"Millenia?" Asked a distant voice over her head.
Millenia blinked and opened her eyes slowly. Standing above her was … who was it?
"M … Melfice?" She said.
"Not exactly!" Laughed the voice above her.
Everything came into focus. It was Ryudo standing above her. Melfice was standing some way behind him, looked slightly surprised. For some reason, Millenia had wanted it to be Melfice standing above her, not Ryudo. It was strange.
Ryudo held out his hand and Millenia took it. He stood up and looked around at everyone. Elena was standing with a self satisfied look on her face, apparently having just proven her point. Tio was smiled softly and shaking her head at Elena. Roan was talking to Mareg and smiling widely at seeing his old friend. Ryudo was looking into Millenia's face, obviously concerned.
"Did … did I do it?" She asked.
"You did it," Said Melfice, stepping forward and putting a hand on her shoulder, "We knew you could."
"Oh really?" Said Millenia, a hand on her hip, "Because it seemed to me that you were just as ready to give up as I was."
"I was not!" Laughed Melfice, his long hair waving behind him.
Millenia looked around at all her friends. They had come for her. When she had given up on them coming, they had come anyway. They really were her friends. She smiled and suddenly she felt ready to just give each and everyone one of them a hug, but she restrained herself.
"What are you guys going to do now?" Asked Melfice.
"I guess we're going back through the gateway." Said Ryudo, "Can't you guys come with us?"
Melfice shrugged his shoulders.
"Don't know if I really want to." He said thoughtfully, "It's pretty nice here, but if the company's better in the world of the living …"
He glanced at Millenia, meaningfully. Ryudo and the rest apparently didn't notice this hint, but Millenia understood. He would go back if she would, but … maybe she didn't want to. Going back to the world of the living, having to just wait for death to come seemed like a pointless idea. She might as well just wait enjoy herself here and wait for them to turn up. Besides, her only reason to go back would've been Ryudo and … well that seemed pretty pointless now. Not now that … well, her heart was going as fast as it normally did when she saw him and for some reason she had said Melfice's name before …
"No," Said Millenia.
They turned to look at her. Shock was written across each of their faces.
"You guys can go back," she said to Mareg and Melfice, "you deserve that. You guys are brilliant, but … the only reason I would've had to go back is gone and … I think I like it down … or up here. Where ever we are."
Ryudo looked from Millenia to Melfice, to Mareg and back again. He wasn't sure he got why she wouldn't want to go back, but then again, he never really understood Millenia.
"I'll stay too," Said Melfice, "Don't want to make you lonely."
Millenia smiled at Mareg. He smiled back before turning to the others.
"I will return." He said, "I gave my life to save you, and now you're safe I feel that my time here is being wasted. There is still so much I wanted to see."
A few hours later, after much catching up and discussing future arrangements, Ryudo and the others new that they would have to go back or stay forever. Millenia and Melfice walked them to the gateway.
"You know that if you ever change your mind …" Said Ryudo.
"There's still some one who loves me in the other world?" Asked Millenia, "And I can always come back to see you?"
Ryudo nodded. Millenia smiled to herself. Elena was standing a few feet away, talking to Mareg.
"You have someone else to look after," She explained, "don't worry about me. I've got some one here to take care of me."
She glanced over her shoulder at Melfice talking to Tio. Ryudo saw her look and grinned before pulling her into a tight hug.
"We're gonna miss you," He whispered.
"Just take care of my sister for me okay?" she whispered back.
Ryudo pulled away and called to the others. They all approached Millenia in turn and said their goodbyes. When Tio looked into her face, Millenia reached out and hugged her.
"Thank you, for all your help." She said.
"I hope to see you again one day." Said Tio before walking through the gateway after the others.
Melfice put a hand on Millenia's shoulder. Millenia watched as the gateway closed itself, thinking to herself, that she was finally complete. She had the wings, she wasn't drifting between worlds and she had some one, who in time, she could grow to love as she had loved Ryudo.
That was what she had been missing.
(A/N) Hope you enjoyed. I tried to make it better than my last one and I'm sorry for not updating more often, but I had real trouble getting inspiration for this one once I'd started it. Luv Becky.