[A/N: This story was started in the Novemberish part of 2011, and the first bit was published in February 2012, when I was a senior in high school. Nearly two years later, I look back on this story and, though I hope my writing abilities have developed between the time I wrote most of this and now, parts of this still hit home with me. I wanted to give it an ending, even a brief one, to resolve the sadness I created. I hope, if you read and enjoyed this story before, you will go back and reread it in celebration of these final short updates. If this is your first time reading it, I'm simply glad you're here. Read on.]

...:::::::VERSE SEVEN:::::::...

'I Want To'

[Gakupo and Gumi both come to a big realization.]

'-I see you lying next to me
With words I thought I'd never speak
Awake and unafraid
Asleep or dead-'

Gakupo wakes up before Gumi. A weak ray of sunlight halfheartedly streams through the ugly hotel curtains, but it is enough to make Gumi look like she is glowing. He gazes at her sleeping form. Her eyelashes lay against her cheeks perfectly, as if painted, and he can feel the gentle up-and-down motion of her breath against his chest. They have managed to move closer in the night, but Gakupo does not mind.

She wakes up after a while. Gakupo does not know how long he lay solitarily awake. He does not care. He has been thinking. It is a big decision, but he is ready for it. He is ready for this. He is ready to give up everything for her. He never thought he'd say it, but as soon as she wakes up, he blurts it out -

"I'll quit."

At the very same moment, she confesses -

"I'll go back."

She protests "No, don't. Please don't."

He protests "You don't have to."

"I want to." She argues, finalizing it, calming him. They both knew that it was true. They both knew that she would go back. "It's not quitting. It's the farthest thing from quitting. It's doing what I'm meant to do. Anything else would be quitting."

"Okay." He answers. He is calm, only smiling lazily. There is no "Are you sure?" There is no "Is that what you want?" He knows she is sure, he knows that is what she really wants. She wants to sing, more than she wants anything, including him. And that is okay. That is how it used to be, and that is the best way for it to be now. He didn't want to be her reason. Not when the decision was so important.

She wraps her arms around his neck, and he pulls her close in response, wrapping her in his embrace, sheltering her body with his.

"It's not going to be easy." He says, out of obligation, resting his chin on top of her head. The comment seems out of character with his calm, reassuring voice.

"I know. But I've got you. And I've got music. And with those, I can make it through anything."

"Of course you can." He encourages. "You could do it on your own, though. You don't need me."

Almost before the words had left Gakupo's mouth, Gumi was blurting out her objection. "You're wrong. I need you." She is quiet for a moment, before continuing in a softer voice, "I love you."

There was one thing that unsettled Gakupo. Only one question still unanswered in his mind.

"Gumi?"

"Mmm?"

"What are we?"

Without skipping a beat, Gumi answered, "Happy."

That was answer enough.

END