Chapter 29: Farewell
Allen groans as he slowly open his eyes. He then widens his eyes as he looks around. He realized he's in a hospital ward and he's currently lying on a hospital bed. His right eye, forehead and stomach were bandaged.
"Hey Allen. How are you?" Ricky asked with a smile. Allen turned his head to Ricky.
"Ricky, what happen?" Allen asked. "And where's Rukia?"
"Rukia is okay. She's lying next to you." Ricky nods his head. Allen turned his head to the other side and sees that Rukia is lying on the next bed with her eyes closed. Her forehead and her right cheek were bandaged.
Allen smiled in relief. He tries to sit up straight from his bed but he groans in pain as he felt a sharp pain in his stomach as he sits up.
"Whoa! No, Allen. The doctor says that you have to lie down." Ricky said as he gently pushes Allen back on the bed. "And don't worry about Rukia. The doctor says she'll be fine. She'll wake up soon."
"How long have I've been out?" Allen asked.
"Three days."
"What happened to Azula? Did we win?"
Ricky smiled weakly and nods his head. "Yes Allen. We defeated Azula. I managed to interrogate her and make her confess where Oswald is. His main base is in Guam."
"I see. What about Katara, Sokka and the others?"
"The slaves are celebrating since our victory at Azula's hideout. We did it Allen; we liberated China and free every single slave in the country. We're heroes."
Ricky then noticed tears start to well up in Allen's eyes. Allen bit his lip hoarsely. "What's wrong?" Ricky asked in concern.
"No…it's…it's just that…" Allen tried to say as a tear now rolls down his left cheek. "It's just that…I could have died during our fight." Allen couldn't push back his tears anymore and more tears rolled down his cheeks. "Even though I'm strong, skilful and a good soldier…I still fear death. I really do."
Ricky sighed sadly as he watched Allen sobbed. He then wrap his arms around Allen and comforts him. Allen stops sobbing as Ricky whispered to him, "It's okay Allen. Because like you said, we're allies til the end. So that makes us brothers too. And from now on, we'll watch each other, alright?"
Allen then smiled sadly and hugs Ricky back as he closes his eyes.
Later at an asylum, Ricky, Saber and Toph looked through a small window of a metal door to a small room. An armed guard was standing next to the door. Inside the room was Azula, crying uncontrollably with her head against wall and her body is now strapped up tight in a white jacket and her breath was shaking. Ricky and Toph watches her in pity while Saber frowns at her with her arms folded.
"The doctors say that Azula has suffered a complete mental breakdown. She will be monitor around the clock..." Saber explained. "And she may stay here for the rest of her life."
"I feel kinda sorry for her." Ricky said sadly as he watches Azula cry in pity.
"And you should have finished her while you had the chance." Saber turned to Ricky with a stern look.
"Hey, you know I don't kill. Besides, if my mother was an abusive alcoholic, I would have end up like her too." Ricky said as he turned to Saber. "And I'm sure she didn't mean to join the Faction at all. She just got driven mad by her father, that's all."
"If she knows that joining the Faction is wrong, then she never should have joined in the first place." Saber said in disapproval.
"You really hate the Faction, do you?" Ricky asked sternly.
"Yes. They killed my father and driven my brother insane. They're despicable. I'll always despise them, no matter what." Saber said, narrowing her eyes as she turns away from Ricky.
"Brother?" Toph asked while Ricky looked down at her. "Can I talk to Azula?"
"What?" Ricky said, widening his eyes.
"Please…" Toph begged. The look in Toph's eyes was begging to let Ricky talk with the former proud Faction officer.
Ricky nods. "Alright. But be careful." He turned to the armed guard and asked, "Let her in."
The guard nods his head and opens the door for Toph. As Toph enters the room, Saber asked Ricky, "By the way, you told me that you insulted her harshly to make her go insane and confess. Since when do you know how to act brutal to others?"
"I used to bully other kids in school when my mother died." Ricky said, lowering his head in guilt. He felt guilty as he is partially the cause of Azula's insanity.
Meanwhile, Toph stood in front of Azula while Azula stops crying and turned to her with a look of fear and sadness.
"Azula?" Toph asked in concern.
"You…you're Toph Bei Fong, right? The girl I met at the streets five years ago." Azula said, breathing violently. "Why are you here? Are you here for revenge? Please! Don't hurt me!" She curled herself up while Toph shook her head.
"No. I'm not here to hurt you." Toph said. "I'm here to thank you."
Azula widens her eyes in shock. She made Toph a slave and made her suffer for five years and she's still thanking her? "Why? Why are you thanking me? You should be hurting me!"
"No. I thank you for making me a slave. Sure I failed to save my brother. But because of you, I learned how to take care of my own." Toph smiled. "And five years later, I got another reward. A new brother. So I thank you Azula. I thank you for leading me to a new life."
Azula managed to grin weakly and Toph kneeled down to her and hugged her. Azula broke into tears as she rests her head on Toph's shoulder. Toph rubs her back to comfort her as Azula cries.
Ricky and Saber watches this through the door's small window. Ricky sighed sadly while Saber, even though she hates the Faction, was working hard not to cry.
Ricky turns to saber and notices this. "Saber?" He said.
Saber sniffed as a tear now spilled down her right cheek. Ricky puts his hands on Saber's shoulder and turned her to him. Saber looked up at Ricky and Ricky leans his face closer to hers.
He was about to kiss Saber, but Saber looks away in a pained expression.
"I'm sorry Ricky. I can't." Saber said.
Ricky pulls his face back and said, "Oh…I'm sorry then."
"No, you shouldn't be." Saber then turned around and walked down the hallways of the asylum while Ricky watches her walk away in a sad expression.
A week later, Allen and Rukia have recovered and have been discharged from the hospital. At Toph's house that night, Ricky, Toph, Allen, Rukia, Saber, Ben, Will and Wall-E all gathered in the bedroom.
"We all know that Oswald is hiding in Guam. But we all know that since that's where the main base is, I'm sure the base will be heavily guarded. And even with just the eight of us and our new powers, we will never storm through their defenses." Ricky said solemnly.
"I can contact the Royal British Army to aid us during our battle." Allen suggested. Since his uniform has been scorched from his fight with Azula, he is now wearing a red ribbon, grey sleeveless sweater, white long-sleeved shirt, grey pants and black shoes. Rukia is now also wearing a different outfit. She now wears a long-sleeved grey school uniform, red ribbon, grey skirt, black socks and brown shoes.
"Yes. But the Faction is an extremely powerful army. I'm sure it will take more than just the British Army to fight against them." Will said, shaking her head. She now wears a grey jacket, orange shirt, blue jeans and white shoes.
The group sighed while Wall-E shook his head sadly. Then Rukia spoke up, "What about the Shinigami Council?" the others turned to her. "My people are as powerful as the templars. If we could somehow contact my former leader Yamamoto to send his forces to Guam, we may have a bigger advantage to fight against the Faction army."
"But Japan closed its borders to the outside world. It will be hard to tell them to aid us in battle." Ben said.
"Then we'll have to enter Japan and convince their leader." Saber said, narrowing her eyes.
"Right. Then we shall go to Japan first before we can finally go to Guam and face Oswald." Ricky nods his head. The others nod in agreement while Rukia turned her head away sadly. "Okay, let's get our sleep before we finally leave China."
The next day, the sun rose up and shines brightly in the sky. The sun shines through the window of the second bedroom, causing Toph to groggily wake up. She climbs down from the top of the bed while Saber is still sleeping soundly on the bottom bed. She walks over to the window and her eye grew large. She sees a beautiful sight.
Snow is everywhere outside the house! The ground and rooftops of the other buildings are covered with snow! This causes Toph to yell out happily.
"It's winter!" Toph yelled happily. She runs over to Saber in excitement and prodded her body. "Saber, it's winter! Winter is here!"
Saber moans as she opened her eye groggily. "What is it?" She asked.
"It's winter! Snow is everywhere!"
"What?" Saber sits up from her bed and turned to the window. She widens her eyes as she looks out the window and sees that Toph is right. Winter has arrived! She smiled in amazement as she said, "Wow, it's December already?"
"Yeah, today is December first. Have you forgotten?" Toph giggled.
"Yeah, sort of. We have been fighting bad guys for a few weeks and I kinda forgot about the date." Saber chuckled. "And since it's December. It also marks the fifth and half year anniversary of the Third World War."
"Oh come on Saber. Let's just forget the war so a while and enjoy the winter, shall we?" Toph smiled. Saber smiled back affirmatively.
Outside the house, Ricky and Rukia were standing outside the house looking up at the white and snowy sky. They watch the snowflakes fall above them.
"It's…beautiful." Rukia uttered.
"I know." Ricky chuckled. He turned to Rukia and noticed the pain and sad expression on Rukia's face. "Rukia?"
"Ricky…I have been thinking. And I've decided not to go to japan with you. This is as far as I can go." Rukia said sadly.
"What?" Ricky said, widening his eyes in surprise. "How could you say that?"
"Don't you remember Ricky? I'm an exile. I can't go back to Japan." Rukia turns her head away sadly.
Ricky frowns and said sternly, "No Rukia. You WILL come with us to Japan."
"NO!" Rukia yelled to Ricky as she turned to him, tears well up her eyes. "I'm an exile! And that's what I am! I'm a disgrace and a burden to my people! I can never go back home and face my people!" Ricky grabs Rukia's arm tightly, making Rukia gasps.
Ricky pulls Rukia towards him and looked at her eyes sternly. "Rukia, didn't you said to me back at the SS Soul that you will protect me with your sword and your life. And that your life is mine?"
Those words struck Rukia. Yes, she now remembers that she did swear to Ricky that she will protect him till the end.
Ricky sighs and looks at Rukia. "Please Rukia, you will come with us to Japan. And I don't care whether if your people look up at you when you return home. If they don't want you to return home, they will have to face me."
Tears now stream freely from Rukia's cheeks and Rukia hugs Ricky tightly and sobbed on his shoulder. Ricky sighed and hugs Rukia. "Don't worry Rukia. We'll face your people together."
"Thank you…Ricky. I will come with you then." Rukia sobbed.
Later, at the train station, Ricky, Saber, Toph, Allen, Will, Ben, Wall-E and Rukia stood in front of the train station while Katara, Sokka, Kya and the other former slaves stand in front of them with smiles on their faces.
"Thank you Ricky. You have free us all from slavery. We are all officially free and we no longer have to live in pain anymore." Kya, who has now fully recovered, smiled.
"You have cured our mother and give us back our courage and determination. We will never forget you, Ricky Blade." Sokka said as he wrapped an arm around Kya.
"Don't you ever forget about us, okay?" Katara smiled at Will as she walks over to her.
"Don't worry. I won't." Will smiled as she winked her eye at Katara. The two girls then embraced.
"Good bye Will. You were a good friend." Katara said. She then pulled away from the hug and walks back to Sokka and Kya.
"Thank you, all of you. But now, we must all leave to Japan. And may you guys continue cheering us in our battle against the Faction. And remember; don't forget your courage and determination as Good will always win the war against the bad." Ricky said as he bowed down to the former slaves. The former slaves cheered as Ricky and his group turned around and walked into the train station.
Sokka took out his lute and plays it while Katara starts singing a new song.
Katara: And I never thought I'd feel this way
And as far as I'm concerned
I'm glad I got the chance to say
That I do believe I love you
And if I should ever go away
Well, then close your eyes and try to feel
The way we do today
And then if you can remember
Ricky and his group entered the train. At the passenger cabin, Ricky and Toph sat together and Toph looked out the window. She wishes to take one last glimpse of Shanghai before she finally leaves her country for the first time and explore outside China.
"So Toph, are you ready?" Ricky asked Toph.
Toph turned to Ricky and smiled affirmatively. "Yeah." She whispered and Ricky and Toph hugged passionately.
Keep smilin', keep shinin'
Knowin' you can always count on me, for sure
That's what friends are for
For good times and bad times
I'll be on your side forever more
That's what friends are for
Rukia looks out the train window as Saber came over and sits next to her. "Mind if I sit next to you?" Saber asked.
Rukia turned to Saber and nods. "Sure."
Saber looked at Rukia in concern and asked, "What's wrong?"
Rukia sighed. "Nothing. It's just that I'm finally returning home…for the first time in three years. I'm sure many things have changed since I left."
Saber puts her hand on Rukia's shoulder and assured, "Stop worrying Rukia. I'm sure everything will be fine. Also, Ricky told me that you fought alongside him bravely during your fight with Azula. And I've been thinking about it and…" Saber wraps an arm around Rukia to comfort her more. "I guess I can believe you now. I accept you in our side now."
Rukia smiled back with tears welling up her eyes. "Thanks."
Well, you came and opened me
And now there's so much more I see
And so by the way I thank you
Whoa, and then for the times when we're apart
Well, then close your eyes and know
These words are comin' from my heart
And then if you can remember, oh
Ben was sitting at the back of the cabin, looking through the window in sadness and misery. He still felt as if Ricky doesn't care about him anymore. He wondered if he would truly have Ricky back.
Will lies back in her seat, closes her eyes and rests with Wall-E resting on her lap.
Keep smiling, keep shining
Knowing you can always count on me, for sure
That's what friends are for
In good times, in bad times
I'll be on your side forever more
Oh, that's what friends are for
Allen took out his cell phone and contact Lenalee. A holographic image of Lenalee then appears and she smiles as she sees Allen.
"Allen! It's been a while! How are you?" Lenalee asked, happy to see her friend again.
Allen smiled and said, "Lenalee, I'm sorry I didn't say goodbye to you before I left. And right now, I really miss you."
"It's okay. I'm just glad to see you again."
"Lenalee, you have been a good friend to me since my father died. And…I never get to say this until now. I…I just wanted to say…" Allen took a deep breath. "I love you. I really do."
Lenalee gasps in shock. Then, tears well up in her eyes as she smiled sadly at Allen. "I…I love you too."
"I promise I'll come back soon, Lenalee." Allen nods his head.
"And I'll be waiting." Lenalee whispered. She then hangs up her cell phone and Allen lies back in his head and smiled.
"Yeah." He simply said and he closes his eyes and rest.
Whoa... oh... oh... keep smilin', keep shinin'
Knowin' you can always count on me, for sure
That's what friends are for
For good times and bad times
I'll be on your side forever more
That's what friends are for
Keep smilin', keep shinin'
Knowin' you can always count on me, oh, for sure
'Cause I tell you that's what friends are for
For good times and for bad times
I'll be on your side forever more
That's what friends are for (That's what friends are for)
On me, for sure
That's what friends are for
Keep smilin', keep shinin'
The train then starts moving through the railway and leaves the train station. Katara, Sokka, Kya and the former slaves smiled as they all watch the train leave.
"Good luck, Ricky." Kya whispered.
END OF CHAPTER
Ryo: And that was the end of the China story arc, and Ricky and his group now make their way to Japan. Anyways, in the next two or three chapters, the group will be hanging out together in the train during their journey to Japan. And the next chapter will also possibly be a Christmas special chapter too! So stay tune and read and review!
Also, a new poll is up on my profile. The poll concerns my planned sequel to 3942.