The Finale! Enjoy!

Twilight had long since hugged the world and was busy displaying its beautiful stars to awaiting onlookers. The winds shuddered as the occasional dark cloud passed between the earth and the sparkling midnight sky. There was, however, one particular body which refused to acknowledge the twilight's radiant work causing the skies feel cheated. An unnatural gloom swarmed the forest surrounding Sooga Village.

Pucca didn't care. She ran on. Faster. Faster. Faster. She wanted to run until she thought of nothing but the strain and fatigue of her body. Think of nothing but the blood pounding in her ears and the scratches she felt glide across her arms and face as she dodged foliage as best as she could in the insufficient light. Her mind was not so lenient, however, and it kept replaying that moment. On a loop, she watched as her friend's face melted into one of shock, horror and abhorrence.

Wheezing, Pucca collapsed in a pile at the steps of her sanctuary. She didn't realise that was where she was headed until she felt the damp wood beneath her heaving body. She was sick. It burned her throat and the taste was vile.

She forced her body to rotate so she was on her back looking up at the darkness. Her rapid breathing left a mass of white wisps floating in the air, obscuring her view of the stars. Her chest was so tight and her legs were vibrating with aftershock. The pain was surprising. Pucca dug her nails into the dirt either side of her body, crushing the dirt into her palms to suppress the cry of agony she felt building.

She wanted to disappear.

It would be easier, right? Uncles would mourn but eventually move on without the burden of looking after me… My friends would marry and have families. I'd fade away. My presence would become an old picture: looked upon fondly. All my rough edges being finally ignored. Surely that was for the best?

Her breathing was slowing to a less labour-intensive pace.

The stars are beautiful tonight. What a wonderful night.

...

Garu had been packing his bags when he got the phone call. He was going to leave quietly, perhaps leaving a letter in his wake. Explain things properly.

He picked up the receiver only to drop it moments later. He was out of the door and sprinting through the forest like his life depended on it. His muscles pumped so hard that he felt each throb of his veins as his feet pounding the ground.

His feet lead the way. He wasn't even conscious of his choice in direction until he spotted the dark silhouette of the small abandoned temple. He came to a skidding half before the steps and his hands clenched.

She wasn't here.

He raked his head. He needed to find her – but where would she go? He didn't know. It's not like I know her all that well… His voice sneered in the back of his mind. He swayed on his feet, moving from balancing on his heels to being on the balls of his feet. He was impatient and erratic. This wouldn't do. He closed his eyes and breathed deeply. He had to calm down if he was going to have anychance finding her tonight. He clenched und unclenched his fists. Breathe. Breathe.

When he opened his eyes again, the world seemed brighter again. His eyes adjusted to the dim light and he truly surveyed his surroundings. A few twigs were handing dejected from some nearby trees. Pucca might have stumbled through the shrubbery. His reasoning calmed him further. He followed these imaginary footsteps to the base of the temple.

His heart gave a shudder.

Garu bent to touch the floor. Something wet met his fingertips. He turned so the moonlight could illuminate the liquid. Blood… He rubbed the substance between his fingers, focusing on his breathing again. Stay calm…. Calm…

Garu followed the drips to see the lead out of the temple back into the forest. His nerves shook and his body begged him to take off running again but he resisted. Slowly, he followed the clues that cried out for his attention. The hunt felt extremely slow. Ever few steps he would have to pause to check his direction was correct. Then he'd continue, his heart thudding stronger, urging him on faster. It was agonising. Calm... Calm…

His mantras helped for a while. That was until he saw her dark form being enhanced by the stark rays of the moon. She was standing by the edge of the grassy cliffside. Her head was turned to be staring out across the vast ocean of ink. Her breathing was oddly slow and even. Her body was relaxed, arms swinging by her sides. However, something strange flashed in her hand ever so often. Pucca…

He didn't know how make his presence known. He didn't want to scare her and cause her to tumble forwards but he didn't want to remain stationary either. He had to get closer.

...

The sea was strangely alluring. Its dark depths should terrify, strike your soul with fear, but Pucca felt herself being drawn closer. Her toes curled into the sharp blades of grass and felt some of the soil dislodge and tumble down… So far down. She wondered if it would hurt. Would she drift off or would she struggle? Would she want to live? Would the fates be so cruel to make her death stink of irony?

Pucca tipped her head back to take in the sight of the stars and the full moon beaming down on her. The stars glinted at her – daring her? She huffed. Even the world wanted rid of the curse that had plagued its surface. A face came into view. Madam Zen. Pucca thought about all she had done. The pain she knew she had inflicted in her typhon of chaos. That old lady was wiser than they gave her credit for, Pucca thought with a bitter smile. She really had become a demon. A broken, cursed demon. Pucca swayed on her feet, feeling the wind's desire to throw her from her spot high up on the cliffside.

A thud sounded behind her and Pucca snapped her head to the side. A sword had fallen to the ground. Pucca looked at its owner and felt her body grow colder. Am I hallucinating? She felt the wounds on her arms, holding the scissors so it dangled off her little finger. She'd lost quite a bit of blood. It was possible that her mind was hallucinating.

"Look who it is," she spoke softly. "Come to admire the stars with me?" She gestured loosely towards the sky. 'Garu' followed the path of her arm and stopped. She looked at her hand and laughed. She spun the scissors and the noise fell over 'Garu's' skin as if he'd been scolded. Snip. Snip. "Oh, these?" She dropped them to the floor. "Useless." She tilted her head towards 'Garu'. His face was as handsome as ever, with his dangerously dark irises and strong full eyebrows along with his silky black hair pulled back into twin ponytails. Pucca could admit it now: he was still very attractive visually. Not that it mattered.

Garu watched her face as he inched forward. She didn't visibly react. He took another hesitant step. "Why are you here?" He stopped. "Why are you here?"

Pucca shook her head, making her feel even more lightheaded. "Are you here to mock me? Watch me finally do it?" Garu was still a few feet from her now. "No. You're not here for that. You're not here at all." Pucca looked back out to the ocean. "You wouldn't care enough to be here."

Garu swallowed hard. His breathing was more ragged that when he was running wildly through the forest. He took another step closer. Pucca whirled on him, anger behind her beautiful eyes.

"Stop. Stop it. Go away!"

Garu moved to take another step when Pucca suddenly crouched down to grab a stone. She threw it at him. It didn't have her usual strength but it did fly straight at Garu who caught it easily. Pucca squinted at the rock in his palm. Her brows furrowed and she grabbed the hem of her shirt. No, he couldn't be here. She took a tentative step back. She felt the wind howl more strongly against her back. Garu's face turned paler in the moonlight and he because statue still.

"You're… you're not real."

Garu held up the rock in protest.

Pucca glared at the little rock. "No. You're not."

Garu took a small step –

"Stop!" He did. Pucca scoffed, holding a trembling and bloodied hand to her forehead. "You can't be here. You're never here!" Pucca felt her legs beginning to tremble. "You're never here when I need you the most."

Garu held out his free hand.

"I think I'm losing my mind."

Garu held his hand up higher. His fingered itched to reach out to her.

"No!" Pucca twisted so that she was half facing the cliff's edge. Garu opened his mouth and gasped. Pucca sneered at his pathetic expression. His hand quivered in the air. "Go back to Ring-ring." His hand lowered ever so slightly. "That's where you wanted to be this whole time, right? I just got in the way. But look!" Pucca swept her arms out widely, almost making her loose her balance. Garu tensed. "You're almost free! Free of me completely." She smiled but it wavered. "What's this? Are you… crying?" Pucca let out a surprised laugh.

Garu remained where he was, hand out stretched as if could draw her close with just his willpower. He hadn't noticed the dampness of his cheeks. He didn't care. His lips became thin.

"Tears from the big bad ninja?" Pucca mocked. "For me… You want me to come with you?" Garu's head bobbed ever so slightly. He daren't breath. Pucca's head tilted in thought. Her eyes were becoming a bit glazed and unfocused. He took another hesitant step when her gaze sharpened and with great intensity. She stared him down.

"Would you fight for me?" She demanded. "Would you die for me? Would you have given up ANYTHING for me?" Pucca paused. Fury was engulfing her.

Garu's felt like he was suffocating.

"No. You'd never given up anything for me." She laughed bitterly. "I was such a lovesick fool back then that I couldn't see it. I thought you were so noble, so sickly honourable, that I couldn't possibly ask you to give up anything for me..." She turned away and watched the waves crash angrily against the base of the cliff. The next thing she said was so soft that the winds almost whipped these words into the dauntless sky. "Just to let me be near you, I'd have done anything. For you to have accepted my affections… anything. But you could never do that." She breathed in a shuddering breath of her own. She turned her head to give Garu one last smile.

Garu reacted but not quick enough. She was falling backwards, her eyes shut already awaiting the cold waters embrace.

"Pucca!"

Pucca gasped. A strong hand snagged her hand and she felt herself slam into the cliffside's sharp rocks. She looked up; her eyes were wider than the moon's surface.

The man above her gripped her hand with desperation. She didn't understand his expression. She didn't understand his actions. She felt herself slipping, the blood causing the young man's hand to slowly slide across her skin.

Fear filled her. Something she hadn't felt in a long time. She cried out, tears falling down her face. She couldn't remember the last time she cried.

Garu reached down another hand, trying to gain a better grasp on Pucca's arm but there wasn't a clean spot to allow him such access. He allowed himself to lean further over the cliff's edge, reaching for the torn cloth of her shirt. He grasped a bunch in one of his hands and attempted to pull them both back to safety. With dawning dismay, Garu realised he didn't have enough leverage to get them both back up from this position. He stared at Pucca's glistening eyes. Trust me…

Pucca fought the terror seizing her form and nodded silently.

Garu let go of her hand and reached out for a better grip, his grasp on Pucca's shirt quite precarious. Garu's hand fell upon something. The scissors! He gripped them tight and jammed them into the ground. Using them as leverage, he yanked himself back onto the cliff. He pulled with all his might, yelling out his frustration and fear in a final heave. Pucca's head popped up above the cliffside. She reached out and grabbed onto the ground and wrenched herself forwards with Garu. Together, they rolled away from certain doom.

Garu groaned. We're safe. We're safe… He struggled into a seated position, still holding Pucca's sleek frame in his trembling arms. Pucca lay unmoving on his lap. He gripped onto her shoulders and tried to sit her up. Her hands suddenly reached out and stopped him. She was vibrating violently. He heard her gut-wrenching gasps. She leaned her head into his chest, listening to his rapidly beating heart.

"S… say it again."

Garu made a noise of surprise.

Pucca leaned away. She kept her head bowed, her long hair hanging down obscuring her face. "Say it again."

Garu's gaze softened. He cleared his throat. "Pu… Pucca."

Pucca flinched. "Again."

Garu forced his body to move closer. He leaned into her ear. "Pucca."

He really did… He… He spoke.

When Garu's hand snaked through her hair and gently touched her chin, she allowed him to draw her head back up to meet his eyes. And there it was. Guilt. Something she hadn't felt in so long. Her face crumpled. "I'm – I'm – I'm," she sobbed. "'I'm so… so…"

Garu didn't let her finished. He embraced her. "I know."

Pucca grabbed onto his shoulders and sobbed. Sobbed for so long she didn't think she would ever stop the tears from falling. She'd done so many horrible things, said awful despicable things, and Garu – oh, Garu. She'd hurt him the worst.

The pair stayed interlocked for a long time; neither noticed the lone star glittering in the sky fall slowly across the sky above their heads. So, when they made a wish next, the didn't know that it was listening.

I wish… I wish…

...

Pucca's next memory was waking up in hospital with numerous bandages wrapping up her body and hearing her uncles' worried wails outside the doors. Pucca turned her head to see someone had laid their head on the bedside. She felt her body go warm. She reached out a tired hand to fiddle with the dark soft tendrils falling around this person's face. Garu…

As if he heard her, he shifted in his sleep. His eyes fluttered open. When he noticed Pucca looking at him he gave her a small sweet smile. "Hey."

Pucca's heart leapt. "H-hey."

Garu sat up and took her hand in his. He cleared his throat. "How're you feeling?" His voice was gruff and low. He hadn't talked in so long it felt strange to feel his throat vibrate in such a manner.

Pucca's mood dropped. "Fine." She attempted to withdraw her hand. The guilt when looking at him… She didn't think she could handle it any longer.

He didn't let her. She watched as he left a chaste kiss on her bandaged covered knuckles.

It was strange. Pucca felt so heavy on the inside. So many confusing emotions surfaced, one after another. She shifted in her spot. What was happening to her? Tears were falling once more. Garu frowned and leaned over to swipe a trickling droplet from her cheek.

Pucca felt ashamed by her desire to lean into the delicate touch. She looked away. "I'm sorry, Garu." He sat up in his chair. "What I… I'm just so sorry."

Garu nodded solemnly. She had, after all, made him give up everything. My honour… My vow… Almost my life… Garu narrowed his gaze. "Good."

Pucca turned to him quickly. Her shock was evident.

"Good. You should feel sorry." Pucca's tears travelled faster. Yes, I deserve to feel this way. I've done so many horrible things… "So now you'll have to make it up to everyone." He linked his little finger with hers. "But… I don't think it'll take that long." He smiled. A real, heart-felt smile.

Pucca sniffed. "O-okay." She wiped away her tears with vigour. She then steeled herself to meet Garu's gaze without wavering. Without feeling the overwhelming sense of guilt that had plagued her since she heard her name called with so much conviction. "Were do I start?"

Garu interlocked their fingers. There's my Pucca. He rubbed the back of her hand, avoiding the needle, and gave her a devilish grin. Now, this was going to be wild.

Please let me know what you thought in the comments. Really curious if people liked it or now.

Welp, there goes three days writing this up. Onto the next adventure! :)