And alas, the end of this fanfiction arrives as well.

Raine: Hallelujiah.

You're. So. Mean. To. Me!

Raine: There is a reason for that. Does the Fleur Mortelle mean anything to you?

Yeah, it's French for--

Raine: That's not what I meant.

Oh...you meant the flower...hehe. Anyways. Let's go before Raine eats me.

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Was this what it felt like, to be dead? Somehow it didn't seem to fit with her ideas of it. She felt as though she were lying on something soft and comfortable, but how could that be? How cold she feel anything if she was dead? She was certain her life had ended in that cave. But then what was going on here?

She felt something warm on her hand - someone else's? But she shouldn't even be aware of her body nor sensations such as warmth. Detachedly, like a distant dream, she could hear voices. No. Not voices, but a single one. Speaking...to her? But she couldn't make out what it said.

This didn't make sense. It just plain wasn't possible - unless she wasn't dead. But that couldn't be, either. She wanted to know what was going on. And she wanted to know now. Who was it speaking to her? What were they saying? And why didn't she feel like she supposed one whose life had ended should have?

Well, then, if she really was alive, she could speak as well, right? But when she tried, nothing audible came out. Instead she felt something press to her lips...someone's finger. That's what it felt like. Someone shushing her. "Don't." There! She'd deciphered one of the words, at least.

Alright. The next thing to do was make an attempt at opening her eyes. That would surely tell her if she was dead or not...at least, so she hoped. When she tried to accomplish this, however, the light that met them was painful, and she squeezed them shut once more. But...Light...Then she had to be alive.

And speaking of pain - she presently became aware of a dull stinging in her middle, and she tried to shift. It didn't work. She heard her own broken groan, and the finger lift from her mouth. A hand - she supposed that's what it had to be - cupped her cheek. And the voice spoke again.

"Raine."

Her name. She could make out her name. Well that was good, wasn't it? Rather promising. She braced herself for another atempt to open her eyes. Slowly, she did so, and found herself looking into a blurry face. Concern seemed to lurk in sea-blue eyes, into which loose strands of hair in a lighter hue fell.

She knew that face. She knew that voice. But did she dare to hope? Maybe this was all a dream. Yes - that's what it had to be. She was at death's door, and hallucinating. It was toying with her, there was no other explanation. Regal simply could not be there with her.

But the illusion didn't ease up. Again, she heard him speak. "Raine, please. Come back." If it was an hallucination, it was a darn good one. She met his eyes with her own half-closed violet ones, just searching them for any proof that it was really him.

And she found it in his smile of relief as he brushed hair from her dirt-smudged face. How could any illusion possibly mimick that smile, or his light touch? "...Re...gal..." Oh, how hoarse and utterly pathetic her voice sounded. But he was evidently able to understand her as he nodded.

"It's alright. You're going to be fine. Just relax..."

"Regal...I'm...so...rry...I...didn't...want...to--" But he cut her off by pressing his own lips to hers. She let her eyes slip closed again, weakly trying to return the kiss.

"I know. I read the letter you wrote," he told her softly when he drew back. "I found you in that cave, and I'm glad I arrived when I did. If it had been any later, I'm afraid I would have been too late. But when I had gotten you to safety, I took the letter from you and read it."

"How...did...you...find...me?"

"Wein. I remembered him coming that day. And I found it highly suspicious that he showed up, and two days later you left. It was a bit of a stretch, but I was able to track him down. Eventually he and the others told me what had happened to you."

"Where...are...they...now?" She was so tired. And still achey - she knew she should be resting, else she kill herself anyway. But she had to know.

"Don't worry, Raine. They have been securely put in prison." Regal watched her. "You're still weak - you should sleep. I was able to mend your broken body mostly using my minor healing. But your wound must still heal."

She nodded slightly, closing her eyes. "Thank...you..."

"I'm just glad I've found you. I was afraid I'd lost you forever." He kept stroking her hair as she gave him a little smile, until she finally drifted off into a much more peaceful slumber.

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Life and love, eh, Raine?

Raine: At least it's over.

Pshhh. Oh, well...I still have my Halloween fic and "Time Goes Back" to finish.

Raine: -Groan-

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