Naoki07 here. We're coming closer to the climax, and my sources of inspiration are plentiful. The excitement grows and grows with every entry! I would like to thank everyone for sharing this experience with me.

I have something I need to get off my chest.

It's been a week since Hikaru's last update, and I have a statement to release.

I'm dying here! I'm drowning under the high tides of suspense! I can barely even breathe! It's been one whole week and I need more! Waaah!

The waves of anticipation become stronger and stronger every day. My inbox bestows no relief upon me; when will the suffering come to an end? I've given it a thousand Oscars but its tormenting me!

That's not the only story I'm waiting on, though! Somebody needs to hurry up and save me...

Theme of 'Truth': The Sending from Final Fantasy X OST

Soren's face was an immaculate painting of warmth. He was at a tender, innocent age, but he held a million years of benevolence in his heart; his gentle eyes were flawless reflections of his heart. They held the greatest amount of wisdom and warmth within them; they were encouraging, comforting oceans of purity. They were the eyes of a parent, a loving parent...and they were warm enough to eliminate all boundaries of doubt. There was an aura of moonlight hovering about his black hair, and his smile was an endless beam of sunrise. He was the reflection of a pristine sunrise; refreshing, serene and infinitely pleasing. His robes had an aura of twilight about them, and they were flowing in the wind like soft feathers.

The face of his beloved Sovereign was a face of sweet, childlike innocence. It was drenched in a blanket of fear, and soaked in the sheet of undying devotion. Confusion was abundant in the Sovereign's eyes; there was a destination he wanted to reach, but he had no idea where to turn, or how to turn at all. His soft eyes were shimmering with oceans of sadness, and his heart was pounding upon the fierce drums of apprehension. He was unable to believe that he was in the presence of a friend, for he had spent an eternity soaring through the distant past of his soul mate...he had spent an eternity lost in the stream of time. The voice of his advisor gently touched his ears, and softened the fear streaming throughout his body.

"It is I, Lord Roy. I'm glad I've found you. I was unable to reach you for a while; you had vanished into nothingness."

Roy looked like a child that had been tossed into the greatest war imaginable. He removed a river of tears from his burning eyes and spoke to his advisor, his voice even softer than the smallest feather. "How were you able to find me?" he asked his dear companion, feeling his heart sink into a realm of intense sorrow; he was unable to remove his mind off the cry his soul mate had released seconds ago. Marth's facial expression had burned itself into his mind, and the words he released were echoing throughout the Sovereign's broken heart...

Soren knelt beside his dear friend, still bearing a gentle smile about his eyes. He was in the role of a parent, and his Sovereign was in the role of a child. The advisor was only at the age of fifteen, but he had a lot of strength within his young heart, and it was coming through flawlessly. He placed a gentle hand on Roy's shivering shoulder, his eyes twinkling with a soft glow of moonlight.

"My lord, I have the ability to connect myself to the stream of time. Within the stream of time, I can find my way to the hearts of others...and the stream of time created a path to your heart. That path was clouded for a moment, but a beam of light shattered the darkness...and led me to you. I can't tell you how happy I am to see you, Your Highness."

Both of them embraced each other, and held each other as if they were about to fall into endless silence. Roy was comforted by his advisor's presence; the strength of his grip and his sobs made that evident. Soren's grip was softer, but it held an equal amount of relief and joy within it. Both of them kept themselves locked in that embrace for an eternity...and then the young advisor spoke once again. His voice was still soft, still gentle and soothing...

"My dearest friend, I know of your heart's troubles. I know that your heart aches with desires, and your soul cries with a longing for eternity. Unfortunately, your desires are being withheld from you, for your heart was once tainted with regret. My lord, is your heart still suffering? Do you wish to remove the future you have formed?"

Do you wish to remove the future you have formed?

Roy's heart jolted, and he fell into a deep world of thought. He thought of the night he had spent wandering through regret...he thought of how many times he wanted to cast his angel into nothingness...he thought of the pain he had put himself through, he thought of the torment he had placed his heart into...

The thoughts of his own regret melted into the visions he had just witnessed. His soul mate loved him, needed him, cared for him and treasured him. There was not a scrap of doubt anywhere. Marth loved him; he loved him during his years as Altea's leader, and he loved him still. Every one of his kisses held a thousand promises within it...each of his embraces were pure and clean, soft and deep...eternal and warm...

Eternal.

That word meant everything to Eliwood's son.

He removed even more tears from his eyes, and listened to the beating of his heart. His heart was with Marth's heart...his soul was with Marth's soul. He loved him, cared for him and treasured him...with an extent of devotion that was equal to the devotion Marth held for him. He savored the warmth of his angel's arms...the warmth of his angel's promises and dreams...

The Sovereign of Pharae's eyes lit up with a fire Soren had never seen before.

It was a fire that held indescribable love, everlasting promises and undying devotion. It was a fire that etched itself into the stream of eternity, and strengthened the course of time itself. It was bright, vivid and strong...nothing like the flames that had plagued him before his journey into the past. He spoke to his advisor, and his voice was a perfect reflection of that fire...

"No. I'm ready to embrace the future. I don't want to run away from anything any more. I love him...and he loves me. I can't tear our bond apart. I may be a low-down mortal...but...the heavens have blessed me with their most precious treasure...and I can't turn down such a holy blessing. I want to embrace the future."

Soren took his Sovereign's hands...and squeezed them gently. Their smiles united, and tied their hearts closer.

"Then allow me to guide you back to your eternity, my lord. When you reach the surface, I will not be near you. It will be time for you to cement your decision, my friend; your angel is waiting for you back in the sacred temple of Charon. There are two others waiting for you; they bear the souls of demons, and they go by the names of Riev and Hadin. The demon named Hadin wishes to take your angel...so you must hurry, dearest one. Hurry. He's waiting for you."

He's waiting for you.

You know, Soren reminds me of a Companion. For those of you that are unfamiliar with Mercedes Lackey, I see Soren as a benevolent mentor to a young sovereign. This entry went well; I had a lot of fun writing it.

I would like to dedicate this chapter to Anima, Hikaru, Moiras, and the authors of every story on my Favorites list. I'm planning RoyxMarth oneshots-I may take a break from 'Angel' and work on those. That way, a certain friend of mine will have a chance to catch up on their reading!

I would die for the chance to have Hikaru-sama review my work...hey Hikaru! I'm still drowning! Su!