Note: Ah, I'm sorry for the uber long wait! TigerDragon and Forcade ¦smiles¦ Well, here it is! The last chapter TT and I really am sorry; and I hope that I didn't keep you waiting too long… actually wait – that's a really stupid thing to say! Sorry!
¦¦¦
Finally, the end of the week came and Dante's impatient back and forth pacing along the length of his office was actually beginning to wear a groove in the hard flooring. The thinking time had seemed like a pleasure at first, convenient but now – it just seemed too long. He couldn't wait whatsoever; he just wanted her here, now, like an anxious boyfriend that hadn't seen his girlfriend for an eternity.
However, the moment he heard his front door creak, Dante regained his usual composure, ready to greet the 'elusive' demon, but when Arcan appeared in view – she looked more worse for wear than anything he had seen before and the tear streaks on her face were as obvious as daylight. She smiled weakly at him before crashing to meet the floor, unconscious. Dante was at her side in a flash and caught her before a single hair could even touch the floor.
"Arcan!" he cried, but the girl was out cold. Her clothes were torn, but the wounds were already healing though there was no hiding the blood stains that now marred her blue and white garb. "Please – please… be ok," he whispered softly as he held her close to him, before moving to his bed where he laid her down and busied himself fetching some spare clothes from his drawers and set them down beside her, before moving his sofa closer to his bedroom door, which he left ajar – just in case she might need something if she came to.
The entire night, Dante barely slept, and if he did – it was only for twenty minutes at the maximum.
When Dante opened his eyes the next morning, he found himself face-to-face with a now smiling Arcan, who had changed into his clothes that fit her in a cute manner, being too big for her, gently let her hand graze his cheek. "My name's Arcana, the last 'A' of my name stands for 'acquiring is the end of our little charade'," and with that she opened her left hand, and there, glistening in its centre was his two headed coin. "My cousin wanted me to return this to you, it was a thank you remembrance sort of present for all the things you've done for her."
"Arcana…" Dante murmured her name as if tasting it, but she quietly hushed him.
"Don't… let me tell you everything like I promised I would," and with that she sat beside him, letting her a hand fall to his strong chest. "I am the other protector, the 'reserve' if you like. When I last left you, I had to return – there was… a war in our village, an all-out war against demons, which pitted themselves against demi-demons like Lucia and I, and humans like Matier. Many were killed, but we won. Lucia and Matier are fine," she smiled softly. "And… I left straight from the battle to get here, so that I wouldn't be late," she chuckled softly at her own stupidity, but Dante smiled gently.
"You really are a stubborn girl aren't you? You should've called me!"
"Of course but I didn't want to get you hurt!" she protested indignantly and Dante just shook his head, glad that she'd made it back to him in one piece, that she'd actually wanted to get back to him that not even a war could delay her. "And you know what? When I went to see Lucia again the first time, I had to ask her something – something about myself and you. She… she told me that I was falling for you and that it was understandable, but, I myself didn't understand the feelings… these new emotions that I was feeling for you. I didn't know, I've never been… in love before," another blush tainted her pale skin. "And – I didn't really accept it, couldn't believe it… but, now I do," she smiled at him. "I – I love you Dante," not 'Son of Sparda', but just Dante and with that, the young demi-demon pulled her unto his lap.
"Hey – I told you before, just because you've fulfilled this promise now, doesn't mean that you have to go, because… I – I love you too," he smiled up at her, before pulling her down into a tender kiss. "I love you Arcana, more than you'll ever know. No more charades, just plain you and me from now on," and at that they couldn't help but smile as Arcana nestled against his shoulder, content at having loved and being loved in return; no longer needing to play a part in a nameless, riddlingmasquerade.
¦¦¦
There – thank you again for reading this all the way TigerDragon ¦smile¦ Your support all the way throughout – I never could have done it without you! And wow… thank you, Forcade – favourite list? Ah… sankyuu very much! Sorry if the ending's a bit... uh... corny lol, my brain decided to go on a vacation! ¦sheepish smile¦
Dragonfly
x
