---I do not own Ayashi no Ceres—

Both the president and his secretary were puzzled.

"You know her Tooya?" the president asked skeptically.

"Yes sir. I'm sorry sir, but could we reschedule?" Tooya answered.

--oOo—

Tooya hasn't spoken to her since they left the building. What have I done now? Did I do something terrible…did Ceres make a mistake?

"Were you able to get an interview schedule?" Tooya asked.

"Umm…yeah, tomorrow morning…"

"Is it too much if I ask you to look for another company to interview?"

Aya was surprised to hear Tooya say that.

"N-no, why?" You don't like to see me or something?

"That's great. Thank you."

Why is he so formal to me? Is he upset because I made him reschedule?

I'm really sorry Tooya…but I had to do that…I don't care if you're angry with me… as long as you're safe…

He didn't speak to her all the way to their house. When they arrived, Tooya paid the cabdriver and silently went inside. Aya felt like she could cry, it's the first time Tooya had given her the cold treatment.

"Tooya, I think we should order out lunch." Aya beamed a smile to him, trying to start a decent conversation.

"Sure, whatever you like. Go ahead."

Tears were starting to form in Aya's eyes.

--oOo—

As long as you're safe…as long as you're okay…I don't care… She whispered in repetition, trying to comfort herself. It was getting dark outside; Tooya hasn't spoken to her all afternoon, he just sat in front of his computer all day.

"Tooya…here, I've made dinner. You didn't eat lunch, you must be hungry."

"Not really. Just leave it on the table." he said, not even taking off his eyes from the computer.

As long as you're safe…as long as you're okay…I don't care…

--oOo--

Aya took a long cold shower. It seemed to wash away the pain. After all of that, in the end, we're still so far apart… and I made it worse…

But this is where it ends, I have to clear things up, about Suzumi, about this mission and about this relationship… I have to do something.

Aya was surprised to see Tooya so early going to bed, but was happy to see that this was the perfect opportunity talk to him. With no idea of how to start and of what to say, Aya cleared her throat.

"Tooya, I--" she started, interrupting Tooya from softening his pillow. He stared at her.

"I—n-- need to--" she stuttered. Why am I so afraid to talk to him?

"I need to talk to you about some things…"

Aya saw Tooya glare at her, impatient for her slowness.

"Well, what is it?" Tooya finally spoke to her in an irritated sort of way. "You said that earlier today. What is it you need to say?" Tooya wasn't exactly yelling at her, but Aya felt like he was scolding her.

"N-nothing…I just…" she panicked as she couldn't hold back her tears anymore.

"Aya…" Tooya said so softly and so weakly that it seemed he had just given up. "Please tell me…what's wrong…just tell me what to do…I'll do it…I'll do anything…"

Aya was surprised to hear him say something like that.

"I feel like dying just seeing you like that, ever since I came back…it's eating me up inside… If you're not going to say anything…I think I am going to die.""

What are you talking about Tooya?

"You're sad whenever I come home; you always cry when I come back…I thought maybe because I wasn't always around. It hurts me that I'm always the one that makes you cry."

Tooya…

"So I had to do something about those missions, a special pardon isn't enough…Yuuhi's father had a deal made for my freedom, I even had Suzumi and Yuuhi worried…I had to finish just one last mission…"

Just one last mission...that means…Tooya won't be tied to the government anymore…

"It was supposed to be finished tonight…I wanted to get rid of what was making you sad as soon as possible…I'd give anything to be able to make you happy again…at any cost…so I painfully hid it from you…I promised to myself that this was the one time that I'd lie to you."

So that's what you were talking about?

"But seeing you today there in the company, and how disturbed you were to see me…I just couldn't do it anymore…I would never dream or ruining you're future…to think that you were going to interview the man I'm going to destroy…I was so wrong."

He sighed.

"Now I'm at a loss of what to do. Just tell me what to do. I had given my life to you; tell me what more to give. Tell me how I can make you happy."

And in his last words, Aya reached out to embrace him and cried all the tears she held back.

Oh Tooya…I'm sorry for thinking you're insensitive…the truth is I'm the one who didn't notice what you were going through. I have only thought bad things about you when you're the one who was always worrying about me. Forgive me…for thinking that you don't love me anymore…when I'm the failure in showing how you that I love you…

She wept in his shoulder and he held her until she became silent.

You never change…you always love me no matter what…am I that hard to love? Back then you always wanted to be complete for me…you searched everywhere to have a past for me…and now you thought I can't love you because you don't have freedom…you're asking me what will make me happy, isn't it obvious that its you? only you…you don't have to be complete in your standards…you're already perfect…

"I'm sorry…I won't make you worry anymore…you don't have to do anything…you don't have to give up anything…you don't need to hurt anymore…" Aya managed to say.

"You're the only one I have…I won't give you up…" Tooya said.

Aya cried her last tear before she fell to sleep.

"Ceres…thank you…please watch over us always…" she told Ceres in her dreams. "He's safe and he's back to me because of you. At last, I'll be able to sleep peacefully."

--oOo--

AYA!

"Ceres?" Aya thought she heard Ceres again. Apparently she fell asleep and was dreaming again. Aya's eyes were still puffy from all her crying. It was very hard to open her eyes, so she called out to Tooya instead. "Tooya…" No answer. He's still asleep… She couldn't believe she woke up first before him for the second time. When she managed to open her eyes, it opened wide in an instant as she saw he wasn't in bed at all.

"Tooya!" Where are you?

"Tooya!" Stop playing around.

"Tooya!" Please answer.

Then it struck her. He went to complete the mission.

It was unlike Aya to be calm while Tooya is missing, sitting by the bed, casually waiting for him to arrive.

Tooya did not leave me. He left for me. He is fighting for me. He won't fail me.

Tooya said he exists for me. He says he loves me. He'll come back to me.

I know in the end, no matter what, Tooya will always make me happy.

--oOo--

It was midnight. Aya tried hard to stay awake and keep herself alert until he comes.

Suzumi said he had until midnight to complete the mission. "You're late," Aya whispered to herself "Please be okay…" It was hard to keep her eyes open from all the crying she hade done.

She stood up and went to the front door. She took a deep breath. "It's him…" She knew it was Tooya instantly, she felt his arrival.

"Aya? You're awake?"

She flew her hands over him and rested her head in his shoulder. "Tooya…I'm happy that you're alright…I'm so relieved"

"I did it Aya…I completed my last mission." Tooya said tightening his embrace. "I'm sorry for leaving so suddenly, I didn't want to wake you up." Aya, with a smile, "It's okay because from now on we won't be separated again, right?"

Tooya kissed her. "I love you."

--------------------------------

iannetine: personally, I think my writing style changed in every chapter. I would like to know what you think about the ending…or about the storyline as a whole, so please review! Thank you for reading and reviewing!