A/N: After a long bit of annoyance from school I am finally ready to bring this to a follow-up moment, I can see that this will be the fitting thought, as the final chapters of my fic come to fruition. I will make this more like magic in its ending or so I hope; bear with me folks as I'm doing finals and have been under a hell of a lot of duress. School is fun, but certainly no picnic.

Without further adieu, the next chapter; we are closer to the end than ever!

(End A/N)

Chapter 22: Nocturne of the Leyline

Gene had no idea what exactly had happened on the landmass, he remembers having challenged Hazanko alongside the rest of the crew…had things truly been so hopeless? He remembers blood and unbelievable pain for about a split second, before a heavenly voice drew to his ear and whispered for him to rise. To word it was a wonderful voice that was almost too sweet to sound true, something about it made him think that it was an illusion and to that he knew no wrong, just that he had to answer to it; this warm sounding tone which made him feel safe.

As the rest of the XGP's Crew enjoyed a silent ride out of the section of space they had just been in, thoughts ran wild and all eyes were silently upon the one sleeping soul amongst their crew; Elise who still lay sleeping despite the passage of time. She had been unconscious and resting peacefully within her bed, with a vigilant Y'tue by her side and looking on with a subtle wish in his heart: for her to awaken.

Not one word had been spoken since the duel with Hazanko had ended some few hours ago…however it was not the failure that had been a reason why the silence followed; no in fact…it was the fact that a miracle had saved them from a fate of suffering. Lord Hazanko, one cruel Kei Pirate Lord who returned from beyond the grave to seek revenge on those who had once destroyed him. Somehow they had pulled through and survived against him, even with the Leyline at his whim…a greater miracle had saved them the death that he wished to give to the entire crew.

"Gene...what happened out there?" the concerned voice of Jim's finally brought sound to the silent bridge.

"...I haven't gotten there myself yet Jim, I don't know what to say that would remotely describe it." the words coming from the legendary captain of the 'Outlaw Star', as after the defeat of so many and winning the race...he was a living legend by rumor and reputation.

But none of that even registered to Gene right now, it was just the bear fact that and the others were not only breathing; but were on their ship and off to...anywhere. Whatever planet was closest to let them know that they weren't suffering in hell and that this wasn't some cruel joke by the evil Lord. To make them all feel safe before crushing that reality.

Aisha wasn't on the bridge as of late, Hilda had been at ops and had let her return to the one place she needed to be; in the arms of her love and trying to cope with what happened. Yeah, it seemed that everyone needed a little of that in late...the right to relax was something that they had all earned; but the question being was whether their minds could fathom what had happened.

-With Aisha & Haomaru-

Within the confines of their shared room, Aisha had spent every minute since the return to the Outlaw Star in Haomaru's arms. Instead of a celebration for being alive and all being well...there was a silent reflection being undertaken by her. They had lost that fight and by all rights should be dead. She knew that if not for the amazing youth that was Hilda's daughter...neither she, Haomaru, or their child would have a future right now. To this fact it gave her a taste of a painful reality...it did seem that the unbeatable Ctarl ctarl could be stopped after all.

Though she was not alone in her understanding of the moment, she was being tended to by Haomaru, who pet her back and ran his fingers through her hair while she lay in his arms. The fact that they had survived by some small figment of a chance was the reason she was sort of out of it, not that she wasn't happy to be alive. But how did one explain a feeling so profound as to finding out that you do get a happy ending right? She wasn't able to really place it into words; this is what brought on her silence for the most part.

"Hey...Haomaru." her voice soft and somewhat subdued still.

"Hmm?" he responded to her question with a soft sound and a smile upon his face.

Seeing that goofy smile let her know that she had indeed survived, since if this were hell her beloved would not be sitting there with a look on his face that he always had now it seemed. Since she had tamed her wild swordsman lover, life had been interesting all round.

She had since then run back into Gene and the old crew, rejoined of her own accord and joined up with old friends, she'd witnessed the revival of an old space legend thanks to the Leyline, and faced off with an old blood enemy once again. There were no words to describe reliving an entire time in so short a moment...at least for her words seemed to fall short in that case.

"Thank you for being you, that's all...you will make a wonderful father." her smile was there for a moment, before it curled into a wide grin; the pride of a Ctarl Ctarl was hard to keep down.

"I am with you, there is no way I cannot be a father worthy of such a jubilant child." he seemed to be sure of his words then.

She gave him a nod of acknowledge there...he would make a great father and knowing him; he'd teach their child his heirloom of a sword style that she'd come to respect. But their son or daughter would also be fighting like a true Ctarl ctarl if she had anything to say about it.

"They can learn the sword style, but they are learning how true Ctarl ctarls fight you got it?" she said with a small kiss to the top of his hand.

To this he answered with a soft laugh, of course...he knew that she was still proud and ever so lovely whenever she got cocky.

"I would have it no other way." this said with a soft lick to her cheek, indeed he would have it no other way.

That much made her smile, she could always count on her mate's support up to this point; it was one of his most defining traits and in her mind, one of his most appealing. He loved everything about her, from her attitude to her directness, and had answered her near demand of him to be her mate. He accepted her with his arms wide open...lovingly is what made that count so deep to her heart; it was him now and their child that would be born within time down the line. She knew that she could enjoy a full life with this half-ctarl that had swept her off of her feet, granted her instincts were right and he had the proper gene of longevity that all ctarls enjoyed. She was sure that her Haomaru did since he exhibited so many fine traits of the Ctarl Ctarl, to her liking it was his pride that was present within him; albeit in a subtle and near harmless manner.

She found his presence enriching and to that same reason she loved him all the more, realizing just how lucky she was to have a well-rounded nimrod swordsman...whose ideals could get him killed if he wasn't guided properly; she would not see his selfless swordsman ideals kill him, she'd be damned if she did.

"I know...you promised to me that you'd be more careful Hao and you've kept your word, I am glad that you were able to follow it this far. But I'm going to ask you one more thing towards that same thing...don't think about it alright? I want a straight answer to my question...which from now on will you trust my decisions regarding your crazy ideals of being a 'swordsman' and stuff?" she made it clear and hoped that he would answer yes.

It was just as she could have hoped, he didn't even blink before answering her.

"I already do Aisha, as there is no one more capable of knowing what may be safe or unsafe when in regards to my mate and our child's health. If you think something is dumb just voice it, I will hear you out and heed your wisdom." though his words were poetic as usual, it was just what she had hoped for.

To that she offered his lips a gentle peck before her fingers slid back through his hair gently, it seemed that was all that she needed to decide that she was going to reward his sweetness and indulge her wish to know that she was still alive. She wanted to feel something more than a nice calm that she felt and there was more than one way to do that; though one that she loved a great deal when with him.

"I think its time I rewarded that sweetness...hmm, I've abstained from you from far too long." these words said with a hint of her plans within them while she turned within his grasp and crawled into his lap slowly.

Her body pressing flatly against his while her eyes met his, it seemed to be nothing but a powerful wish from her heart to repay her mate's kindness; this one who stood with her against all odds and would fall with her. What more could she have asked for in a significant other as she had before her now? Such a beautiful specimen...a hybrid of the mighty and the elegant, crafted into this beautiful male that rested below of...what perfection she found in his varying imperfections. His over-thoughtfulness and his want to protect her like any typical male delivered with a careful word of caution, unlike other suitors she'd had facing her, there was nothing about him that turned her off.

He was her ideal...even though he was a complete blockhead and missed her hints of interest in him, any words she shared with him were treated with his gentle hearted replies and yet he never once approached her. From the day she discovered his harbored emotions for her did she raid his heart, like a bandit who couldn't have enough bounty...this was what she took from her lover each time they kissed...and it was this reason why he was now her mate. She had considered very much about her beautiful Haomaru, that he might just be her lover...and then he wooed her heart when they first made love. No mere lover would do that and then declare everything that was his; was not only hers but would protect her from harm.

Her foolish and idyllic Hao...and his long locks that she found herself now just strumming through his hair, thinking about all of the things that she was going to do to him in his reward. Yes, her love was the way she rewarded him since he never would have to think what to do if she left his side...she never would even if death knocked at her door. She would resist with everything in her person just to stay with him and their child: the result of making love so frequently. She giggled once...a rare thing for the usually focused mind of Aisha's, but she found that poetry roaming her mind now kept her distracted.

"You know Hao? I think Poetry's nothing but a big distraction." she said at random, right from the thoughts passing through her mind.

"Huh-" his words of response were immediately cut off by her kiss, Aisha had been speaking enough in her mind.

She took it into her own hands and responded rather quickly; giving her lover a soft kiss and gradually pressing it into a deeper need. Controlling the pace herself was just what she was looking for and she had that now. No more talking and no more thinking...just a free period of loving because they could. This was what it should have been from the beginning, a powerful and overwhelming rush of need that they held deep.

While the two Ctarls pursued making love, Gene was just sitting at the bridge reflecting on what had happened...from the battles they'd fought and how swiftly they were brought to an end; was it some kind of a message from the Leyline itself? This young girl Elise was some kind of a major gift and it seemed that there was a lot with her that wasn't possible to explain. She was a living soul, a half human/half ctarl bundle of confusion with powers that appeared to be beyond even her own understanding. She had already made some truly adult decisions and yet still was a growing teen, she was still the daughter of the recently revived Hilda.

-With Gene-

How much sense did all of it make? There just didn't seem to be any true kind of understanding no matter which way that you cut it. How could he say that they were the ones destined to survive...another stroke of luck for Gene Starwind. He knew just how close the loss had been, there won by the shavings of a fingernail. He was on Death's door and was being toyed with by a very old enemy that would never have left them alone...he and Melfina had come a long way since then, Suzuka had found herself on and off of the ship regularly, much like Jim had become now; a part-time member of the crew with a life to live of his own. He was actually kind of glad in this result since Jim didn't have to experience it...a near-death state and then a sudden awakening.

No...no that would've been too cruel even for someone as capable as Jim. His own thoughts were swallowing him whole, even while flying the ship on instinct and their heading was back to Heifong III, just for some down time. They'd dock and everyone would just gather their wits...for now he'd officially called off anything short of being a necessity like ship maintenance or cleaning. There was no need for everyone to be pushed off too hard, he found that it was bad enough and the way of things were just not going to be simple or going over.

It was rough and yet they were through it, so now it was just about the overall recovery. The true question was whether such a thing was actually redeemable given the quality of their survival...all on a whim's notice. Even the landing on the planet hadn't been real to Gene yet and while it sunk in that he and the others were still alive, he hadn't been able to get it out of his mind so yet; life could end in a flash just like that. As Gene set the final preps in for the ship to dock and had stopped, he decided not to leave just yet and took a moment to sit there and try and think clearly. There was no sure way to accept something in so short a period of time.

"Gene? What is it?" the soft voice of Melfina's, reflecting concern for Gene's well being. She had grown a great deal over the years that she'd been with Gene and yet there were still some things about him that she had yet to understand, between them there was little lost; but still that little that she try her hardest to understand.

At first Gene didn't answer her and instead gave her a little laugh, something weak and closer to the means of a nervous chuckle.

"Living...Melfina, that's what the problem is, I can't...understand it just yet." he wasn't sure if he was articulating himself properly right now, though he knew that there was no such way to be sure. You couldn't just make it clear in one moment now could you? He knew that his emotions were getting in the way as it was.

He offered a sigh after this, trying to think of a better way to explain it to the woman he loved, how did you explain that you weren't sure how to continue after being so easily crushed and having your life toyed with so easily? He had made sure that she wasn't exposed to the battle in any way by ensuring she stayed with the ship, she did not have to fight as he had that day and was now in the mental state one tended to suffer after a near-death, almost a denial of life in some way. Though for Gene it was more of a confusion that he couldn't explain.

The sense looming over the rest of the XGP crew seemed to be very stolid flow of emotions is what appeared to be causing those along the ship to feel uneven. It was to this end that those on the ship realized that one had to come with terms, to each their own...and in some way that it would all even out at some point. It was just a matter of focus and realizing that life went on. The looming Nocturne was not something to be linger on, but instead to understand that finally the door on past threats could be closed; the time for worrying about the lost was no longer a threat.

There was no grand welcome for a long earned victory for the Outlaw Star, instead just a breezy and light-hearted welcome from those who knew Gene and his crew, those who were on and off constantly now. Gene and Jim's business had grown to a stable point that supporting themselves and paying back what they owed Fred (finally!) was only a matter of time. Doors had opened and closed behind each individual memory and for Aisha her doors to a bright future had opened.

Free of her business on Blue Heaven, Aisha was once more in the free open space and life of settling down awaited...right? Hardly! As the nature of a Ctarl Ctarl was anything if not predicting.

-With Aisha and Haomaru-

"Hee...you know Hao, if this keeps up I'll have changed you for good." her words whispered to the ear of her mate, while she loomed over his tuckered form. Though she noted he recovered quickly, she still pushed his stamina to his limits.

He rubbed under her chin with two fingers and leaned up to peck her lips. Though he wasn't surprised when she kissed him deeper than some small peck and drew back only when she was satisfied that she'd tasted his lips well enough.

"I believe that my principles may sooner change your heart than your wonderfully wild antics would change me my dear." his words still of a manner that teased.

For the two Ctarl Ctarls, they could move on as long as they had one another. It wasn't to say that it was just their union or the love they shared, but a bond that was greater than anything that could be grasped. Aisha saw this in Hao's eyes whenever she looked at those beautiful orbs and listened to the lotus-kissed lips of her samurai. It was how a heart that was blessed by the talent and age of old could be so wonderfully wrapped into a single package and given to her by fate on a silver platter.

She thought about their first hapless meeting and how if he had not come to that table and been a customer of hers, then this very minute she would be serving plates and washing dishes. There...instead of here with her right now. What could she could do with this feeling of ache but to ignore it, that was not her fate! She was here now and in a loving relationship that she had to open his eyes to.

"Silly Hao...to think that you never acted on what you felt, because of some goofy mannerisms you learned. What ever am I going to do with you?" she said with a catty grin, pressing her claws gently into his chest and scratching down his flesh, raking it lightly while looking into his eyes.

It too was within this same light that Haomaru reflected on his past and how he made it here. A life of wandering from place to place by a ship, this seemed to be that he was working his mind and heart in that right. Following the way of the sword wherever it took him and never once backing down off of the path he took. He challenged the authorities, space pirates, assassins, even the hand of the legendary Lord Hazanko who had fallen some years back to the skilled (and lucky) hands of Gene Starwind.

Had he not taken that cargo ship to Blue Heaven and stepped into the restaurant trying to escape his pursuers the the love of his life would never have been here. The way that he acted, as the chaste maiden...in the eyes of his beautiful Aisha. Who even now was mocking his 'uptight' attitude and ways of speech. Of how he never bathed alone with her as she wished when they were visiting the hot springs planet of Tenrei. Had he missed a single beat of their time together he would not be holding her now and making love with this beauty of the heavens. His stellar light that guided his humble soul into a haven now.

Even as he came out of his thoughts now, all he caught was the tail-end of her comment, once more mocking him in a light hearted manner the way that only she could.

"...and the last thought from you that day was that I remember was 'It is not proper for a samurai to bathe with a lady present, even if there is no other spring nearby'." she looked at his face and gained one look of skepticism, he'd been in his head once again hadn't he?

As he opened his lips to speak, she already decided that she wouldn't hear it and pressed her lips to his firmly. Locking their mouths together and slipping her tongue into his lips, there was no time for a retort. It seemed plenty clear what she decided with this move and how she moved her body, wriggling against him and grinding her waist firmly into his.

She wouldn't have anymore of it, no thinking, no talking, no telling, no begging...just action out of him. There was going to be only one move from him and that was from his heart and hers meeting in part, there would be only the embrace of love and passion from him. She would have them on the same level and in the same place...there would be sync and there would be love. A most vibrant love that would outshine the stars and kiss the midlight dimming space around the cosmos.

(-Warning: Mature Content ahead-)

The thoughts of Aisha's rested on the loving that she'd be giving to her mate, just how hard she was would show anything pent up. She had enough of all of it, from the momentary thoughts of despair to all of the feelings of remembering the horror from before...why remember at all sometimes? She put it to question and forced her lover down forcefully, pressing him to the bed and biting on the side of his neck and then letting him look upon her body; drawing back as she showed him all that was in her glory. The body that only he would be allowed to touch and to feel pleasuring him into his oblivion of bliss. She would see no other eye him in that fashion, this thought very clear from the first time he'd agreed to become her lover.

Haomaru lay beneath her in a daze, something that he could only identify as a kind of halo...what other word came to mind was the thought of hazy, he had barely been allowed to breath let alone gather a thought. The way her lips sealed his off had left him feeling euphoric and of course he would survive longer than a human without breath, but even that had him on the panic in slight. This thing he knew all well as something that Aisha would not only sense but also act upon when she held him. The prey that needed to be devoured by his predator.

"Pathetic aren't you? Well I've had enough." she said with a hiss, a big grin that was something almost in the line of her anger, though the excited look spoke volumes of what she felt now. A burrowing excitement from the very center of her figure that was reaching out and demanding that she treated it.

Then it happened, Hao's member was raised by her tail a moment before she promptly fell down on his shaft. The grunt of slight pain from Haomaru only brought her more pleasure as she had let off a pleasured mew. Sometimes nice and rough was a way to deal with all of the tension that had built up within either of their bodies. She jumped into action almost literally as she let him get used to her clenching only for a moment before her hips rose in that instant, immediately finding her way back to the base of his length.

It was intense from the moment she had chosen to begin, as by now all he felt was a powerful clinch hold on his cathood, just the knowing feeling of a wonderful pulsing and a caressing heat that groped him each time it descended upon him. The delicious feeling of being engulfed completely had devoured his will to think and his want to know. What was going on? He no longer knew or cared, all that his dulled senses told him was that he was holding onto the curvy and powerful hips of his lover as she rose and descended upon him. For those moments that he took to find his way bearings as she found herself back to the base of his length were two different actions all together. There was a only a powerful hammering of her hips as she came down and he yowled gently.

How it was to her was nothing short of deliciously fed pleasure, the feeling of his member's pulsing inside of her ignited a tireless flame that pushed her actions and there was she, an unstoppable dynamo in action to do one thing: claim all that she could from her mate in each moment. No matter how he squirmed or clenched his hands around her told her anything more than the fact that she needed more. His writhing in pleasure was a delight to her and something that she prided herself on, having her mate be this breathless...this lost in passion...this lost in what was happening. And the reason was very simple: at her action, at her whim. She could control all that he felt when they bonded and it was something that she loved.

They'd made love the previous half-hour and somehow it wasn't enough for her. In that action they'd come by one thing that she had not only desired, but craved to know: that not only did he love her, but they loved each other and were together in the soul. It was the most truth that she had needed within the past hour and this was her way of affirming this as a fact. How could it get any more or less better for her right? She found there was no answer, nor did she care right now. The love had been there and now everything else came.

As another heavenly silence was filled with harsh slaps and slams of flesh against flesh, the Ctarl Ctarl vigorously worked herself into a hot sweat as she stopped bucking onto him and was now grinding him hard. Keeping her hips descending at a nice hot pace, short and powerful thrusts while she ground against his shaft base and then pulled up harshly, gripping him firmly and riding him for all he was worth. She was not doing this to hurt him...no they'd experimented in the past and she knew he could handle this level of her strength, even now with the half moon being about and her tail having been present, her need for savageness was controlled. Since she had long learned what it took to keep herself in line and better yet in bed with her mate, she could use all of that gained stamina to drag this out. No...in fact she was sure where she had him by now, halfway between torture and an unquenchable heated lust for more.

She was giving him the latter, as she rode of her pain and doubts. Everything was going into this love of her action, she was not trying to push him to his brink...she was ridding herself of all of these useless feelings of the negative nature. She would be free and so would he as she drove him to a state of unconsciousness and once more...at her whim was all that mattered. All that was possible to see that her mind would be over such small things in a moment without waiting or thinking too hard and so it seemed to be working.

Each moment was different, each descent taken at another angle and mixed up, each thrust of her rump and each slam of her hips against his...there was a strange chaotic rhythm that had aligned both Ctarls in bliss. Was there a way to explain what she felt right now? Or was there only the way to have more of what both needed...the feelings of connection and their negative feelings thrown into a furnace to fuel their own heats. All of it began to blur and then jumped into streaks of light. Even Aisha had lost her mind to this madness, the madness that had claimed her mate at the very beginning of this love they were sharing.

All she felt was this wish to continue growing hotter and her pace growing faster, something that was like tempered steel seemed to be giving her thoughts that she hadn't a moment before; completion in an instant. And just like that as if everything had come to a sudden and harsh halt, Aisha's shrill cat yowl was joined by her mate's weaker voice as she felt his essence filling her. A sudden collapse onto his chest was imminent and seemed to all come to that finish as she only felt the result of his overactive heartbeat and the feeling of his chest trying to heave for the breath. Her nectar had long since mixed with his heat and had helped make the mess that she was all too familiar with. Did she need anything else? She thought otherwise...no, they only needed the moment.

As for Hao, all of the things that happened were nothing that was clear, there were too many lights that he saw now. These of indescribable color and designs...so many waving and flitting about before his eyes; be they opened or closed he saw nothing else. Just a completely whole filled feeling, this was what he felt inside and there was nothing shorter than the pleased look on his face that remained. No...plastered on his face was more like it, something that made Aisha smirk at. It was she that had done all of this to her mate.

(-End Mature Content-)

There had been no words between the two felines as they lay in their embrace and the content feeling between either of them. Sleep was seeming like a much better option with every passing breath and to Aisha's knowledge her lover was long since there.

"Sleep well...you gooftball.." she said as she shut her eyes for the last time, laying against his chest and eventually drifting off as she held onto his body.

The two had left it at this alone...they were much like the rest of the XGP crew, trying to find some kind of a solution to their feelings. Even though the evil pirate lord had once more been sent to the great beyond there was something looming about and some kind of an outcome that remained very clear: what now? This was not a thing to just say goodbye to because it had been ended...no this was something they would see completed now on their end before leaving it alone. Gene wasn't sure exactly what he decided needed to happen but he'd do what he could time it at least.

Nothing more than a few minutes with thoughts in his head, before the thought of Elise...something that this had all to do with. Elise had done something right? He only saw it for an instant since Hazanko had left each of them in their own blood puddles. It had not been a very fun sight...the feeling he couldn't remember since something soothed him. He'd heard some kind of a peaceful cry or voice before suddenly all was better. What could be done to understand it more..?

But now was hardly the time since as far as he knew she still slept and so did Y'tue, the kid that she had fallen in love with at some point. Well...it happened and this was the way of the things carrying out. How to deal with it..? That was what was important in the final piece of this line. When she woke they were to speak and then maybe some answers would clear up.

(End Chapter)

Sorry bout all of the lag on this story, I've decided to try and finish this quickly ahead, but so many things (life basically) getting in the way. Not to worry, my efforts are clearly towards this and I will not let it grow to stop me; I will take care of it all at once. We near the final conclusion and yes I assure that all of the danger is out, just some last minute things to seal away. It's high time I helped this story to its finish, so I will do just that. Expect another chapter soon!

Till then adieu

-Quentix