care about.

Sometime in February 2013

I sit silently on the cot that I share in shifts with other people in the shelter. The war has been going on for what seems like forever, and I have been alone and without word from Mishima, my family, or any of my friends. The length of our time here and the number of people in the shelter made those in charge decide to ration food and water, so it seems that I am always hungry and thirsty. I have read and re-read many times the books that were in the shelter and that some people were willing to lend to me, and have only been able to obtain one piece of paper and an almost blunt pencil. However, when I got the paper and pencil, I did not hesitate to draw what I wanted to most, Mishima, the way she looked on the rock the first time we met. This drawing and the Kyoto picture are my only, and prized, possessions, and I never let either of them out of my sight. Even at night, I sleep with my arms securely holding them. Although there would be no reason for anyone to steal them, I hold them close, believing that, as long as I have these, my link to Mishima remains unbroken.

I am broken from my trance as I hear wailing and crying, praying and shouting.

Anxious, I look at the person in the next cot and say, "What, what's going on?"

Looking ill, the person responds, "There are rumors, terrible rumors."

"What are they?"

"I've heard that…"

"Ayato."

Hearing my name, I look up and am shocked to see my mother standing there.

I am barely able to say, "Mom."

"I've been looking for you, Ayato."

Recovering from my initial shock, I quickly get out of the bed and we hug each other.

"Where have you been? Why weren't you there that morning?"

"I was called during the night because there was an emergency at work, and I was still there when it started."
"I've been worried about you, and everyone."

My mother looks slightly pained at my comment, she must be thinking of Mishima.

She embraces me again and says, "Oh, my poor Ayato, look at you, you've lost weight and your face looks pale and drawn."

I look up at her face, and am surprised to see that she does not look any different, how is that possible, shouldn't she look somewhat different, too?

"Mom…"

"Ayato, it's important that you brace yourself for what I am about to tell you."

"What, what do you mean?"

She places her hands on my shoulders and looks at me.

"The rumors these people have heard, they're not rumors, I've heard it everywhere, and it's true."

Nervous, I answer, "What rumors?"

"Ayato, the war is over."

I smile broadly and think, finally, I can see Mishima again.

"Why do you say it that way, that's great news."

"Ayato, there's more."

"What, has Dad come back?"

"No, Ayato, he's not coming back."

"Dad, Dad died?"

"Not just your father, Ayato, everyone, everyone, not in Tokyo was killed."

I step backwards and lean against the cot for support.

"What, what are you talking about, that's not possible, there are billions of people in the world, they can't all!"

She embraces me as she says, "I'm sorry, Ayato, it's true, everyone, including your father, and even Haruka-chan."

I push myself away and respond angrily, "That's a lie, you're lying, Mishima isn't dead!"

"Ayato."

"No, you're just saying that because you don't want us together, you're a liar!" I push her aside and pick up the Kyoto picture and drawing before I start to run, heading towards the exit of the shelter as she shouts after me. I run into the street, where people are gathered, hugging, crying, and praying, but I ignore it. I know, I know that it's not true, Mishima has to be alive, we made plans; I'm going to see her in her new kimono, I'm going to give her the ring, I'm going to ask her my question, I'm going to tell her again how much I love her. I speed through the streets, searching for a way out of Tokyo, the way to see Mishima again.

I grow more and more angry as I realize that every path I try to take seems to be blocked, is there no way out?! There must be, because I…

"Kamina Ayato."

I look and see two men in dark suits and sunglasses on either side of me, and a car near by.

"Leave me alone!" I say as I am about to start running again. I am shocked, when, before I can run for it, they firmly grab onto my arms.

"What are you doing?! I told you to stay away from me! I can't wait here, I have to go!"

"Please calm down, Kamina Ayato, we're going to escort you to a safe place."

"Did you assholes not hear me? I need to go!"

While I continue to struggle, one of the men knocks the photo and drawing out of my hand, and I watch as, in slow motion, the drawing descends into a puddle and the glass shatters as the picture frame violently hits the ground.

Enraged, I fight with all my force to try to reach down to pick them up, but I'm unable to outmaneuver the men, and am forced into the car without them.

As the door slams near my face, I shout, "No! Mishima!"

I try with all my might to get to the door handle, but one of the men puts a cloth over my face, and I realize it must be poisoned as I weaken and drift into unconsciousness.

"He seems to be re-gaining consciousness," a male voice says.

"Finally! I can't believe you did that to him!" A female voice replies.

"He was being very uncooperative."

"I don't care!"

I open my eyes, and see the two men, and when I focus more, I see that my mother is near them.

Shocked, I say, "Mom, they kidnapped you, too, you bastards!"

I punch one of the men, but am surprised when I hear my mother shout, "Ayato, stop!"

I look at her and say, "What are you saying?! I'm trying to free us!"

"There's no need, Ayato."

"No need? What are you talking about?! Of course there is! They poisoned me, and who knows what else they might try to do to us!"

She gives me a sad look that I can't understand and says, "It's time."

Then, both of the men grab onto my arms again.

I look at my mother, surprised, and say, "What, what's going on here? Did you just tell them what to do?"

I watch in fear as my mother picks up a syringe from a table and starts walking towards me.

"What are you doing?!" I yell as I struggle again to free myself.

Tears run down my mother's face as she approaches me, the syringe poised.

"My poor Ayato, such grief. I promise you, my dear son, that I will free you from your suffering."

"No, don't do this, Mom, don't!"

As much as I try to fight, I am unable to prevent her from doing it. As I feel myself drifting into unconsciousness, she takes hold of me and I helplessly slide into her embrace.

Surprised, I find myself somewhere, am I dead? I look, and realize that I'm on a beach. My vision focuses, and I realize that, how is this possible? I am at the beach where I met Mishima, and there she is, in her yellow dress, standing on the rock and looking out at the ocean. Even though I don't understand how this is happening, I don't care. I try to run towards her, but I can't move my legs. Frustrated, I start to call for her at the top of my lungs, over and over, but to no avail. I suddenly realize that the only thing I can hear is my own yelling, maybe I'm not really there after all. However, I refuse to fully give up hope, and continue yelling. She turns around finally, and when she sees me, she initially smiles, but then her face contorts to one of sorrow and she starts to cry.

"Mishima! I'm here, Mishima!" I reach out my hands, and smile as she starts to run down the rock towards me. Only a little bit more, Mishima, I'm here, I'm here to tell you what I've wanted to! As she approaches, she stretches out her arms, reaching for my hands. I reach my arms out further and further, so far that I am in pain. Her hands come so close to mine, but, in the moment before our fingers finally touch, she vanishes, leaving my hands grasping air.

"No! No! Mishima! Mishima!"

As I stand, my arms still outstretched, everything starts slipping into darkness, and I cry aloud at the cruelty and the horror of knowing that I will never see her again.

Author's Notes

Thank you to everyone who read the story, and especially to those who provided reviews, I appreciate it. For my very first fanfiction, I thought it went well, and it was fun and challenging to write. I sincerely hope that all my readers enjoyed this piece, and I would appreciate final comments you may have.

I would like to compose further works. Here are some ideas that I have, any preferences and/or other ideas?

RahXephon:

a) One shot or short story of the Kamina family (Ayato, Haruka, and Quon) before Ayato starts his position as an assistant professor, not sure if will be in 3rd person or 1st person

b) Haruka and Itsuki's relationship when they were in college, likely switching point-of-view between Haruka and Itsuki

c) Short story taking place over the 6 days (Normal time) and 1 day (Tokyo Jupiter time) before Operation Overlord, switching point-of-view between Haruka and Ayato

d) A one shot or short story featuring Haruka and Ayato and taking place in the midst of episode 13, likely switching views between the two

e) Select chapters of "Lost Melody" from Haruka's point-of-view

Wolf's Rain:

a) Either a continuous storyline or a series of flashbacks of Cher and Hubb's relationship (starting when they met), not sure whether it would be fully from Hubb's point-of-view or switching between his and Cher's

Fruits Basket:

a) One shot from Yuki's point-of-view taking place a few years after he is forced to become Akito's servant. While running an errand, he meets Tohru, whose memory has been altered

Escaflowne of the High Skies:

a) One shot of Van coming to Earth to visit Hitomi, likely 3rd person