A/N: A special thanks to all my reviewers…this is the most reviews I've ever gotten for a story! It also probably helps that this is the most chapter I've ever written in a story. XD But to all of you out there that aren't reviewing, shame on you! Okay…I'm done. Alright, guys, just one more chapter after this and the story is finished! So, don't go away yet! XD

Disclaimer: I own nothing except an adorable stuffed animal that I like to hug and pretend it's Fayt because Fayt is so adorable and huggable. Too bad he's not real.

After a long moment of being sprawled out of the sidewalk, panting for air, Fayt was beginning to get cold. The sun was setting and soon it would be time to eat dinner. Fayt shivered and muttered. "Okay, you can let go now, Albel. I want to go back inside."

"We have to do this carefully," Albel whispered in Fayt's ear. "We've still got to stay on your property."

"What?" Fayt asked, sounding dazed. "The sidewalk is public property."

"Not technically. You see, you have a piece of sidewalk and then a little strip of grass beyond the sidewalk. That piece of grass is part of your front yard too. Now, if we get up really carefully, we won't fall into the street, which isn't part of your property."

Fayt looked nervous. "I'm going to fall. I just know it." He tentatively reached a hand to one side and felt part of the grass strip.

"Come on, Fayt. We've come too far to give up now. Just roll carefully to your left and sit up." Albel slowly untangled himself from Fayt and crawled backwards onto the driveway and stood up.

Fayt slowly pushed himself up onto his hands. Albel wrapped strong arms around Fayt and pulled him backwards. Fayt gratefully leaned into Albel. "Thanks. That whole episode has left me feeling kind of drained."

Albel nodded. "But we should have expected something like this."

"Why?"

"Today's the last day we have to get through before we defeat the ghosts. It's natural they're getting a little desperate to kill us."

"Wow, I totally forgot about the time limit," Fayt murmured. "I was too busy just trying to stay alive with worrying over how much longer we had to survive."

Albel shrugged and turned Fayt around facing him. He embraced his friend and then pulled back, putting his hands on Fayt's shoulders and studying his face. "You look hungry," Albel announced. "Let's go inside and get dinner."

"Actually, I'm more cold than hungry," Fayt admitted.

"Okay, I'll make you some soup. That'll warm you up."

"Oh no you don't," Fayt protested. Even I can heat up canned soup."

Albel looked amused. "It's no trouble, Fayt. I like taking care of you."

"You don't have to do everything for me," Fayt said gently. "I'll still need you even if I don't need you to heat soup for me."

Albel looked pained. "But it's going to be our last meal together."

Fayt bit his lip, beginning to see Albel point. "Well, if I let you make breakfast for me, can I heat my own soup?"

Albel grinned. "Go right ahead. Just watch out for that stove. It's a brute."

Fayt rolled his eyes. "The ghosts never use the same trick twice. Relax, I'll be fine."

Albel shrugged. "If you say so, Fayt. I'll be in the bedroom packing up some of our stuff.

Albel began folding up some of his shirt, remembering what had happened each day that he had worn it. He was lost in memories for a few moments until a burnt smell jolted him out of his thoughts.

He raced towards the kitchen and found the whole room enveloped in smoke. Fayt staggered out of the smoky haze, coughing loudly. He stumbled against Albel and took a deep breath. "God, this sucks," he muttered.

Albel smirked. "You managed to burn a can of soup?"

"No, I managed to burn the whole kitchen," Fayt murmured weakly. "I fail at life."

Albel sighed. "Come on, even you can't do that much damage, can you?"

"Well, if I didn't do it, who did?" Fayt asked irritably.

Albel raised and eyebrow and Fayt sighed and nodded. "You're right. The ghosts just had to have a vendetta against my soup. Well, kitchens are replaceable, aren't they?"

Albel scowled and began waving his hands to clear away the smoke. He covered his nose and mouth and stepped into the kitchen, looking for any fire still burning. All he saw was a smoldering piece of black paper on the counter and a message burnt onto the wall:

"In the darkest hour

Of my darkest dream

When justice fades away

And it is all a memory

Of how things used to be"

Albel frowned and made his way out of the kitchen, his eyes watering. "Damn those fiends," he hissed. "The kitchen will need some new paint to get rid of their little message to use." He sighed. "But at least we know it wasn't your fault, Fayt."

"It's okay," Fayt said calmly. "I can go without dinner tonight."

"Me too," Albel said instantly.

Fayt shoved him good-naturedly. "Not you, skinny. You're stick thin."

"I'm not skinny, I'm slim," Albel said indignantly.

Fayt started laughing and Albel scowled and tossed Fayt over his shoulder. "Alright, funny guy. You're going to bed without eating."

Albel dumped Fayt onto the bed and Fayt reached up and pulled Albel down with him. "It's our last night together," Fayt said softly.

Albel settled next to Fayt. "I know. I wonder if I'll ever get to see you again. I'll miss you so much more."

"You will see me again," Fayt comforted him. "We'll get married someday. I'll turn 20 in three months. We can at least wait till then to see if it's really love or just lust."

"Don't even think about anything like that," Albel growled. "I'm not a sexaholic. I'm don't love you just because I'm stuck inside this stupid house for a week and you're the only one here I could have sex with. I haven't had sex with anybody since I was raped. The fact that I would want to with you means something."

Fayt tried to pacify his enraged friend. "That's not what I mean. I'm the only option you have while we're stuck in this house. But when we leave, there are plenty of people for you to choose from. What if you find someone better? I wouldn't want you to be stuck with me for the rest of your life if you would rather be with someone else."

Albel pushed Fayt's hair out of his face and kissed his forehead. "Don't put yourself down like that. How could I ever love anybody else besides you? Now, after you're done with college, we are going to be married and living somewhere where the people in this town can't bother me."

"We can settle where I'm going to college," Fayt suggested.

"Where's that?"

"Massachusetts."

Albel hugged Fayt tightly. "Finally, somewhere we can go and not get ridiculed. So you just wait and in three months I'll come find you and we can start looking for a house back there."

A companionable silence fell, broken only by a loud buzzing. Albel sighed heavily. "Baseball bat, please." Fayt reached over to the nightstand and handed him the bat.

Albel stood up on the bed and automatically dropped into his batter's stance. As each giant mosquito flew towards him, he swung at it and it hit against the wall, leaving a green splat.

At last Albel sighed and let the bat fall from his hands. He dropped back down to the bed. "I told you, Fayt. They're getting desperate. I think I'm going to need to stay up all night."

"If you do, I'll stay up with you," Fayt said firmly.

Albel put his arm around Fayt's shoulders. "Alright, Fayt. I'll be glad to have your company."