Author's Notes: This is one of the most romantic chapters I've ever written so far. I hope you enjoy reading this as much as I did writing it.

Echoes Of The Past

Heaven's Gate

The business magnate stared into the darkened skies overhead, wondering what had happened to her life. She used to be happy, somehow, even in the little stuff in life that were for free. She used to wake up looking forward to another sunny morning, smelling the scent of sweet morning dew drifting into her room from the flowers in their garden. She used to come home, tired yet satisfied and see the bed as a comfortable resting place, a time traveling machine to her dreams, not the mattress she now had to collapse in after a day of strenuous work.

She could not put a finger on it. Her memories were jarred and hazy. Perhaps she had forgotten? Perhaps she could still change? Perhaps all is not lost?

Kaede was looking for the answers...in the past.

Calm black skies, cloudless and bleak

Looking for the company I too seek

Emptiness blanket the empty space

Dim desolation mirrored in my face

Mocking voices rise from memory's hole

Scars of agony etched forever in my soul

Wishing for warmth down deep inside

To remove the cold that there still hides

Memories harking back to ages past

Stir inside the hardened stone cast

It was a calm starry night; the black skies were embellished with countless stars that twinkled gaily as if to dance to a symphony of music only they could hear. There was a certain scent, a particular taste in the air that added to the night's romantic ambience.

Doumyouji Hisaki had brought Kaede to "Heaven's Gate," the newest fine-dining restaurant in town. As they drove to the location near the sea, she had a grand tour of the infamous estate. It was breath taking. The gates were brandished with delicately twined, shiny, black iron rods tipped with sharp, golden spires. The trees surrounding the building were draped with lines and lines of miniscule colored bulbs looking like thousands of flickering fireflies settled on the heavy branches. There were marble figurines, elegant and exquisite; the fine details carved with feather-light touches to make them appear like they were alive, polished, enchanted beings, leading the way to the very entrance of "Heaven."

Kaede was still gaping at the wonderful infrastructures when the he valet opened the door for her. She inhaled the salty smell in the air, bathing in the inherent glory of nature. She looked up and gasped at the sight of a chateau. It was the most beautiful she had ever seen. The white stone of which it was made from shone in the moonlight despite its obvious age, creating a mystified glow around it. More details were incised onto the façade; roses, entwining vines and angels were among the most awe-inspiring carvings adorning the pillars, alluring each wanderer to enter in its majestic hall.

Absorbing it all in, Kaede took all the images and jotted them down accurately in her memory. She snapped out of it only by a familiar hand wrapping around hers.

"Kaede, let's go inside," Hisaki ushered her in, taking her lightly by the elbow.

The passed through pathways filled with expensive portraits of magnificent sunsets and landscapes, majestic lords and their families, most of which dated back to the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. The place couldn't have been more authentic-looking than this one. The owners had done wonders to preserve and maintain the quality of things. She could actually imagine herself in an old English ball gown with a corset and Hisaki in a white wig tied back in a ponytail that the gentlemen used to wear in older times. Kaede couldn't keep herself from smiling.

She had a feeling something special was about to happen that night.

Hisaki pulled the chair for her and she sat down. She caught her breath as he sat across her, his smile reflected by the faint glow of the candles. He was wearing an Armani suit, raven black and crease-free. He looked gorgeous, like a prince leaving the very pages of a fairytale. Kaede couldn't keep a straight face like she usually did. Everything just seemed too good to be true.

The maitre d' took their orders and left them by themselves. Light, sweet music was flowing from the quartet on the slightly elevated stage in front. She could feel herself falling even deeper as he took one of her hands and gazed into her eyes. The pair of intense, brown orbs never failed to make her nervous, bringing along a horde of elephants rampaging on her insides.

It was as if everything was in slow motion. Kaede's senses were fully aware of their surroundings...but it felt like they were the only two persons in existence.

"Kaede, I love you," he said, not breaking eye contact for a single moment, taking her hand to his lips. His breath felt hot on her skin, spreading warmth from the site of contact and then all throughout her body.

"I love you too," she replied with the gentlest voice as if whispering to the wind. But he got her answer and it pleased him no end. She was floating somewhere in cloud nine, lost in outer space or wherever paradise she was in. She was running, floating, soaring in the clouds with all the cuddly curly-haired cupids. It was the happiest moment of her life.

She had found happiness...when she found him.

After finishing the courses they ordered, they sat back, sipping red wine and just watching each other in the faint light as they waited for dessert. As the wind moved strands of ebony hair onto her face, some of them half-hiding her eyes, he watched her lovingly, carefully, adoringly. He felt as though he could just stare at her all night, or even for nights thereafter, for he would never grow weary of looking at the most precious treasure in his life.

She could feel his eyes following her every move, every batting of her eyelashes, every twitch of her red lips. It was almost too embarrassing to have herself under such scrutiny, but she couldn't help but admit that she was enjoying every single second of it. It wasn't everyday that a man worshipped you as if you were Aphrodite, goddess of beauty. And Hisaki was god-like to begin with.

The wine had been soothing her tensed muscles as it flowed richly from her mouth, savoring the taste, the aroma, and down to her throat. Kaede could feel herself relaxing more by the moment. She soon found herself being lulled to dreamland by a familiar melody. She closed her eyes, drifting with the light, beautiful notes and then finally opening her eyes as it dawned on her.

'Thank God I found you...

I was lost without you.

My every wish and every dream somehow became reality

When you brought the sunlight, completing my whole life

I'm overwhelmed with gratitude,

My baby, I'm so thankful I found you...'

She found herself face to face with her prince charming. Smiling at her, he knew full well that it was their song. With that, he walked to her side, took one of her hands and knelt in front of her. Armani, Ferragamo, Boss and all.

"What are you doing?" Kaede whispered, suddenly aware of the stares they were eliciting from the people who were intrigued by his sudden display.

"Showing the whole world just how thankful I am that I found you, that I met you and now that I have you."

Hisaki dug into his coat pocket and fished out a maroon velvet box. "I know we've only known each other for barely half a year. But if you'll let me...Kaede, I want to love you for the rest of my life." He flipped it open, revealing a sparkling diamond set in the center of a platinum ring encircled with other smaller, encrusted diamonds.

"Will you marry me?" He dropped the bomb.

And she felt herself explode.

Kaede was speechless for seconds as she stared dumbfounded at the wonderful man kneeling in front of her wearing his best suit and his best smile. Kaede held her breath, afraid that the slightest movement would dissolve and wreck such a lovely dream into nothing but another wistful fantasy of hers. Was she hearing it right? Did he just ask for her hand in marriage? Hisaki, was asking her to be his...for life? That fraction of a second felt like time had suddenly stopped.

Shaking herself of those distracting thoughts, Kaede finally managed to answer.

"Yes. I will marry you..."

Hisaki took the ring from the box and was about to place it on her finger when she pulled back her hand and added, "Only if, you'll let me love you for the rest of mine."

"Deal."

Hisaki nodded, genuinely smiling as he slid the ring on her slender finger. Like winning the most desired trophy, Hisaki stood up and took Kaede in his arms. Kaede felt weak. She felt like she was about to faint from the heavy emotions filling up her head. She felt his arms supporting her as her knees completely gave way. She felt herself his eyes reading into her soul as he gazed down lovingly at her.

They stared deeply into each other's eyes, like lovers nervous for a first kiss, and slowly, as they felt their own slow breaths exchanging, their lips melted in a passionate kiss.

Kaede knew, as she gave in to her heady senses, that in this mortal world, that it was by far the nearest she could get to reaching "heaven's gate."

PS: The song there is from Mariah Carey & 98 Degrees' collaboration of "Thank God I Found You."