Choice of Music: Sanctuary - Hikaru Utada

OMG LAST CHAPTER!

Chapter 22 - Friends

Kia stared at the floor, unsure of what to say or do. Carefully, the teenage girl had wandered from her "hospital" bed out into the back garden, taking in some of the sunshine. She scratched at the thick wraps had been placed around her entire arms and legs, forcing themselves to heal. The damage Risa had done was worse than they had imagined. The girls' limbs were extremely weak, and it would be a while before she would be able to completely walk on her own or lift anything more than ten pounds. That itself didn't necessarily mean she would listen to it.

"Well," she heard a voice say "How did you get out here?"

Looking up, hazel eyes met green. Azukami looked down at her, one red eyebrow raised in curiosity. "You were ordered not to walk anywhere unless someone would assist you." Kia merely stared at her, not sure if she was meant to reply or not.

"Not going to talk to me?"

Her eyes drifted back towards the ground. "I'm sorry," she apologized quietly, her voice almost inaudible.

"Shit happens," the redhead spoke, sitting next to the younger teenager. "They were kind of old anyways. Maybe it would be good for them to - be at peace. Ritsuka always missed her family." No matter how much the older Doll spoke, the deep feelings in Kia's heart never went away. She was at fault for the deaths of Tsavera, Ritsuka, and Lanae; regardless of whether Risa was controlling her or not. "Come on, Kia," she said, carefully pulling the girl into a wheelchair. "We have a meeting."

Kia looked unsuredly at her uncle, afraid to speak. In return, K simply stared back at her, possibly in shock that his beloved niece was still alive. Hana sat next to the black haired teenager, messily braiding the elder's long black strands. Looking around, it was a meeting of people whom she thought would never be in a room together. The Good Douji and their Masters, along with Jealousy and Rage, sat in the room with them. Even more surprisingly, there was no fighting of any kind.

"So it's decided. Kia will go back to her uncle's for the time being," Tansen spoke. "The Dolls are to be currently dispersed and go into hiding. Thanks to Vice and Kia, we now know that there are Douji upon their side, at least two for the fact." Ko stood silently next to Jealousy, Yutaro to Ultimo, and Dante to Pardonner. "The Dolls who aren't here will be notified immediately of the situation, and they are to stay where they are. Azukami will stay with me."

Hazel eyes searched the small group, looking for one in particular. Vice wasn't anywhere in the room or standing in the doorway. "What of Kia?"

"Vice will-"

"Nuh uh, I don't want him at my apartment," K objected immediately, refusing to let Tansen finish his sentence. "He killed Kia once, he's not doing it again."

"Vice didn't kill Kia."

"He did in my mind," he snapped. "He is not taking my only niece from me again!" Kia grabbed K quickly, not wanting him to continue slandering the green Douji. K's dark eyes traveled to the worried eyes of the girl, and he shifted uncomfortably. Kia hoped he could sense the stress emitting from her, praying he'd calm down. Slowly, K relaxed himself, sitting down calmly next to her.

"Regardless of whether you object or not, it isn't up to you to decide," Azukami spoke, glaring at the dark haired man. "If Kia has no objections, then it will fall through."

"What about Vice?" Kia asked, looking at her.

"He's already agreed." The black haired girl felt a small pain in her stomach, like something was cramped or...scratching inside her. She coughed slightly and nodded. "I'm alright with it.

"Alright then," Tansen said, clapping his hands together. "The plan is in place. Adjourned." With those last words, people and Douji dispersed. K placed a hand on her shoulder, gaining his niece's attention. "I'll be back in a few hours to bring you home, alright?" Again, Kia nodded. Standing, she watched quietly as he left the room. The girl sat in silence for a few moments, letting her mind catch up to recent events.

A shuffling sound came from the doorway, and her hazel eyes snapped up from the coffee table. "Who is it?" she asked quietly. Wild black hair and golden eyes turned around the corner as Vice stepped into the room. Kia quickly turned her eyes away, unsure of what to say to him.

"So," he started hesitantly, "you're alright with me guarding you?" The black haired girl simply nodded, feeling as though words would be useless. "Why?"

Kia shrugged. Honestly, she couldn't think of an actual reason why she had no objection to Vice protecting her, but she hoped it had nothing to do with the deep feelings she had for him that couldn't be rid of.

"Still not talking to me?" he asked, sitting down next to her. She could feel his golden eyes watching her, urging her to look at him. Kia heaved a deep sigh, exhaling slowly.

"I just have nothing to say," she mumbled. She closed her eyes, leaning her head on part of the crutch. God how she wished things would just become simple again. The pain she felt, love that taunted her, the dreams that never revieled themselves. Last time she had dreams like that, they had been memories. But the dream of what seemed to be a life from a fuedal era, they couldn't possibly be memories. Could they?

Kia felt a cool forehead lean against hers. "Whenever you want to talk, I'm here to listen," he spoke quietly, knowing only she would hear.

"Why?" she questioned him.

"Well, friends listen to each other, don't they?" Startled at his choice of words, hazel eyes snapped at him. The term "friend" was never in Vice's colorful vocabulary, and most definately not towards her. Still, it felt nice for a change.

Kia gave a small smile. "I'll keep that in mind." She leaned into Vice's shoulder, relaxing for a few moments. The green Douji didn't bother to stop her, didn't want to. He smiled to himself, out of Kia's vision. She had liked that he considered them friends. He didn't dare to call themselves otherwise.

Vice wouldn't tell Kia he loved her yet. That time would come, he knew. Only then would he be free to confess his inner desires for her.

Wrapping an arm around her shoulders, he felt her gently drift off into a peaceful nap. The troubles they would endure had not once come to their mind, or the fate that would eventually befall them both. Had they any idea, maybe things would turn different. Maybe he would have spoken better.

Das End.

Simple and Clean

No matter how we get closer, the end is never been in sight. The pieces are set, the characters are ready. There's the matter of the Dolls and Douji, and of the Hundred Machine Funeral. Wills will be pushed to their limits, secrets brought to life, and the dreams of those forgotten will finally be remembered. The realization: there may not be a happy ending to every story.