Aneko: Okay! I got this chap up as fast as I could. I hope you're happy now!!

Disclaimer: I don't own Princess Tutu, and so on and so forth…

Chapter 12

Ahiru was walking silently beside Fakir when, without warning, the ground began rumbling, even more violently than before. Ahiru was thrown to the ground, with nothing beside her to hold on to. A shout came from where Fakir was, and Ahiru looked over and gasped. The ground beneath Fakir's feet had crumbled away, into another dark chasm, and Fakir was only holding onto the side with one hand.

"Fakir!" Ahiru cried out. In fear, she gave in instinctively to the transformation, reaching out a hand in his direction as she danced over to him. She reached down, grabbing his arm that was holding on, and began pulling. Inch by painful inch, she pulled him back up, as Fakir helped as much as he could. He was now more than halfway out, and could use both arms to lift himself out.

"Just need to…rest a minute!" Ahiru panted.

"Thank you." Fakir said, giving her one of his rare smiles.

Ahiru smiled back before she noticed darkness creeping up. "Fakir look out!"

She was moments too late. Before she could move or say anything else, the darkness coiled around Fakir's waist, dragging him back into the endless abyss below, and out of sight.

Ahiru sat at the edge trembling. "Fakir…? She murmured shakily, looking into the darkness, though she knew she would get no reply. "What do I do?!"

Fakir's absence caused a ripple of whispering in class the next day. He had not been absent since Mytho was here, but of course, no one remembered that.

Pique and Lilie noticed and were talking about it.

"Fakir-sama is never absent. I wonder what could have happened…"

"Do you think he may have gotten sick?"

"Hey, hey," Pique turned to Ahiru, "do you know what happened to him?"

"Um, no." Ahiru said. She bit her lip as Pique shrugged and began talking to Lilie again.

They don't know, and I can never tell them…

She was brought back to the conversation when Pique spoke again.

"And you know what? I hear Kange-senpai and Koeko-san are gone too, just like Geiju-senpai. The teachers couldn't find them anywhere."

"Really?! Lilie contributed, eyes wide.

Ahiru turned and leaned her back on the bar, sighing, catching Pique and Lilie's attention.

"Oh my, what's wrong, Ahiru?" Lilie said, sounding concerned.

"Yeah, you look depressed. "Pique noted.

"Oh, I'm fine!" Ahiru put on a fake smile, waving it away.

"You miss Fakir-sama, don't you?" Pique said suspiciously, elbowing her none-too-gently in the ribs. A physical aura of gloom surrounded Ahiru.

"Oh, so that was it." Lilie smiled unconcerned.

"I thought so." Pique nodded, crossing her arms.

Ahiru did not see Fakir that day, or the next few either. Every day she hoped, though she knew it was useless, that she would come down in the morning and find him waiting at the gate, or even that he would just come in late to class. Each day was a bitter disappointment.

For what felt like the millionth time, Fakir tried pulling his arms free. The darkness, however, was unrelenting, and didn't even give the slightest inch.

He was chained to the wall by the very darkness that had dragged him down here to this cavern, where there was a small, perfectly round pool in the center.

Fakir growled as Juniper appeared in front of him, standing on the air like Reiko had. He had long silver hair, which hung to his shoulders, and light blue eyes the color of a winter sky. His clothes were simple- a black sleeveless shirt and black pants.

"You really don't know when to quit, do you?" Juniper observed calmly, looking at Fakir's arms, which were bruised from his efforts.

Juniper reached out beside him without looking, and waved his hand through the air. Where his hand touched was a light gray swirling mist, and as he wrapped his fingers around it, it solidified.

It was an odd-shaped thing, made out of black wood and polished to perfection. The mouthpiece was shaped like the tip of a fountain pen, or one of the quills Fakir usually used, with a slit in the top so that the user could blow into it. Right after the mouthpiece was a second joint, perfectly spherical (except for where it was connected to the other parts), that was larger than the piece before. The joint after got immediately narrower again, flaring out to the end. On the spherical section, there were two rows of four holes, to put one's fingers on.

"Shall I play for you?"

Fakir narrowed his eyes, as Juniper lifted the instrument to his mouth, placed his fingers over the holes, and began to play.

Fakir became alarmed as his mind began to fog over. This was no mere exhaustion, he knew. The melody was drugging his mind, trying to chain him. Fakir fought back vigorously. He was not about to sit there and let it happen.

Juniper frowned in his playing. He was finding more resistance than he expected. He pushed harder, playing his instrument louder. After a few minutes of this, Fakir's head fell lifelessly forward. Halting his playing, Juniper put one finger forward and put it under Fakir's chin. He lifted his head up, inspecting the pupils, which were lightless, lifeless and dull. Giving a nod, he let Fakir's head fall again.

"Now let us see how well the duck princess fights against her own knight."

Ahiru sat at her window, starting listlessly up at the sky.

It's already been several days, and there's still no sign of him…

Ahiru felt oddly alone with Fakir gone, like she was missing something of her routine. Every day, even if he spoke as little as two words to her, he was there. She knew that he was still around. Now, though…

Ahiru slid off the seat and walked over to Geiju's pictures, sitting in front of it. She sat it on her knees, looking at her and Fakir's contented faces.

Before she knew it, tears were falling, running down her face and staining the white canvas.

"Fakir," She cried, closing her eyes, "where are you? What can I do? How am I supposed to find you? What am I supposed to do?"

She did not notice the golden glow in the canvas that blocked out the picture, until she felt the warmth of it in her hands.

Ahiru opened her eyes and let out a gasp of surprise. The painting!

The glow faded quickly, but now, sitting atop the picture, was an envelope, addressed to Ahiru.

Ahiru picked it up slowly, unfolding and reading the letter inside:

Dear Ahiru-san,

I have a feeling you might need this. As I am painting her, and watching you dance with Fakir-kun, I feel that at some point, things are going to get harder. If you are reading this, then what I fear has come true, and right now you may feel alone and afraid. I'm sorry that we cannot be there to help you. I don't know exactly what happened, or how, but what I do know is that you will never be truly alone. Know that the ones you care about will be with you in y our heart and memories; and though thaet may not be what you want to hear exactly, please trust me.


Your friend,

Geiju.

P.S.- Remember. Remember who, and what, you fight for.

Ahiru dried her eyes on the back of her hand.

"Geiju's right." She got up and got into bed. "I will find Fakir. He's not dead. I can just feel it."

Ahiru took one last look at the picture before she fell asleep.

When Ahiru woke up, she found herself still clutching Geiju's letter.

"I guess I never put it down." She said, laughing sheepishly.

When Ahiru arrived at the girls' locker room to change, and opened her locked, she found another letter. This one, however, was in a coal black envelope, with her name written in lavender.

Checking that no one had noticed, Ahiru took out and read the quick note. The note itself was not addressed, written also on black paper.

You are the last. Come, show me how well the duck princess can fight. Come behind the school t 4:00 pm today.

Ahiru held the note tightly in her hands as she went towards the woods at the required time.

She had not come far, when the area got darker, as black clouds covered the sun.

"So, you came." The voice echoed around the clearing she was in. Ahiru tensed, looking around her.

"You have my admiration for that, at least." Juniper appeared, standing on the spire on top of the gazebo. His black instrument appeared in his hand. "We have not been formally introduced. I am Juniper, the last of the Serpents. I know who you are already, though.

Ahiru instinctively transformed, without pausing to think,

"Very impressive." Juniper said, his arms folded, "Now, shall I show you a few tricks of my own?" Juniper lifted the odd thing to his mouth and began to play. Ahiru tensed again, wondering what would happen; but when a few moment of silence elapsed, she warily relaxed.

A rustling coming from her right made Ahiru look in that direction, only to totally drop her guard when the person stepped out.

"Fakir!" Ahiru shouted happily, running towards him. She stopped dead in her tracks, though, when a sword was pointed at her. Fakir was wearing the black outfit he had worn as a knight, and the sheath for the sword was strapped about his waist.

"Fakir, what's wrong?" Ahiru said, worried, as the sword was not lowered. "It's me, Ahiru!"

Tears welled up in Ahiru's eyes as she looked into Fakir's and saw her reflection in the depthless green eyes.

What's wrong with him? Doesn't he recognize me?

Juniper's mocking voice broke into her thoughts. "Is something wrong? Isn't this a good friend of yours?"

"What did you do to him?" Ahiru cried, looking at Juniper.

"Now, now, I wouldn't do that if I were you." He said instead of answering.

Ahiru gasped as she danced back to avoid a thrust from Fakir's sword. She continued dodging as more attacks came.

"Fakir! Don't you recognize me? It's Ahiru!" Ahiru said. "Can't you hear me?!

Somewhere through Fakir's fogged mind, a voice penetrated, fading in and out.

Fakir…recog-…me? It's Ah-! Can't…hear me?!

"Ignore it!" A stronger voice commanded.

The first voice, with a strong feeling of familiarity, continued calling insistently, and Fakir struggled to hear it.

"No!" The strong voice shouted. Fakir felt pressure, but he fought even harder.

Ahiru felt a surge of hope as Fakir's attack came to a halt. His sword hung limp in his hands, the tip touching the ground, and he put a hand over one of his eyes, which were flickering.

"A…hiru…" He groaned out.

"Fakir!" Ahiru called hopefully.

Letting out a hiss of impatience, Juniper began playing again, a stronger and more forceful melody.

I did not expect their ties to be this strong.

Ahiru's breath caught as Fakir staggered, then straightened up, his eyes cold and empty again. Ahiru ducked quickly as Fakir brought his sword towards her again, this time faster than before. She called again and again, but there was no response, other than Fakir's continued attacks.

Ahiru got more and more desperate with each swing of Fakir's sword. She was losing hope, when she heard Geiju's voice quoting words she had heard before.

Remember. Remember who, and what, you fight for.

That's right. Ahiru thought. Right now, I'm not just fighting for the Lions, but Fakir too!

Seeing a pause in his attacks, Ahiru ran forward.

The battle cannot be won by ability but by the heart. Remember that.

Dodging another attack, Ahiru ran right up to Fakir and hugged him and shutting her eyes. "Fakir!"

Remember.

She felt him raise his sword above his head, and flinched, waiting for the blow to fall at any second.

Remember.

Somewhere, somehow, Fakir heard her last call. A moment later, his mind cleared entirely, and he was able to think clearly as he felt Ahiru hug him.

Ahiru…

Ahiru was waiting for the blow, but ut never came. Hesitantly, she looked up at Fakir, and was met by warm green eyes and a gentle smile she had come to know well.

"Fakir!" Ahiru cried, happily this time, hugging him again, and burying her face in his chest as he hugged her back tightly.

"Gomen ,Ahiru." Fakir murmured.

"Yeah." Ahiru whispered back.

They separated as Juniper's voice cut across. "Hm. What a touching reunion. So you were able to rescue your knight after all, duck princess."

"You don't know?" Fakir threw down the sword in his hand. "I am not a knight any longer. Such a role would only make me a useless character in a story. I will not live by your rules!"

"Big words." Juniper said. 'Very well. Show me what sort of power you possess."

From out of nowhere, Fakir was holding a quill and paper. Ahiru looked back at him.

"Ready?" Fakir nodded, and Ahiru danced forward. Fakir placed his quill on the paper and began to write; and though there was no ink, words formed:

The girl, who was once a duck, danced forward, to meet the last of the serpents.

Juniper's black instrument had now disappeared, but he seemed to be playing nothing but air. He ran his fingers up and down as though he was playing the piano; and though there wasn't one in sight, Ahiru heard the music as though it was right in front of her.

Ahiru danced nearer. She had some questions for the last Serpent,

"Juniper-san, why do you enjoy others' pain so much?" She closed her eyes as she danced before the gazebo.

Juniper, whose eyes were closed, neither opened them nor stopped playing as he replied, "Why do you think I'd tell you?"

"It's just that I don't understand how you can live like that."

"We do not live, remember?" Juniper's voice turned harsh, and Ahiru jumped in air as a dark clawed hand reached out of the ground for her feet. "We are doomed to watch the world go by, sealed away, free, 'dead' or 'alive'.

Ahiru paused, opening her eyes and lowering her arms. "B-but that's…"

Ahiru paused as she felt a sadness enter her. Fakir looked up at Ahiru after the last sentence, and could see the unhappiness clearly written on her face. He also saw another claw coming out of the ground.

"Ahiru, look out!" He called, a little too late. The claw grabbed her ankle, pulling her down to the earth. Ahiru pried at it with her hands, but it wouldn't come away.

"We will never be known in this world as more than a fairy tale, to those who actually know." Juniper hissed bitterly.

Ahiru stopped struggling, then, slowly, almost gently, she reached out with one hand and touched the black claw, and Fakir watched, amazed, as it turned white, and faded back into the ground. Getting up, Ahiru began stepping in the air, like she was climbing stairs, up to the top of the gazebo, to stand in front of Juniper. Juniper halted his playing, flinching away from her, only to look at her in surprise when he saw tears glistening in her eyes.

"Juniper-san…does it hurt?"

Slightly unnerved, Juniper backed up a step, looking away. "What would it matter to you? You're only a mortal."

Ahiru looked down. "Maybe…you're right. But…I do know what it's like to be separated from the ones you care about, watching them forget, and go on." Ahiru thought about her time as a duck, and everyone forgetting her. "Demo…" She looked at Fakir, then back again. "as long as one person remembers, and knows, you won't entirely be just a memory."

Juniper made a noise of disbelief.

"You don't believe me?"

Juniper looked her straight in the eyes. "I have no one."

Ahiru covered his hands with her own. "We'll remember! I promise!"

Juniper looked down at her hands over his, then back up at her searchingly.

Finally he sighed, and closed his eyes.

"I think…I found it." He began to fade. "For a long time, I thought others did not deserve happiness if the ones watching over them could not be happy, but I cannot seem to think so any more. Finally…I'm at peace." His hands left Ahiru's, and he was all but gone as he whispered finally, "Oyasuminasai."

Aneko: WHOO! This is now the longest chap I've ever written. Sorry, the next one won't be as long ( I don't think) . So did the end surprise you? There's one more chapter after this. Oh yeah, and the black instrument thing- just think of a clarinet with a ball stuck in the top near the head. I couldn't say it in the chap because it would sound funny in a serious moment…

Oyasuminasai: good night.