( well, looks like I finished it early! But I guess I have some explaining to do. Well, this is suppose to be the last chapter, but it got too long and over the word count limit, like the last chapter. I didn't want this chapter to go over 2,000 words.
So what I did, I kept writing it and then cut it in half just to make it shorter. That's why there is an extra chapter.
About shipping. Actually, I ship both CharlieXRaphael and MarieXRaphael ^^" so in the end of the games, whoever he ends up with is fine with me… unless they decided to add another girl… then things get kinda complicated.
Also, if you haven't gotten all of the Phantom notes in the game, which is to unlock one of the bonus chapters, if you don't want to spoil yourself, don't read on.
Just a little warning there, : ) enjoy!)
Early the next day, Vergier walked towards the police department, sipping his hot coffee hoping it would wake him up. It was just as he expected as he walked in. The early mornings of the day had to be the most relaxing, the lobby was semi quiet and as he goes further down the hall, not much tapping can be heard. The halls aren't crowded and flying with papers. The phones are silent and so are some alarms. He smiled wishing that it was like this everyday, from morning till dusk. He stopped just in front of the room of Phantom R's, and frowned. He had finally figured out who the diary belonged too, having done his research the whole night.
Yesterday, after Charlie's harsh treatment, he went back to Raphael's apartment and did a thorough search. During the search, Vergier noticed something sticking out from inside the pillow case of Raphael's bed. Curious, he pulled the small edge of it sticking out. It was a photo with three people standing in front of a fountain, a little boy, and two adults. The photo was Vergiers biggest find yesterday, he knew that it just had to confirm it, but with it, also brought many questions and mysteries.
Vergier cautiously walked in and looked at the boy, again, laying on his bed. Vergier cleared his throat hoping to get his attention. He frowned even more and settled his coffee at the table, still cluttered with filled trays, "…. So you're Isaacs's son." Raphael moved his head, just a little to the side, this indicating that the inspector has his attention now, "it wasn't because of any DNA results,"
"… You know him?" Raphael asked. Vergier nodded his head, "we were childhood friends… and rivals," he smirked as he remembered him and Isaac when they were kids, "we competed with each other a lot, even in college. He was always… better than me at everything,"
Raphael sat up and looked at Vergier. He continued, "Heh, he would always be the winner. Isaac is a hard one to beat, and he never took his studies seriously. I was always there nagging him about it. But, sometime during college, I never saw him much," Vergier sipped his coffee, bringing him out of the past and to the present. Raphael was staring down at his lap, leaning against the bars that were close to his bed. Vergier thought that maybe Raphael wanted some alone time, after all, he only came in to tell him some little tidbits about his father. He turned around and was just about to exit when he heard Raphael ask him a question, "what would he do?"
"Pardon?" Vergier said as he turned his head slightly.
"If it were the other way around, what would my father do?"
Vergier thought for a moment, "to be honest… I don't really know. He would have done any number of things. But winding up in here, would have been the last thing on his list."
Raphael made no reply.
Sssssssssssssssssssssss
Later that day, as he stared at the ceiling, lying at the same spot, Raphael thought about what Vergier had said to him early in the morning. In addition to that, he also thought about what Charlie had said. Suddenly, his vision started to get blurry and his eyelids began to get heavy. He didn't wonder what was going on with himself, but he knew that he was simply fading away. His breathing was slow and steady, and soon, he finds himself being engulfed by darkness.
In the dark, he saw faces of two people in front of him. They were looking at him rather disappointingly. He recognized the faces and he reached out his hand to one of them, "Charlie," he said and she spoke, "you were his only hope," Her voice echoed. He stopped and withdrew his hand slightly, he looked over at Vergier, "you've given up," he said.
Bewildered, he looked at the two as more people appeared and formed a circle around him, "I… I-I…" he said as he heard their whispers. Madam Paula, Duchess Elizabeth, her butler, and many others had surrounded him looking sadly at him. He turned, "Duchess," Raphael said,
"We believed in you," she whispered.
The voices grew louder and louder, he backed away and held his head, shutting his eyes tightly, "I… I just don't know," Raphael struggled to say.
Suddenly, he noticed a familiar presence just a few feet behind him. He turned around slowly, his eyes wide open. The rest started to disappear, except for that person he was now facing, "…father," he whispered slightly. Isaac turned his head, looking away from him, and then, he began to fade.
Raphael felt himself move forward, trying to catch him before he disappeared, but for some reason, it looked as if he wasn't going anywhere at all, "wait! Please!" he yelled.
Soon, Isaac left completely, and Raphael was left alone in the dark. He came to a stop, letting a tear drop roll down his cheek. He fell on his knees and cried his heart out.
Ssssssssssssssssssssss
"It's good to hear you laugh. Sometimes I think you take things too seriously," said the Duchess Elizabeth. The Duchess, Marie, and Alfred were at the Conservatoire for Marie's violin examination.
"Mom…" Marie replied, the Duchess just smiled and gave her a bit of advice, "you have to enjoy yourself, Marie. Skill is important, of course. But it's only the beginning. Your audience can tell when you're just going through the motions and when you're playing from the heart. Never forget that." Elizabeth took a step forward towards Marie, "play like you were playing for him,"
"Raphael…" Marie said looking down at her violin. Suddenly the judge called Maries number, which made her jump a little feeling nervous and such, "Go on now. You don't want to keep them waiting," said Elizabeth as she fixed Maries hair just a tad bit. Marie took a deep breath and nodded, "I'll play my heart out."
Once she got on the stage she took another deep breath and smiled at the judges, "you may now begin," said one of them, "Thank you," replied Marie then positioned the violin on her shoulder and got her bow ready. She closed her eyes and whispered, "This is for you, Raphael. I hope you hear it… wherever you are."
Ssssssssssssssssssssssssss
Raphael could feel himself slipping away more and more. He thought that it was better this way, nobody would be there to bother him, or be worried about him, he'd be out of everyone's way, do I really want that? He thought. He decided not to think at all about it and just let himself fade away like everyone else. Then, he heard a faint melody coming out of nowhere, what is that? It sounds… beautiful, he thought as he listened intently.
A small light appeared out of the darkness and as the song got louder and louder, the light grew bigger and bigger.
Raphael blinked his eyes open after shielding it and soon found himself at the Conservatoire, and there on the stage, he saw Marie, playing that lovely music. He stared at her and whispered her name, then closed his eyes so that he can listen to her play. The song flowed softly and gracefully, then after that, it became a little jumpy yet still keeping its softness. Eventually, it grew stronger and flexible. Raphael hadn't smiled like he did in a long while and how couldn't he?
The music slowed to a stop and as Raphael opened his eyes again, he realized that he was spinning lightly, and then posed at the end, was I dancing? He thought in confusion.
He looked up at the stage again and smiled as he saw Marie. He was really happy to see her again after so long.
Having been accepted, Marie walked off the stage and ran towards Raphael, "Marie!" he said reaching out to hug her. As she came so close to him, happy as he was his smile slowly disappeared as she went through him. He stood there frozen, wondering what just happened.
"You played from your heart," Raphael heard the Duchess say. He turned around just in time to hear Marie speak quietly, "Raphael… I've finally taken my first step toward realizing my dream." She sighed sadly as her eyes stared at the ground. Soon, the darkness was about to cave in on him again but this time, he ignored it, having his full attention on Marie. She looked up and out of one of the big windows, "I can't help wondering, where you are. Truth is Raphael… I miss you."
Having a heavy heart, Raphael tried to reach out to her even when he felt himself being pushed back into the darkness, "Marie," he said, watching her disappear in the distance, "I'm… I'm here."
Ssssssssssssssssssssssss
Marie jumped a little and she quickly turned around, her eyes searching for someone.
"Madame, what's the matter?" Alfred said. Marie turned to the butler who stood by her side worrying about her, "Alfred… I thought I heard Raphael… but."
"Oh? What did he say?" he said, looking around also. Marie replied, "He said, 'I'm here'."
