Author's note: Sorry for the late update, I have been a little forgetful Please enjoy, I know it's a little short.

Chapter 7

Delirium

Darkness and silence was all that could be seen and heard. Was he even anywhere? Claude got up and saw nothing but darkness.

"Where am I? Am I dead? Alive? What's going on here?…All I remember last is getting stabbed by Ari…I feel bad for her. She deserves a better brother than me. Everything was fine before she disappeared…we had a lot of laughs, a lot of crying, a lot of anger...but where is that now? What is the point in anything anymore? I hope everyone is doing alright…somehow they'll manage. I know they will. But where am I really?" Claude thought to himself. He walked for a little while, realising he wasn't directly in the tower anymore. He saw a light in the distance. He ran towards it. He heard it beckoning him, calling him, wanting him.

When he got nearer, he saw his father standing there, in the middle of the light.

"Dad?!" Claude shouted. His father smiled and nodded. Claude got a little nearer. From a distant place, he could hear strange music starting to play. He looked at his father. His father smiled at him.

Channeru sugu ni kaechau mitai ni ne

"Is…this real? Am I really seeing you? Is this a dream?" Claude asked.

Me no mai no riaru kara nigeteta

His father shook his head.

Jiyuu no imi mo kitto mada shirazu ni

"So…am I dead? Am I alive? What's going on here?" Claude asked, really confused.

Mienai ruuru ga shibaru yo

"Look, son. You have taken quite a blow, but thanks to your friend, you are alright. It is only your consciousness that has been affected," his father said.

Tashikametakute watashi dake ni dekiru ashita o

"I see. So I need to find my way out of here? By getting out of the darkness and into the light? Oh! I thought I heard one of my friends say something about will to live…is that it? I need to have a strong will to live? So…I must go there, into the light!" Claude shouted.

Tachi tomarenai kara kakureta taiyou yobi okoshite

"Claude! Don't go into the light! That is the way to heaven! It is too early for you to go there! Come back this way!" Ariette shouted, from behind Claude.

Go to the light

"Ariette!" Claude shouted. He also realised the strange music was beckoning him into the light.

Dare yori mo atsui jounetsu o mune ni sakasetai

"Don't listen to the music! Listen to your heart!" Ariette shouted.

Tooi yume sae mo terashidasu doko ni ite mo

"Claude. I am proud of you. Proud to have you as my son. After this, you will not be just Ronixis J. Kenni's son, but Claude C. Kenni, a hero of the universe. Make me proud son and remember, I will always be there for you," his father said. Claude stared at his father for a bit, as a cheerful smile played upon his father's face.

Go to the light

"You too, Ariette. I'm proud of you. Not a day would pass when I would get comments on how much you flourish each day. Look, you even changed your hair. Very pretty. I regret going to investigate Milocinia, but on the other hand, I do not. Otherwise a great horror might have befallen our universe. You must both work together, along with your comrades, to defeat these evil entities. Only you can do this," Ronixis said.

Kuyashisa mo zenbu kizameru tsuyosa o daite

Ariette looked like she was going to cry. Claude walked some more towards her.

ikutsu no yo ake mo koeteku

"It's alright Ariette. We'll get through this. Twins forever and for always. You know that, don't you?" Claude asked. Ariette nodded and buried her face in Claude's chest, holding him tightly.

"Watashi" to iu arika mitsukeru tame

"Sayonara, my children. And remember, I love you and I always have. Send my regards and apologies to your mother," Ronixis said. As he faded into the light, the music stopped and darkness enveloped them once again…

Author's note: The song in this is "Go to the Light" by Hattan Amika, from the anime Star Ocean Ex. : )