Author note: Wow! I can't believe that I'll Be There got so many reviews! Thank You! I love you guys! Arigatou! Anyway, back to Feign. So, I hope you'll enjoy it!

Chapter Eight: Tell Me One Last Time …

Clear reverberation of the clock chiming at the stroke of midnightdenoted the unnerving silence that besieged the manor, complemented with the darkness that devoured the all radiance of the night. No glittering stars in the sky, no moon hung high to light the hours of darkness; unadorned gloom was all there was to offer that night. Darkness was all around him and yet, he felt not the discomfort, - instead, he embraced it as his equivalent, his counterpart. At one point in his life, darkness seemed so natural around him, but after a long dismissal from these feelings, consenting himself to accept it once again only generated an unharmonious feeling of surrealism. There were no rejections simply because he knew that he would not win without calling forth the proficiency of his darker other half. But exactly who was he fighting against? Raven? Imperialist of DIEs? Or himself? Did he want to defeat DIEs and Raven or his past? But could he ignore, or even remove his past from his memory? Or was he condemned to shoulder the sins of his past forever? And above all, what will be the result at the end of the confrontation?

---

Ryo stuck his head into the colossal study hall, "Dee…?" he called out for his loved one, uncertain of the other's presence in the room. Silence greeted him in return. The flaxen man was going to turn his heels and look for his lover in the other rooms, when he saw streaks of white smoke wisp coming from a dark corner of the dimly-lit room.

Stepping into the room and closing the distance between them, Ryo made his company known to the dark-haired master of the household who seemed to be oblivious about him being there, "Dee…"

Startled, Dee was deep in his thoughts when he heard his half-Japanese lover called out for him, "Um…" he blinked unfocusedly before training his compelling green eyes on the former, "…what is it, Ryo?" he asked in return, innocently flashing a heart-melting smile to the man, whom he loved no more than his own life.

Heaving a sigh, Ryo slightly pursed his lips to form a frail smile, "Dee, is something the matter?"

Raising a brow inquisitively, "Is there?" Dee replied with a question, sounding rather suggestive as his lover strode closer.

"Dee… something's troubling you and don't bother denying it. It's written all over your face…" Ryo's soothing voice laced with apprehension but a soft gasp escaped his lips as his obsessive lover stepped into the light. Though lightings in the room were poor, the distinctiveness of his lover's gorgeous features radiated even with the dimmest of light.

'Utterly breath-taking…' was all he had in mind as his pitch black eyes were mesmerized and his body under Dee's hypnotic spell, closed the gap between them. The blond detective intuitively cupped the younger man's left cheek in his palm as his forefinger ran down his lover's smooth complexion.

'God… He's beautiful… How can he be a devil when he is so much more of an angel? Glowing with brilliance, emitting the glow of virtue, yet as delicate and fragile as a glass can be, breaking so effortlessly, - how can he be complemented among the underlings of Devil?'

"Ryo…?" Dee's voice broke all chains of thought running through his head.

"Huh?"

"You were spacing out like a dummy there for a whole minute. I should be the one asking if there's something bothering you," perplexity bore on his façade but softens as he reached out to wrap an arm around his lover. Instinctively, Ryo sat serenely on Dee's lap.

"Dee…"

"um…?"

"You'll never leave me again like before, right?"

Dee chose to be silent.

"You'll be there when I wake up tomorrow, right? You'll be there … tell me that you'll be there…" Ryo's voice trembled a little at the end of his statement, bearing slight fear in his voice.

"I…"

"Tell me I am right… Dee… I need to know that I am right… You'll be there, won't you?" tears brimming on the verge of his weary eyes, threatening to spill.

'After all that we have been through, he still has this insecure feeling around me. But can I put the blame on him?... No. Instead, the blame should be on me. My presence alone is a threat, my very existence is a sin… I cause nothing but pain to the ones I loved. It's no wonder Ryo's being so apprehensive. I can't give him a reason to have confidence in me…

Ryo, my love… I don't want to make empty promises. I don't want you to feel that I have betrayed you… Ryo, I'm sorry…'

"Ryo…" tightening his embrace over his restless lover, "I love you. No matter what happens, just remember that I love you. You are the only one I love and I will trade my life for you…"

Instantaneously, a finger rest on his lips, "I don't want to hear you say that. Do you hear me!" Ryo said gravely, but the quivering in his voice was far beyond noticeable. A single tear trickled down his burning cheek.

"Hey…" voiced the midnight-haired man softly as he straightened in his seat. His thumb caressed his lover's face softly as he wiped the tear off his face. Looking at his counterpart, eye to eye, jet black to emerald green, - Dee carved a smile at his lover but the persuasion in his eyes was by far more enthralling; it was as though his eyes were telling the other to stop worrying.

"Don't let all those thoughts get to you…" said the raven-haired.

"I know…" resting his head on his lover's broad shoulder, "… I know…" Ryo repeated in a voice so soft, it was barely a whisper.

"Just don't think about it. And everything will be all right,"

Solitary silence prolonged the moments shared between the two men but they were both content in each other's arms.

"Dee…"

"um…?"he hummed inquisitively as he raked the back of his lover's silky blond hair with soothing strokes.

"I love you…" Ryo whispered sleepily.

Dee turned his head slightly, only to find his lover has exhaustedly fallen asleep on his shoulder.

"I love you, too… Ryo… I really do…" he whispered back. For an extended period of time, Dee sat there unmoving with Ryo still in his arms as he listened to the steady rhythm of his lover's breathing.

---

Stepping out of the shadows, "Master… Shall I…?" offered the PA, extending his arm.

"No. It's ok," Dee replied before Thaddeus had the chance to finish his sentence.

"Master…" came another voice, another shadow appeared behind Thaddeus, - someone more frail in built and caring in nature.

"Li Kay, the last thing I expect from you are tears," said the master of the household, but his eyes never left the man who slept unperturbedly in his arms.

"But master…" Li Kay began but was crudely interrupted.

"No buts, Li Kay. I want no arguments before I leave,"

The Asian beauty slumped her back against her lover as she replied mournfully but compliantly, "Yes, master."

"Good," Dee said in return as he lifted the sleeping man and stood from his chair, "I presume that you all know what to do while I am away?"

"We will ensure that everyone gets to safe land as soon as it starts. After we have secured the premises, we will make haste to join you…"

"That wouldn't be necessary, Thaddeus,"

"But master!"

Glaring dangerously at his assistant, "Ted… no buts. You are to take the rest of the members in this household, the guests and yourself to safety. Now, do I make myself clear?"

"Y…yes… master…" replied the latter in averse as he tightened his fist into a ball with his nails sinking deep into his flesh.

Dee was about to leave his study hall when Thaddeus's voice called out to him, "Master… You'll be back, right?... Or even at least try to come back… Please tell me you will…"

The man tilted his head slightly to the left with a faint smile but no words escaped his lips as he carried the man he loved out of the room.

Each step he took, he dragged them with a heavy heart; every breath achingly held as though it was his very last. Dee tried so hard not to turn the separation into another sappy end. Too much of sentimentality has gone through his head ever since Ryo got involved with this whole mess he created. The sadistic conscience of his was laughing in the back of his head, but who wouldn't be ridiculed by the quirk of fate that befell upon him. He, the master of espionage, the bloody killer who flinch not upon killing his prey; - was supposed to heartless.

So, why? If he hadn't got a heart, then where did all these devouring pain come from? What was it that weighed inside of him; if it wasn't his heart that laden with sorrow of departure?

---

The velocity of the wind increased several notches as the helicopter hovering above his head began to descend. And despite standing within the range of the landing point, Dee remained rooted to his spot, - unwavering and unyielding, unafraid of the cataclysmic challenge that would soon impart on him, mainly because a part of him has already accepted his fate destined for him tonight.

His smoky green eyes glint ever so murderously with flaring rage as they trailed each and every darkly-dressed imperialist disembarking the copter while mentally counting their numbers.

'hmm… Not bad. About 150 of them. Raven really look too highly upon me,' he noted as he snickered to himself.

"Besieged by the number?" a gruff voice in the midst of the crowd asked amusingly. The taunting confidence in the voice of the man who was once his mentor was truly unnerving.

"Not really," Dee replied coolly. "But I don't know which to interpret, - do you look upon me highly enough to believe that I can take down 150 alone, or are you insulting your own people that 150 imperialists are needed to take me down?" he mockingly added.

"150? My… Shadow, are your eyes deceiving you?" Raven feigned a shocked expression before a sly smirk graced upon his wrinkled façade. "Take a count again. You might find that you're far off the actual count," he added. With a simple nod of his head, the 150 imperialists multiplied before Dee's eyes as they encircled within 12 feet radius around him.

"These are the finest batch of rookie imperialists, personally polished and trained by yours truly. All 300 of them could rival you in terms of speed and accuracy, so it's pointless trying to outrun them or even think that you can escape from this ring they form because even if they have to die to bring you in, they will; they are programmed to, anyway. So, what will it be? Will they be blood shedding on this equestrian field of yours? Or will you surrender quietly? The choice is yours…"

"Does it look like I have a choice?"

The old man pondered on the question, or at least pretended to take the thought into consideration for a moment, "Not really. The choices of path laid before you are the only two that I've mentioned. There is no detour for you nor could you turn back to the path you once walked in because it's barricaded. Your past barricades that path. So, even if you fight your way through destiny, even if you win this battle tonight, - your path will never see light again. You can only return to the darkness where you belong, if not die and walk into the hands of the devil because the Heaven's door will not open to the man whose hands are tainted with the blood of another."

"Oh, fuck with your preaching!" the midnight-haired man spat out disdainfully, "If it is me you want, then come and get me!"

"Very well. If that is your choice, I will respect it," And with that, Raven snapped his fingers once. The sound echoed in the silent air triggering two things in the process; - one, the battalion of imperialists began to move in and as the ring became smaller, every alternate member hid behind another, creating a two-layered defense. And two, activated the mind-controlling mechanism within Dee.

Dee's agonizing cries resonated in the mid of night, traveling far and wide across his domain as the night wind began to pick up speed.

"Damn you, son of a bitch!" the ex-imperialist cursed through his gnashed teeth as he drew out his customized fully-automated glock in one hand while the other extracted a long Japanese katana. With the pain intoxicating his mind, Dee slashed and shot like an insane man seeking relieve for his madness. Not even the wounds he received could rival the throbbing of his head.

Only a mere figment in his mind gave solace to his battered mind and physique, - Ryo.

'I never ask for any of this to happen, but it is inevitable. I cannot outrun the fact about who I am, nor can I hide my past from the ones I love. Ever since my departure, my life from there forth is nothing more than an act. And like actors, I played my role well… Probably too well till I managed to deceive the people around me and even myself into believing that I was who I charade as. There was even at one point of time I almost believed that my feign form had a life of its own, far from the clutches of my past. So, I dared myself to love again, to feel as whole again, to let my life be as it was before. But just as love embraced me, just as hope began to shine upon me, giving me a second chance to redeem the life I lose to darkness, - reality crashes back harder than imaginable. And slowly fear overwhelms and I lose concentration to play my role right. Anxiety and trepidation slowly cracks my false mask. Bits by bits it came off, till the mask I wore all the time pretending who I was not, - split open and revealed my true self; the devil hiding beneath an angel's mask. Even though it would mean parting with everything good about my false life, even if I was deprived of the man I love, - I know it was time for me to draw the curtains of my act and return to the darkness where my sinful being rightfully belongs.'

Forgiveness was something he knew he had no rights to ask. But in the midst of battle, it was the only thing he could pray for as the shower of blood rained on him, eliciting the slumbering sinister persona to wake. His senses were slowly blinded by the lust for blood, while his sanity was still desperately trying to hold onto the fading image of his lover. But he knew that it was inept, insufficient to hold back the awakening demon in him.

Frown no longer marred his angular face as an evil grin stretched wider as it relished from the pain inflicted on himself, and the anguish cries of dying adversaries, whom were stupid enough to be played by their master, like puppets on strings.

Like vampires he drank on blood splattered on him, savoring the coppery tang in his mouth. Thus, he discarded his gun that could barely cause wounds big enough for the red cells to spurt like a fountain of life.

'Yup, katana was definitely a better choice,' the cruelty of his alter ego said inside the raven head as the sword sliced mercilessly at his opponent who dared stand in his path.

'…157…189…201…' Numbers of dead adversaries flew by so quickly, Dee was slowly losing count. But by then, not only has the grin on his face grew wider, the madness in his eyes lusting for a kill was more than apparent. His speed increased to the point that six miserable opponents were slaughtered in mere 3 seconds flat.

'I'm losing myself…or more accurately, I'm losing all sense of humanity established with my feign self. As that fake part of me dies off, so will my conscience… I'm sorry, Ryo… I'm sorry, Ted… Li Kay…But if I return as Shadow… No… There wouldn't be an 'if', I will die first before even allow Shadow back…This is the only way; I know no other…'

---

300 miles away, far from the sounds of gun shots, clashing of swords, and cries of death, - a blond Japanese awakened with a start, panting profusely as he hunched over.

Fretting for the worst to happen, "Dee…?" he called out warily as his dark black orbs adjusted to the lack of light surrounding him.

"Ryo…" faintly a voice invaded his bleary mind.

In a split second mirage of his dark-haired lover clouded his sight, but as quickly as it came, the fog in his mind cleared; Dee's pretty Asian assistant and her counterpart were looming over her with unfathomable sorrow in their eyes.

"Ryo…" her voice called out to him again, but this time, melancholy was evident to his ears.

"Li Kay… Where's Dee!" he asked frantically, gripping the lady's hand with firmness that hurt.

But the burning pain of the man's hand on hers could not account for the pain that seared her heart. Somehow or rather, she couldn't help cursing her master for putting her in such a position.

"Ryo… I need you to stay calm…" she started but the man barely let her finished when he leapt to his feet, only to find himself at the most unlike place to be.

Hysterically glancing around for a familiar mop of raven, he could find were faces of familiar people, - all but his midnight-haired lover.

"Where's Dee!" the Japanese detective demanded.

But all too soon, a loud blasting sound dulled only by the distance between them reached their ears. Running to a nearby window, Ryo practically glued his face to the glass to peer at the source of the dreaded sound.

And all he could see were flames engulfing the forest that was once his lover's horse's playground. Thick smokes rose with the fiery flames as though they were trying to reach for the sky.

"We need to get out of here!" Li Kay commanded as Ted rushed to the cockpit.

"NO! Dee's still out there!" Ryo cried, loud enough to wake his fellow comrades from their slumber.

Holding the man back from trying to break the glass window, though it wouldn't be possible to do so; but the man could seriously hurt himself if he did try, - the Chinese beauty knew that this was as much as she could do for she, herself wanted nothing more than to leap of this private jet with the man to get to her master's side.

"Ryo! Please…!" she begged as tears silently strolled down her checks. But hers were incomparable to the man's streams of tears that threaded endlessly.

"DEE! You promised, Damnit! You promised that everything will be alright! You promised, GODDAMNIT!"

"Teddy! Take off now!" she cried authoritatively at her lover behind the navigation panels.

"NO!" was the last word Ryo cried out in angst before Li Kay had no choice but to force the man to lose his conscious with a swift chop to the back of his neck.

"I'm sorry… Ryo. I really am…" she whispered softly to the fallen man in her arms as Li Kay fought the tears that threatened to melt her resolve.

---

Author's note: Will I be killed if I end this here? This story is really getting old anyway… But I wouldn't be that cruel… hehe…

Here you have it, the epilogue.

---

Epilogue: A New Beginning

- Ryo's POV -

Two years…

Two years of nothingness…

Emptiness…

Lifeless…

Scoffing to the notion most would have in mind, - I must make it known to all that I'm no walking, talking mummy. Sanity is still a part of me, - though not as much as before since…

Tears would still spring to my ebony eyes, - yes, the same pitch black eyes that betrayed my lineage to…

Thoughts alone still pains me. At times, I seriously wished that I could lose all capabilities of thinking, remembering memories shared with…

'God!' I noted pathetically to myself as I lifted my head to the vast blue sky, - an insignificant gesture I would do from time to time unconsciously as though I could speak to God and tell Him personally to stop bugging me, while other times, I would just look up to Him in hope that he would take me away from all the miseries in this world.

I let a small laugh escape my dry throat at the thought and thanked my lucky stars for the lack of another's presence. I knew that if I were to voice out the thought one more time in their presences, J.J. would be more than please to be the one to put me behind the asylum bars.

Picking up my forgotten cup of Darjeeling tea, a flavor I've gotten so accustomed to since the days at the…

Shaking my head lightly as I brought the rim of the china close to my lips, a frown marred my brows as I contemplated on how angry I was with myself for my helplessness. I couldn't even complete a single statement with him in it!

It was almost as bad as wanting to forget but couldn't! And a bigger headache when I realize that it wasn't my memory bank that was reluctant to depart with those memories, but it was the anchor of my heart.

And that anchor was the reason why I'm still in tune with the world around me, still sensible to be alive and kicking, instead of piling under the dirt, waiting for critters to decompose my body.

That's the reason why I'm here right now, drinking by the café sidewalk, and not rotting six feet under.

"Waited long?" carefully manicured fingers tapped lightly on my shoulder as she made her presence known to my detached attention.

Faltering my wrist a little to gesture for the lady and her companion to seat, "Not really. Just got here myself," I replied casually, hiding my lousy-excuse for solitude behind a hearty smile.

But it must have been a façade too easy to read when the Asian beauty frown at the fakeness I tried to portray. Then again, I was no actor, and most definitely not him. Somehow, he had mastered it to the perfection of an art that it was flawless how every time he had managed to throw all doubts into oblivion with that suave debonair smile of his.

"You're a lousy liar, do you know that?" she reprimanded off-handedly as she dismissed the waiter without an order.

I rectified nothing. I made no comments to hide from her accusation. She was right. I am an honest-to-goodness freak.

"How have you been, Detective MacLean?" Thaddeus enquired out of good-nature, trying to dissolve the unsaid tension brewing in the silence I invoked.

"Please Thaddeus, I've known you long enough. So, discard the formalities. Randy would do," I replied, stressing lightly on the matter of our familiarity towards one another. After all, they had been acquainted for two years although they hardly see each other, save for major occasions like holidays.

"Ryo…" Li Kay called my name softly with care. But despite how faint it sounded, no matter how feather soft her voice was, - I still winced as though the very name alone sting.

Since then, I had never let another called me by that name. All I hear now these days were, Randy this, Randy that. No more Ryo… for the plain reason I could stand for another to call the name meant for his and only his voice to call.

"Ryo…" trying again, she knew that it was going to hurt me with the calling of that name, but before Li Kay could continue, Thaddeus's hand rested softly on hers, giving her a quick squeeze that has managed to hold her back.

I can only stand so much. If she were to say my name one more time, the dam in my eyes would threaten to break loose.

"Randy…" drawing my attention towards him, Thaddeus made an attempt to give me an assuring smile but wavered a little with uncertainty as he went on, "We come to bring you news, - good and bad."

"Do I want to know?" I bitterly retorted. I don't know what has gotten into me to give the poor guy the cold shoulders, but it has definitely got something to do with the news he brings. The last time he said such a thing was when I was told that they were going to have a closed casket funeral for him since they couldn't find his body. I mean, how was it a good news that it was a closed casket! How could they even implied that he was dead! No body means no evidence! I'm a cop, for crying out loud! Everything about my job circles around evidence! So, stop feeding me nonsense without any prove!

"Ryo…"

"Stop!" I snapped at her, "Stop calling me by that name!"

"Will you stop ranting like a five-year old for five minutes and hear what we have got to say! Like it or not; believe or not, - it's up to you but at least let us rely the message and we'll be gone." Li Kay reprimanded exasperatedly.

And I saw it as my cue to keep my comments to myself. I know it's not like me to burst unsuspectingly. But when you live a tired life like mine, you'd realize that death and fury are the two of the many outlets to vent one's grief for this tiresome world. And by sheer luck, today was frustration. Something new, but nothing out of the ordinary. I'm still the walking time bomb.

Leaning against the back of the wicker chair, I tried hard to pose as composed and clear-headed as possible, preparing for the mysterious news. But saying was easier than done. Past experiences had taught me never to relax completely to the offer of good news.

No news is good news; - that's my latest policy.

After much fidgeting with the hem of her baby blue blouse, "It's about Dee," she finally said in a rush.

I held my breath, but I showed no emotions.

"Dee?" I scoffed softly, "I never thought that I would be the one reminding you that you've buried him six feet under."

"Don't tell me that you're still mad at us for that, are you!" Li Kay asked defensively.

"What do you suppose!" I retorted snappishly, "That I should be glad that you buried him with the past!" tears brimmed, "I can't! Not like you guys! I can't just set him aside just because he's…" My voice softened significantly from the initial outburst, "… He may be dead to the world… But until you find his body…" I couldn't continue on as sobs caught my throat.

"Ryo…" guilt-ridden by the sight of my helpless tears, the Chinese beauty rested her palm on mine.

"Don't…" I meant to reprimand, but because of my feebleness, it sounded more of a plea, "…I don't want another to call me by that name… Just him… Only he, can…"

"So, let him…"

Smiled knowingly at my perplexity, both of Dee's personal assistants exchanged a brief look before revealing the little puzzle thrown at me.

"We found him," Li Kay said in a hushed voice. But the big grin on her face depicted perfectly the uncontainable excitement that was roaming for an outlet.

I gasped visibly this time as a silent tear rolled down my cheek. A part of me wanted them to take it back if it's a lie because my heart can only take so much. I consider myself a person with high tolerance, but if they are joking about Dee's existence, only God will know where my sanity will be.

"Detec… Randy," Thaddeus corrected immediately, "… I know what you're thinking. Whether what we say is true, whether it's worth trusting… But please, I beg you to reconsider. Do you think that we will joke about such a thing?"

Absentmindedly, I shook my head.

"Then, please… come with us…"

The light pleading was the last thing I remembered because the next thing I knew, I was standing before a pallid white door, in a ludicrously sanitized institution, - a.k.a. hospital.

It still puzzles me how I got there, but at that time, I couldn't really be bothered.

"Please tell me that behind this door is something I want to see…" I begged softly because as how I see it, things aren't getting any better. Numerous images, unpleasant images played in my head, but I could only pray to the Lord that neither are true.

Their smile wavered, "Randy…" Thaddeus began, "Master… he…"

"Just tell me one thing…" impatiently, I interrupted with a shaky voice, "… just tell that it's not his…" I didn't get to finish my sentence, nor have I the intention of vocalizing my deepest fear. But he got the message, and with a shook his head, I breathed again.

"Then go ahead. Tell me. You've put off the bad news long enough," I tried to sound brave, but I was no doubt whacked inside with fear.

"…" His mouth opened agape like a goldfish, but either I was no longer capable of hearing, or he was deprived of the ability to speak, because nothing was heard, nothing was said.

"Perhaps…" Saving her lover the trouble of looking for the word to describe the situation best, Li Kay forced a smile as she said, "… it's best you find out yourself…"

My black orbs tried to read the hidden agenda beneath their façade, but all I got was sadness dawning in their eyes and a grim smile, - expressions that I would deem ominous despite the supposed reunion.

Deciding not to pry on them further, my sweaty palm took the door knob with utmost precautions.

My heart skipped a beat with every turning click of the lock.

But my heart stopped beating entirely, when my eyes rested upon the resident of the hospital ward.

Wavy dark ebony black tress that cascaded past his shoulder glared sharply to the stray rays of sun that was caught on the healthy shine of his hair. Miraculously, the light dancing on those passionate smoke-green orbs did not hurt his eyes to squint and hide them from the world, because it would be the world's loss not to be graced by those gorgeous eyes.

I can't help but to be mesmerized. I can't help it if I'm rooted to where I was standing.

In his ethereal presence, I can't stop to think that I've died and gone to heaven.

"Dee…" my croaky voice called out cautiously.

His head turned, his brows creased, but offered a refined smile, nonetheless.

"Hi!... Umm… Do I know you?"

If this is a joke, it has gone too far.

I threw my head back at the duo, but their refusal to meet my gaze and the lack of amusement in their forlorn eyes were more than enough to tell me that it wasn't a sick joke played on me.

It was real.

Dee wasn't faking it. He really didn't know me.

He had lost his memories…

My lips trembled, my knees buckled…I tried to stop myself from crying, but tears disobeyed me. And with that, I allowed myself to collapse on my knees.

Shuffling of cloths were heard, but I was too busy crying to register that the patient has approached me.

Prostrated to level his height to mine, "I'm sorry…" he said to me. Though it was the same voice, the same pitch, - the tone was foreign to me.

"Why?" I asked between sobs.

"Because of everything I've done to make you cry… though I cannot remember, the least I could do is say that I'm sorry…" The consolation he offered rendered my heart, but at the same time it pains me to realize that he has no idea what he's saying, no idea what he was doing to me…

And that made tears sprung more than ever.

"Ah!" he exclaimed comically, a sight I don't think one has ever seen the real Dee do, but nevertheless a candid moment, "Don't cry…! I promise that I'll try the best I can to remember what I'm sorry for…"

"Please… please…" I pled, "Don't say you're sorry anymore… You did nothing wrong…" I said, forcing a smile in spite of the streaming tears.

"But I must have done something to make you cry like this!" he protested with disbelief.

"No… nothing…"

The frustrated look on his credulous face was priceless, yet humorous. I would have had my share of laughter if sob hadn't got to me first.

"Ah!" he exclaimed in the same manner again, "You're crying far more than before!"

Scrambling to his feet, he quickly retrieved a box of tissue on his nightstand. But despite how much he had dabbed dry with those plies of tissues, tears were ceaselessly flowing like nobody's business.

"God! I promise I'll do anything! So, please… Please stop crying…"

I must have seemed pathetic in his eyes when he choose to throw his arms around me, enveloping me into a warm hug.

"Whatever it is I've forgotten, I'll make it up to you. We may have lost the past, but we still have the future. We'll just make more memories together!"

His carefree attitude surprises me to no end, an attitude so unlike you. But I guess that's you get when you lose your memory.

Nevertheless, he's right; - the past may or may not be retrieved, but at least we have the future, right?

'Dee…' I pled to the memory of my love in my head, 'Give me strength… Help me through this.'

This compelled smile may not be the best smile, but at least it's a start.

It'll not be easy, but I'll do whatever I can, - to make you fall in love with me over again.

- fin -

---

Author's note: Okay, I am cruel… Bwahhhahaha! Love it? Hate it? Please review!

And sorry for the crappy write-style. Somehow, it ain't as good as the opening…

And I also apologize for the OOCness of the characters. Insanity struck me, thus created the nightmarish version of my beloved FAKE chara... -sob-

I'm announcing beforehand that there will not be a sequel for this fic because I think I could not end this anywhere else than this point here. Anyway, I hope you liked it. I can't say that this ending is any good, but hey, - at least it ended, right?