The Gift of the Golden Sun

I had finally identified mum's killer in my mind. I hesitated in my answer before glaring evilly at Dave.

"It was you!" Dave began to sweat. He made no respons. His face showed a look of shock. He probably hoped that I would identify the killer as my dad but I identified the kiler as him. There was a long silence, which my dad eventually broke.

"Dave, you did it? Why?" Dad asked.

"Didn't you suspect anything?" Dave asked.

"How could I! You were my friend!"

"Robert, in your memo, you mentioned something about a question that you were unable to ask me 11 years ago. What was that question?"

"That's not wat I wanted to ask you! Why did you kill Hikaru?"

"Becaause she betrayed us."

"US?"

"You're saying you didn't know? Another was developed in a secret government lab. The driving forces in the project were Hikaru and myself. For ages it was just us two. We then selected you to join us. But when the project was about to take off, Hikaru betrayed me by taking off with you, stealing the another essay and hiding it in your house. The night before I went over to her, I phoned her. I begged her to come back to the project with the essay. She refused. I didn't want to hurt her but she didn't listen and had hampered the project's proggress. So I went over to her and made her listen. I…shot Hikaru."

"Stop!" I shouted, but A had heard enough. He went in front of Dave and just stood there. Amazingly, Dave was able to see him.

"Hey!…Who are you?" Dave asked.

"That is enough! You're making Diana cry! Stop this!" A shouted.

"A?" I asked Dave started to tremble. He dropped the gun in terror.

"G-g-g-" Before Dave could finish what he was saying, he stepped backwards and began to fall. Dad ran over and wwas able to grab his hand before he bell.

"Dave…" Dad said.

"Robert…" Before anything else could be said, Dave lost his grip and fell into the chasm. We could all hear him scream as he fell into the darkness.

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"Is that the end of traumatic stuff?" Jessica asked.

"Not quite, are you ok about it?" Lola asked.

"Yes, but very shaken."

"I cant say I'm surprised. I was shaked as well, and so was Dad."

"But what happened after that?"

"Let me think…"

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"Dad…" I began

"Why…why did Dave fall. He looked like he'd seen something. Oh Dave."

"Dad…"

"Lola, are you ok?"

"Very shaken, what about you?"

"Same, very shaken. That was a terrible thing for you to see. I am a terrible father. I am so sorry for getting you involved in this. Please forgive me."

"My heart hurts. I don't know what to do I don't know what to say now." I thought to myself.

"Hang on, I've had this feeling before. The night mum died and dad was close by me. Dad, does your heart hurt too?"

"Lola." Dad said.

"Dad?" I asked.

"Are you feeling ok?"

"I feel a little unwell but I'm ok otherwise.

"Ok."

"Dad, that thing you were unable to ask Dave 11 years ago, what was it? Did you think that he had killed mum?"

"No, that thought never occurred to me."

"Then what did you want to ask him?"

"11 years ago, after your mum's funeral, I saw Dave standing at her grave. He had a stricken look on his face, like he had lost the love of his life. He was holding a boquet of white flowers and stood there for what seemed like all day. He looked as thoough he was suffering as though no-one should. What I wanted to ask him was if he was…in love with Hikaru."

"Dad…"

"I'm sorry to have told you this."

"I needed to know, don't worry. I am grateful that you told me the truth."

"Lola, I'll go and get Rachiel. Cross the bridge and you'll find yourself at the bay."

"Ok."

"I'll be back with Rachiel soon. Just wait for me." With that, dad walked off.

When we were half-way across the bridge, A got a little worried about me.

"Lola, are you ok?" A asked.

"Not really." I replied.

"Why?"

"A, can you explain to me why Dave fell? Did he see you"

"Maybe"

"A…"

"I didn't want him to shoot your father."

"You saved him?"

"Yes."

"But Dave…he fell from my dad's hands. I didn't want anyone to die." A then regained a memory, and the most important one.

"Lola, I've just remembered. It's all coming back."

"What?"

"When I looked at your father's hands, I remembered something about when I died."

"What?"

"I was running frum uncle George. I reached this point with him chasing me. He then yelled. He said 'Alex, if you run, your heart…' but I was so scared that I couldn't stop. I ran to the end of the cliff and stopped. Then I felt my chest become tight. I then heard George again, 'Alex, come to me! Be careful!' But when I heard that my heart clenched and I lost control of my body. Then…I fell from the cliff."

"A…"

"Lola, I remember. The last thing I saw was an outstretched hand trying to save me. It was George."

"Oh A…"

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"I'm getting another case of déjà vu again." Jessica said.

"Now that you say that, it all seems so similar." Lola replied.

"And they say history doesn't repeat itself."

"I guess this story proves that it does."

"Heh, anyway, what happened when you reached the bay?"

"Let me remember…"

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We finally reached the bay. The scene reminded my of the two portraits of the bay. The mooon was shining and the stars were reflecting in the water. It was such a beautiful scene.

"This is such a beautiful place." I exclaimed.

"Yeah." A replied.

"I'm amazed it's night already." I then heard a familiar voice.

"Ahoy there!" The voice said.

"Hey, that voice."

"Kid! Are you ok?"

"It's the captain!" I looked around and saw the captain standing near a lifeboat. I ran up to him and he smiled.

"There you are." The captain greeted.

"Hey, you waited for us." I replied.

"I've actually been looking for you. I couldn't open the gate so I had to come around here and here you are. I'm glad you're safe."

"Yep, I'm still in one piece."

"Where's your aunt?"

"Dad went to get her."

"I see. I'm assuming your business is finished here."

"Yep."

"Are you glad that you found your dad?"

"Yes, but…"

"Tired?"

"Maybe a little."

"Growing up is hard work."

"Captain, I have so many things I want to ask you. Would you listen later?"

"Sure, if it ain't complicated."

"Thanks."

"By the way, that young fellow next to you, is he a friend of yours?" I was amazed that the captain could see A.

"You can see A!" At that, A ran away.

"Oh, I must have spooked him. Shy isn't he."

"Wait A!" I then heard a familiar voice

"Lolla!" Dad said.

"Dad!"

"Lola!" Came another familiar voice.

"Rachiel!" I ran back to the entrance of the cave and found Dad waiting with Rachiel.

"Lola." Dad greeted.

"Dad!"

"Lola." Rachiel greeted.

"Rachiel, how are you feeling?"

"I'm fine. Sorry for worrying you."

"No need to apologise. Rachiel, about Dave…"

"Lola, I've already told her." Dad interrupted.

"Are you ok Rachiel?"

"I will be. I'm just amazed that Dave became such a horrible person. If we had stayed friends, this could all have been avoided."

"Rachiel."

"Well Robert, guess my job is done."

"Rachiel, thank you for looking after Lola." Dad said.

"I'm glad to return her to you."

"Rachiel!" I shouted.

"What?"

"Are you going to leave me?"

"Lola, calm down."

"No! I don't want to be alone anymore!"

"Lola, don't worry. We're all going to live together from now on." Dad said.

"Dad, I noe have what I wanted. I am reunited with Dad and Rachiel. I'm filled with so many emotions, but mostly, I am happy. I'm not alone anymore." I thought to myself.

"Lola." Dad said.

"Yes dad?" I asked.

"Were ready to leave, let's go."

"Guys, there's one more thing I have to do." With that, I ran to the opposite side of the beach. There, I found A waiting.

"There you are A." I greeted.

"Lola." A said.

"I'm sorry for startling you earlier. I was a surprised as you, I didn't expect him to be able to see you."

"I guess some adults can see me after all."

"I guess so."

"Lola."

"Yes?"

"I am glad to have spent this time with you."

"You are?"

"I never thought I'd meet anyone like you. Thanks to you, I was able to put the missing pieces of my life back together. Thank you Lola."

"Ok..."

"I am so glad to have met you."

"A, you're acting strange. What's wrong?"

"Lola."

"A…"

"I'm happy for you. You are no longer alone."

"A…"

"Lola, I now have all my memories. I can finally move on and rest in peace. Lola, keep my shoes…as a memento."

"A…"

"Lola, please touch my hand." Hesitantly, I reached out and touched A's hand. When I did, he smiled at me.

"Lola, goodbye."

"Goodbye…Alex." I then began having memories of when I first met A. He asked me to get his memories back. I then began to recall my whole adventure through the mansion. Throughout my trip through the mansion, I had helped him reclaim all his memories and he had helped me find his dad. We had gone through the thickest of everything. I felt tears coming to my eyes. Now A had gone to another life, and I was glad for him

"A…I'll never forget you! You were the only one who knew my true feelings. You are now at peace. Goodbye A…my friend!" Overcome with emotion, I slowly went back to my dad.

"All set Lola?" Dad asked.

"Yes." I replied.

"Lola, I used to come here every night. I'd think of both you and Hikaru" I looked up at the moon, It was so bright and beautiful. I then saw a silouette in the sky. It was my mother's ghost. She was smiling at me. She was obviously happy at the way things had turned out.

"Lola." She said before vanishing.

"Dad." I said.

"Yes Lola?" Dad asked.

"I saw mum…"

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"I was holding my dad's hand with a tight grip. His hand was warm and we were both happy. I was happy for A as well. That Day, I will never forget. The day when I found my dad." Lola finished her story. Jessica could feel tears sliding down her eyes. Lola noticed this and smiled.

"Overcome with emoution?" Lola asked.

"Yes, saying goodbye to A, that was so emotional for me." Jessica replied.

"So much happened that day."

"Yeah, but you got what you wanted."

"Yes, that was one of the happiest moments of my life."

"And you still remember it."

"Yes, and I always will." They then heard someone entering the burrow. They turned their head and saw Bugs with bags of shopping.

"Eh…what's up docs?" Bugs greeted.

"Hi dad!" Jessica greeted. Bugs put the shopping down and went over to her.

"How are you feeling?"

"Much better, especially with that story mum told me."

"Really, maybe she'll tell me sometime." Lola giggled.

"Maybe tomorrow." Lola replied. Jessica jumped down from the sofa and went to her room.

"I'm heading to bed." Jessica said. Lola walked over to her and kissed her forehead.

"Goodnigh my little princess." Loola said. Jessica smiled and entered her room.

"So, how about watching a movie before heading to bed?" Bugs asked.

"Sure, first let me change." Lola replied, heading towards the bedroom.

"Eh, ok." Bugs picked up the shopping and went into the kitchen. In the Bedroom, Lola was looking in the wardrobe. At the back she found an old box. It was roughly 1 ½ feet cube. Lola took out a small key and opened the box. Inside was a teddy bear with a red ribbon and two very old shoes. She picked out the teddy bear and one of the shoes and held them close to her chest.

"Dad…Alex…"

TH-TH-TH-THAT'S ALL FOLKS!

A/N: Whew, that was a big story. I have to admit to being overwhelmed by emotion when writing A's goodbye (hangs head in shame) Anyway, thank you to all my reviewers for reading this. I enjoyed writing it.