Author's Note: Whee. Ok, it's finally come to an end. My first finished fanfic. It's been an adventure, writing this! Yay! Ok, so it wasn't perfect. I'm still aiming for that. But it's a start, I guess. And plus, I've already started working on the sequel. Just what exactly is Licia's past, anyways?!?!?! YAY!!! Look out for that soon!!! Thank you so much to all who have reviewed, especially Jazzywolf. This isn't the greatest piece of writing on earth-HAH- but it's like my little baby. Be nice!!!

Disclaimer: Weehee Yeah, sure. I own Rave and I also own the planet Jupiter. Not for sale though. No, I lied. I don't own Rave or any of the characters except Licia, who is a tiny figment of my imagination. Lol, blah.

It stings. Licia's hand instinctively went to her cheek as she gazed at Musica in numb disbelief. He slapped me. He slapped me! And after apologizing to me, too! Her mouth worked soundlessly. Anger and hurt-even though she would have died before admitting it- welled up within her.

Musica calmly stood back and looked at her. Pulling a cigarette out of his pocket, he stuck into his mouth at an odd angle, and lit it up. He took a deep breath of the smoke. Gathering up the shreds of her courage, Licia looked at him scornfully.

"It is so like you to think of having a smoke at a time like this!" she tossed at him wrathfully. And you still owe me an explanation for the slap, damn it! "Solacido's just gone and chucked himself into the ocean, after killing Melodia and you stand there smoking?"

Licia growled in her throat, and spun round, once more intending to storm away. A deathlike grip on her shoulder, one she knew she could never escape, stopped her. "What?!" she said in a strangled voice. "Don't touch me!" She slapped the hand away.

She didn't notice the glint in Musica's eye.

"You are a total and complete -" Musica hissed at her. He broke off abruptly, trying to control himself. "Listen, I only slapped you because you were getting slightly...loony."

Licia raised an eyebrow. "Loony?"

"You were getting near to hysterical; you kept saying that So- he might still be alive. I couldn't shut you up, so I slapped you. It worked, didn't it?!" I wonder why he avoided saying Solacido's name. Licia nodded.

"Fine. Sorry. Bye." She turned around again, and Musica hastily reached for her collar again, and yanked her back. "What do you want?" cried out Licia in exasperation.

"I don't want you to leave." Musica held his breath, wondering what she would say.

He...said that to me? Licia frowned as an awkward pause filled the space between them. "I have to. Musica, you have to understand! I can't stay here anymore. And it's about time I did something to recover my memory..." Her voice trailed thinly off. Silence. Why is it so quiet? It's embarrassing! Licia cleared her throat. "So, yeah. Bye, Musica." She allowed herself to smile at him this one last time.

"Why do you always have to be so stubborn?!" Musica muttered sullenly. Licia gave him an apologetic shrug. Then she frowned, and pulled the cigarette out of Musica's mouth.

"Don't smoke, it's bad," she said, tossing it aside.

It won't be easy to change her mind. But...I don't really wanna stay here now, either. Musica absently nodded, not noticing as Licia flung aside his cigarette. He squeezed his eyes shut, and then opened them again.

He was ready.

It was all very quick- in less than a second he had grabbed her, and planted his lips over hers. Her eyes were still in the act of widening, and she struggled a little at first.

It's never easy to change my mind, thought Musica.

Licia didn't know what to think. At first she tried to get free, but not too hard. And then the moment grabbed her, and she was lost in it. Her last coherent thought was, There should be fireworks.

She didn't count the twenty seconds it lasted, but each second of it was just...exhilarating. Her fingers clutched weakly at Musica's sleeves, and she pressed her eyes tightly shut.

When he released her, she reeled back and panting slightly. Now that it was over, she could string her thoughts together, and she was embarrassed. What do you say to a person you'd just been kissing, who you weren't supposed to kiss?

Her cheeks flushed, and she stared determinedly at the ground. What about Remi, though?

He loved it. He had loved every bit and second and millisecond of it. And he could finally admit it, too. "I love you, ok?" he blurted out. "I love you I love you I love you."

Licia, who had been staring at the ground as if her life depended on it, lifted her head quickly at this. Her mouth hung open in astonishment. Her eyes were sparkling, but her cheeks were tinged with red. She was embarrassed. What the hell about?? Or maybe she's just shy. Musica almost laughed out loud to think of Licia as shy If only.

"Me too. I love you too." The words came strongly out of her mouth; firmly, decisively.

I have to be brave, and strong. What am I feeling so shy about anyways? He loves me. A grin quirked her lips. "Times four," she added to her sentence. "But you knew I loved you anyway, right? You hurled home that hit when we had our fight."

Musica frowned slightly. Licia realized what she had said, and she bit her lip. "Sorry. You apologized. But..."

His arm snaked up around her and drew her close. "Tell me you didn't mean any of that. Please...?" Licia's eyes were truly sad. It was then he realized how much he'd hurt her.

"You know I didn't."

"I do." Licia sighed, wearily, once more pulling away from Musica. "I have to go, Musica. I'm flattered you love me, and I love you madly back...but Remi's waiting for you. Remi's also lost her brother this night. She can't lose you, too. For her sake, go back."

Oh, Rave. It's horrible of me...but I know a tiny part of me wishes he'd say he wants to stay with me.

Musica immediately jumped back into his aloofness. "What?" It was a coldly spoken word. "After all this? You just want to shove me off to her without any say in what I want or..." He stopped, taking deep breaths. In contrast, he continued calmly. "Why do you always do this to me? Why do you make me so mad I could kill you?!"

Her hands went up to her neck, reflexively. "You think it's easy for me? But she needs you. You can break the news to the others." Her voice became sharp and brisk and slightly bitter. "Tell them why I've gone, what happened with Solacido and all. Give Remi my love. And yours." She added the latter as an afterthought,

"I hate to break it to you, honey, but Remi's heart lies with someone else." He spoke almost dramatically, and he enjoyed it thoroughly, almost as much as the expression that dawned across Licia's face.

What did he just say? "What did you just say?" Licia's eyes widened.

"I think Sieg and Remi have a little thing going on, if you know what I mean." He winked at her, another cigarette stuck in his mouth. Absently, Licia pulled it out and flicked it aside.

"Stop that. What the hell? Really? Since when? You're kidding!" If it's true? Oh, Rave!! Musica could be mine...

Musica grinned. Oh, she's interested now. Besides, I wouldn't be surprised if they did have a thing going on. "Listen, you." His words were suddenly brusque, and they caught her attention. Which was what he wanted.

"Where you go, I go. And since you are going to get your memory back, though why the hell you'd want it when you have me is a mystery in itself, I'm coming. Understand?"

Silence.

"Understand?"

Finally, she spoke. "But...about R-Remi?" she asked feebly. She had lost and she knew it. Musica raised his eyebrows. "Oh, fine. You're too stubborn."

But he had seen the flash of joy in her eyes. She was happy. "Now, all we need to do is break the news to the others, and let's go."

"Where shall we go first? I think the Luca Continent."

"I think we should start here, on the Song Continent."

"Are we searching for your memory or mine?"

"As if you know anything! I'm giving you advice, learn to take it!"

"It's going to be horrible traveling with you!!"

"Hah! You said that?! "

"We haven't even started yet, save your stupidity for when we do!"

"You have problems..."

"You're the biggest one!!" she snapped indignantly. Hot-tempered little witch.

Musica leaned over and kissed her again. He smirked. "At least I know how to shut you up," he said.

"Oh, shut up. Oh gosh...It's going to be horrible telling them about Solacido..."

Musica stared out at the sea. It is going to be horrible. But it's got to be done. Solacido. He broke my life, and made it. What the hell was he thinking? That part of my life is over. He glanced sideways at Licia. I shouldn't love her so much; what if she's taken away from me, too? It could happen. Oh, Rave. He was thinking too much. Just enjoy the moment. It may just be gone, soon.

The End

OOOOOOH MY GAWD!!!! Did you see that??? The end. 3 you all.