Chapter 20

All out despair plunged into Rajan as he watched as the former Clockwerk crashed to the ground before he could get to Mayura in time. Sinking to his knees the tiger listened for any sign of life...there was none until Sly and his team landed to stop Clock-La, the wanna-be Clockwerk.

Faint, very faint—a whimper of distress made it to his ears and he carefully jumped across to retrieve the one it came from. Laying helplessly down the slope of the hill, with small cuts and bruises from the accident. However the gaping wounds that Lucray created were bleeding heavily...speaking of which, was nowhere in sight.

Lifting Mayura from the ground, making sure not to cause further discomfort he heard Clock-La's metal beak crash down and the turtle agonized howl. Murray and Sly finally rescued him and ran a good distance away, following their example Rajan leaped to the waters edged and shielded his beloved when the explosion occurred. Her soft gasp for air and strangled cry now held his regard, she was already turning pale from the blood loss, which worried the tiger beyond all hope.

After Carmelita arrived and took out her anger on the Hate-Chip, which obviously kept Clockwerk's metal body immortal throughout the centuries, relieved when the parts corrode into a heap of junk. Grasping his sleeve weakly Mayura looked unwilling to give into anything even after Carmelita announced they were all under arrest. Surprising to everyone there Sly offered to hand himself in if his friends were allowed to walk, which Inspector Fox agreed to.

" W-wait..." Mayura pleaded." Let me say good-bye to them...just this one last time...please..."

Giving into her Rajan strode towards Sly and listened as she chatted away and asked him not to do anything rash—but Mayura knew the raccoon too well, especially when he gave a wink and a smirk. Then she had to all but begged to the tiger, so that he would let her walk on her own.

He gave in once again and felt his heart ache when tears sprang into her beautiful eyes," Bently..." Taking the tiny turtles hand in her she held it to her face." Be strong...okay? Don't give...that's not the Bently I know...so you've got to be as cunning as ever...to over come what's happened." Sometimes silence was the best answer, that and his feeble smile, which only made more tears flow down her face. Tearful eye to tearful eye, Mayura attemtpted a smile at Murray, who had endured so much over this journey. The lost look she saw on his face was what broke her heart all over again—tenderly wiping his tears away she backed off a step so that he could leave.

" Good-bye...you two...take care..."

Rajan's strong arms engulfed her and she was once again lifted from the ground," Come on angel...let's get those wounds treated."

" He...forgave me..." smiled Mayura, drying her own tears." Lucray...finally accepted me.."

" You two better get out of here while you can, or else the authorities will arrive...and you both could be looking at being arrested."

As Carmelita started turn and wait for her old squad the wolf remembered," Inspector Fox...thank you for everything you did...and for telling whoever your friend was to give a clue to where I was headed."

She looked puzzled," I didn't tell her that."

" Then who...?" There was no time, police sirens were already getting closer and Rajan was taking no chance of losing his Angel once again. Paris was where she first began her journey and the place where her life had completely changed all together...now she was leaving it without any regrets.

The tiger slowed as they arrived at the hospital so that Mayura's wounds could be properly treated and healed. Despite having a fractured collar bone and blood loss, she had an okay bill of health concerning everything else. No one would ever know how thankful he was for small miracles...especially since his greatest one of all came into his life.

" Rajan..."

" Hm...what is it Angel?"

A blush crept into her cheeks, just like the first time he'd spoken with her," I love you..."

Gathering her into his arms Rajan kissed the top of her head and smiled," I love you as well, sweet. My Angel Mayura..."

Well I'll have you know—blah, blah, blah! This chapter isn't so long but it definently isn't too short either! So...at long last...the last chapter arrives...getting all emotional I can't believe it...sniffle I can finally begin, officially, working on the next story! WAAHHHHAAA!

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