AN: Though I don't know if this is all that great, I hope this can make up for that last one…I didn't particularly like #10 either…

And in response to my last question of 'name that car,' the car was a Mazda; the only main manufacturer to take advantage of the Rotary Engine, which was invented by the German engineer, 'Something-or-other Wankel.' (And yes, Initial D was my reasoning behind that…)

Disclaimer: I don't own DNAngel.

"Here, I think you might deserve this."

The statement was made with the conviction enough to show that it was less of an offer than it was a forced gift. He was holding out his hand to her, and in it, he held one of his own pieces. Why he would happen to have it on him in the first place didn't really concern her, but she was more concerned with which piece it was.

It was the only one that she had really ever been after; the one that had been her goal the whole time. There they were, in the middle of the road, alone in the dark, and in his hand he held the King.

"…No, I don't deserve that…why would I? I…I didn't win." She spoke softly, as if the wind would carry away her words, and they could again be left alone with only each other.

He had heard her nevertheless, and his at first his only acknowledgement was to soften his eyes and let the corners of his mouth twitch upward in a gentle smile. His face was kind.

"Yes…you do. You did do something great. You may not have won, but you made a wonderful achievement, and that is why you are worthy of this. You are now the best of the best." His slow words upset her, even in his kind, soft voice.

"No I'm not! You're still better! Just because you're leaving that doesn't make me better!" her words weren't really angry, but more like frustrated. Frustrated that he would do this, frustrated that he would try to give her what she didn't deserve, and frustrated that he would lie. He was lying after all, because really, the best of the best was himself.

Again, he just smiled that, light, almost invisible smile, and answered her without changing the peace in his voice.

"I'm not giving you this because I'm leaving, that was no achievement of yours, but I'm giving you this because - you are no longer my student. And that achievement was made quite on your own."

She was about to cut in to tell him that that was not a thing to rejoice over, when he saw the look on her face and gestured for her to stay silent as he finished.

"You are no longer a student to a master, you are a teacher yourself now. I remember you working with that boy, and seeing how he looked up at you…don't think it a failure to me that you never beat me, think it a success for yourself that you know enough to lead others in my absence. The fact that I am leaving is not the only reason that you are going to be the best. Just remember, it was once said that, 'the best way to insult a teacher is to forever remain his student.'"

She could hold herself back no longer. As soon as he finished, she shook her head violently to try to clear away the frustration. Maybe all he said was true, but still! He was missing one very important part!

"But that doesn't mean anything! Maybe I am no longer a student! But I still am not what you are! I can not count this as a night of great achievement, nor can I accept that from you, if this is the night that you intend to disappear into! I…how could this be good for me, when it is now so horrible for you?" Her tone had turned something close to desperate as she asked her last question.

What she said didn't seem to surprise him, almost as if he had expected her to say what she had, and still, he smiled his fragile smile. The one that might just blow away with the wind if she didn't watch it closely enough.

"My dear girl…this may not be the easiest for me, but I certainly have accomplished harder tasks. I decided that it was time for me to go were I to loose, and low and behold, I lost. I won't go back now, most especially while I know that this is the right choice. But there is something you must understand.

"This may not be celebration for me, and it may feel like a loss to you as well, but you must realize that you have also gained so much tonight. With my fall comes your rise, and, as it was once said, 'With any gain comes a loss, and with any loss, a gain. It is up to you to decided which is to be valued higher: the bad, or the good.'"

With his final point made, he gently took her hand, and in it he placed his piece. He looked at her one last time, and, feeling that he had finally tied off all his loose ends, he slowly turned about and walked away. For a few moments, she stood on the spot, simply staring at the black piece. It had always seemed so mysterious and forbidden in the past. There had always been something mystical about it. But now, it was just a simple black piece, carved of lifeless stone, and polished to a dull shine. There was no magic; there were no secrets.

Suddenly, she had to have the last word. The piece, she realized, had meant far littler to her than his words - though neither she would soon forget - and she knew that the least she could do was take such words of his to heart.

In the darkness, to a target no longer visible, she yelled out, "Yeah, well Winston Churchill once said that quotes are just for people who can't express themselves in a coherent manner!"

Somewhere in the darkened distance of the countryside and the forest, if she closed her eyes, she could hear his light chuckles. It was a soft noise, both from the distance and from himself, and it reminded her that she had never really heard it before.

AN: There are really a few different characters this could be, I realize, but I only imagined two people while writing it, and then two others immediately after. I wanna see what you guys come up with.