DarkTaoAngel: I know that I could have ended the story with the last chapter, but I wanted to get to 20. If anyone thinks that I could write another few chapters, or wants me to, then I just might!
Pirika spun around to see Ren facing her, beat up and bloodied, but still alive. A smiled lit up her face, and she suddenly stopped crying. He had several scratches, and he looked just as bad as he had when she had left him inside, but there was something different about him. The sight of him almost made her forget all that had happened that day…almost. Though Pirika had stopped crying, she was surprised to see that Ren had just started. Tears were flowing down his face, and everyone knew that it took quite a lot to make Tao Ren cry. She wanted nothing more than to run up to him, hug him, kiss him and tell him all that she was feeling, but not in front of Yoh.
They all spent the rest of the evening talking about the previous few days, conversing silently outside in the surprisingly calm night. A lot had stayed the same, though to Yoh, Pirika, and Ren, nothing would ever be quite the same. It all made them think, 'how could anything be happy, be even close to the way it once was, after all that had just happened?' But they kept talking; no matter how hard it was, because they had to know what had truly happened.
At some points in their conversation, they cried, and at some points they all felt like laughing, but they held it back, because there was hardly anything to laugh about. Horo, Pirika's only brother, had died just hours ago, though so had Hao. It seemed like every time they won something, they all lost something more in turn. And this time, they never could get it back.
Anna and Tamara returned around noon the next day, having come back from who-knows-where. No one questioned them, and they never told them, the moment was far too delicate to waste on something so worthless. They instead were filled in on the days' events, as well as the rest of the gang, which included Rio, Faust, and Morty. When night fell the next day, and everyone else seemed to have gone back to their lives, though they did not forget, they thought that it best to act normal, and live their lives as best they could, one day at a time. Ren and Pirika alone remained outside, talking about the previous day, fingers intertwined, holding hands.
They held each other close, gazing up at the twinkling night stars together. Now that they thought about it, they always had been together, and no matter how far apart they were from each other, it all seemed as though no days had passed, and time picked up exactly where it had left off. It was as though they had gone back in time, to a much happier life, and had forgotten everything to do with Hao.
There was nothing to talk about, as they both knew everything that was to know about it all, but there was one thing that Pirika had yet to ask, and she had neglected asking up until now. How Ren had lived, even when all odds said that he was to died, one way or another. He did not even have his necklace; he had buried it in the sand before coming back to the Inn, and so the power must have worn off at some point.
"Ren, I have something to ask you. When I found you yesterday, you were… half dead…" she paused for a moment, as the horrifying scenes struck through her mind again, of him lying on the floor, blood surrounding his limp body. She bit back her urge to cry before continuing, "How did you survive? Hao surely could have killed you..." Pirika was at her breaking point, she just could not handle the thought of what she would have done had he stayed dead, and it was just too much for her. A tear slowly slid down her cheek, but before she could wipe it off, she felt warm lips press against hers. The kiss did not last long, but it made Pirika stop crying, because this was her proof that Ren was not gone, and never would be. Now she had happy things to think about, like the first time that Ren had kissed her, instead of when he had left her.
They broke apart, both smiling as though nothing had happened, and for a brief moment it was as though the entire world was put on hold, just for them.
"You never answered my question." Pirika said, still smiling as she made eye contact with him.
"I had something to live for, someone to live for; you. I could not stand to see you cry again, all because of me, I wanted to see you happy. Because I love you, Pirika, I always have."
"I love you too Ren." And for the first time in months, Pirika could honestly say that, despite all that had happened to her, she was able to forget, and move on. The thoughts of her brother never left her, or did all of the fights, but she pushed them out of her mind, so that she could be with him.
Ren pulled her closer, and they shared a warm embrace, as they watched the sun rise, together. And together they would always be...
DarkTaoAngel: I might extend this fiction, or I might make a sequel, but for now I am done. I hope that this fan fiction was enjoyed, because I might take a while to write another one. I may even just write a story where the first chapters of multiple stories are in it, like a preview of all, because I can not seem to think of anything right now! If anyone has any ideas, please let me know, and please review!