Chapter Twenty

Reunion

The Valkyries flew as fast as they could back towards Himitsu Shi, hoping to reach their home before Lucifer could strike.

Hasegawa and Masamune still flew hand in hand, hoping to spend as much time as possible as close together as they could be, if the end of the Cetra was near. Lin flew in silence, trying not to think about what could have happened to the Cetra village. None of the Valkyries talked much. They were all trying not to think about what Lucifer could be up to. "I sure hope Aeris made it back to the village safely." Lin thought. She couldn't stop herself thinking such thought. "If anything happens to my people, I won't rest until I've slaughtered that goddamn bitch." Lin thought, images of the past involving Aireth flashing forth in her mind. She remembered how Aireth had screamed at Aeris to "leave her alone" at the ceremony, before she fought Aeris and fled Himitsu Shi. Her eyes flared red at the thought of how Aireth had left Aeris that way. She remembered the look of shock and sadness on Aeris' face as she dropped the milkshakes at the party. "I'll kill that fucking bitch." Lin thought. Darkness of Yin flaring up inside her.

Days later, the Valkyries could see the Northespole island in the middle of the sea. "Something is wrong." Lin thought. She increased her speed. The other Valkyries did the same, Hasegawa almost crushing Masamune's hand in concern.

He didn't let go. He was just as concerned as she was, and they both knew they needed each other. "I'm here, Hasegawa." He whispered. "Masamune-kun. I'm scared." "I'm here. It'll be alright." Hasegawa flew behind him, and clung unto his back as hard as she could to get comfort. Her boobs squashing against his back. "Don't leave me." She mumbled. Masamune flew on, holding her hands she'd placed around his neck. "I'll never leave you, Hasegawa." Masamune, like Hasegawa, didn't want to lose her. They flew down to Himitsu Shi.

They landed on the cratered remnants of their beloved home. Lin couldn't believe it had happened. She wouldn't believe it.

Hasegawa, Masamune, Murasame and the other Valkyries landed beside her. None of them knew how to say what they felt.

"Hey, guys! The Valkyries are back!" The Cetra of Himitsu Shi appeared from behind the ruins. "Tao Shi, Ageha, everyone! You're safe!" Lin howled, running towards them, and hugging everyone. The other Valkyries joined in. laughter and tears appeared on everyone's faces as the Cetra was reunited.

"Hi, Lin-Sama." Lin looked at all the Cetras. Aeris stood among them. She ran towards her and gave her a massive, bone-breaking hug. "Aeris! You're here! You're safe!" Aeris smiled. "I am. It's really good to see you!" Aeris said, beaming. Lin let go of her. The other Valkyries were busy talking with the others.

"Don't tell me Aireth did…." She began, but just then, she was interrupted by one of the other Cetras in the crowd. "Look! Something is flying towards us!" All of the Cetras looked up at the sky. Something that looked like a human was flying towards them. As it came closer, Aeris could see what it was. "It's Aireth." She said silently. She flew up in the sky to meet her.

Aireth and Aeris looked at each other. Aireth didn't know what to say. She was afraid of what Aeris would say to her. That she would tell her that she didn't believe in her anymore. Aeris, on the other hand, was worried that her best friend had somehow been manipulated by The Lord of Darkness to come back to Himitsu Shi and really finish the Cetra off. "Aeris. Wo negai forgive me."

Aeris looked at her best friend for a moment, taken aback. This wasn't at all what she'd been expecting. "I destroyed the flower field, and busted you up when you tried to stop me. I destroyed my birthplace after Unsealing Bahamut the Dragon King. I made you suffer more than anyone of the Cetra has ever suffered before. And when I released Lucifer, and learned what he was, and what he had tried to do those centuries ago, I felt nothing but a terrible guilt inside far worse than any bad emotion I've ever had before.

I cannot excuse what I did. All I can do is…." Aireth could say no more. The feeling of guilt and sadness overwhelmed her entirely. Aeris looked at Aireth. At the pained expression in her face.

She looked into her eyes. The eyes she knew so well. She'd never seen them like this. Aireth's eyes were now the saddest ones Aeris had ever seen. Aireth wanted to cry, but she couldn't. She couldn't get her emotions out by crying. She didn't know what to do. "Aireth. What you did really hurt me, you know?" Aeris asked. Aireth nodded. "I know. Gomenasai." And she meant it.

But she felt like she couldn't say it enough. "And when you destroyed our birthplace, everyone in Himitsu Shi felt like they'd lost you forever." Aireth could say no more. She just nodded, looking as if she were being slowly strangled by the feeling of guilt inside her. Aeris saw this. "And when you fought me, and nearly destroyed my ears, you told me that you'd kill me if I tried to save you again." At these words, Aireth started to shake with emotions. Her eyes more pleading than ever. Aeris went on.

"But when I rode on Sleipnir, he told me that you still loved the planet, and every living creature living on it. Everything from smallest worm to the biggest wolf. And before you left, you told me that you were gonna give me one chance by sparing my life.

When Sleipnir told me this, and I thought back on the outcome of our duel, I realized something." Aireth looked at Aeris, wondering what she was gonna say. "I realized that you always were the Aireth and the Cetra I've always known. Because I know you so well, I can see that you really regret releasing The Lord of Darkness. I know who you really are, Aireth. And that's why I never believed that I had lost you forever."

Aireth's shaking stopped at these words. She felt no longer strangled by the guilt. She breathed a little easier. And she felt how tears started to pour from her eyes. "Aeris, do you still believe in me? Do you still believe I am the Aireth you once knew?" "I can tell right away when you're telling the truth. If I had lost you, you wouldn't be gliding here now." Aireth's lips formed a shaky smile. "I guess not." Aeris flew closer to her and held her tightly.

The other Cetras stood down on the ground, awed at how (in their eyes at least) quickly Aeris and Aireth had found each others again. Even though none of them had forgotten what Aireth had done, they were all Cetra, and they had a knack for forgiving people. Even if The Lord of Darkness came to them and asked for forgiveness, they would have considered it. Hasegawa and Masamune looked at each other, smiles on their faces. Hasegawa kissed her boyfriend on the cheek. Every Cetra of Himitsu Shi had silently forgiven Aireth along with Aeris, when they saw how deeply Aireth regretted her actions. And when Aireth looked down at them, she knew she was forgiven. Even by Lin. When she saw how the two girls looked so happy together. The new-born darkness of Yin inside her faded away. The two Cetras up there held each other, repairing the bonds between them that had nearly been broken. Now, Aireth had returned to her old self. Her eyes shone brighter than ever. The Cetra of Himitsu Shi was finally reunited.