A Digimon Frontier Fanfic
By Sakura Martinez

Author's Notes

Earlier than expected, I hope.
I know that the last cliffhanger was probably a torture for some people and so, as eager as most of you are in reading the next chapter, I was also eager to upload this chapter.

I warn you though, this is a bit long. Just a bit.

I'll talk more in the post author's notes. For now, enjoy the second to the last chapter of the Rabbit on the Moon.

End of Author's Notes

The Rabbit on the Moon

"Ritornare"

Greatness lies, not in being strong, but in the right using of strength; and strength is not used rightly when it serves only to carry a man above his fellows for his own solitary glory. He is the greatest whose strength carries up the most hearts by the attraction of his own.

Izumi could feel it, even as her strength and the strength of Milanai began to fade. She could feel that her connection with Takuya had been severed, and she could only guess that the unthinkable has happened.

She clutched her chest, which seem to contort with pain - the pain of losing him. She had hoped that, even with her sacrifice, they would still be together. But now, Chaos has taken that hope away. He has taken him away from her, and there was nothing she could do about it. There was no pact, no deals, that she could make to bring him back.

She wanted to cry but no tears fell from her eyes. Either that or she couldn't cry any more.

She felt her breathing was labored, it was as if Chaos had stabbed her as well, which he probably did, unknowingly.

"This...it can't have ended like that..." Izumi found herself saying. "Eos should have protected Takuya...Eos should have ensured that Chaos' sword would not kill Takuya..."

The wind rustled the tree, whose leaves have withered and were falling from their branches. Milanai looked old. The World Tree looked nothing like the magnificent thing it was before. It was now a shadow of its former glory and its former self.

Lumina was lost. Hope was lost. Takuya was lost. And she could do nothing but curl herself at the base of the giant tree.

Shinya's flames were stronger than before, brighter than before, more deadly to the corrupt than before. He had made sure of that. He had made sure that every flame that burst forth from the palm of his hands would be strong enough to hurt Chaos. God or not, Chaos will pay for what he did to Takuya - that thought alone was pushing Shinya to his limits.

They have all rushed, despite the wounds and the broken and battered bodies that they have, towards Chaos. On occasions, he could see Takuya's lifeless form on Lumina's throne, drenched with blood.

He saw Takuya's pale face, the large gaping hole in his chest and shoulder blade. He saw that the sword was still in his hand and he knew that he would not be able to wield the sword. It would not accept him. It would not make a pact with him. He felt sure with that.

He fought back the anger, the tears, the need for revenge as hard as he could. That was Chaos' turf. He knew that the moment he allows himself to hate would be the moment that Chaos grows exponentially stronger.

Shinya saw as Kouji forced the power of out him, summoning the power of Light and infusing it on his weapon, which managed to cause a dent on Chaos' defense. But, it was not enough.

He saw as Kouichi used his speed to try and get to Takuya but, Chaos was faster, a lot faster. And before he could see it, Kouichi was thrown away from the top steps of the stairs leading to the throne. However, Kouichi did manage to attack Chaos amidst all of that, scarring the face of the god of darkness.

When Kouichi fell down and wounded Chaos on the face, Katsuharu and Teppei saw this as a time to spring their attack. Katsuharu tried to create illusions of Lumina coming back to life. At first, Chaos was shocked but he seem to regain his senses and blasted a wave of dark energy towards the illusion. It flickered and vanished leaving a disorriented Katsuharu.

Teppei then called forth an earthquake to try and unbalance the Dark One just enough for Junpei and Tomoki to attack. But, even while unbalanced, Chaos still managed to deflect the attacks and launch his own counterattack which ended with Junpei and Tomoki being buried under a rubble of fallen walls and crystals.

This battle was not going on their favor. They were weak, and he knew it. They all realize now that the only person who could have defeated Chaos was the person who wielded the only weapon that could hurt him.

Kouji felt so frustrated. He wanted to scream his head off. He didn't like Takuya ever since they met. He had taken the one thing he had wanted and had thought he deserved - Izumi's affection; he had taken the glory that could have been his, by being the one chosen by Eos; he had taken the trust he had managed to build with him and trampled it by betraying them and attacking them, even if he was forced to. Yet, even as he didn't like Takuya, he still respected him and now that he thought about it, he had even go so far as viewed Takuya not just an ally, but a friend.

"We blew our chance." He thought to himself. "What hope is there in this battle?"

"There's still hope." Muttered Kouichi, though he didn't sound reassuring. "Takuya and Izumi...they showed us that. Izumi managed to do what we all thought was useless - she managed to bring Takuya back and Takuya...he managed to come back, fight with us, defend us..."

"He has the sword." Kouji said, as if that would explain everything. "Eos should have been our ticket for victory but...even Takuya..."

"We still have Shinya." Kouichi retorted. He didn't want to lose hope. He wanted to believe, as hard as it may be, that they still stood a chance. However small that chance is.

Kouji sighed but he smiled. It was a weak smile compared to the dashing smiles he used to give. He was tired and he didn't look all that dashing at all.

"It's funny. I want to belive you, Kouichi." Kouji said. If there was one thing that all of this has told them, it was to be hopeful at trying times and to never give up. How could he have forgotten that?

"Then believe." Kouichi replied, with a tired smile of his own. "What's the worst that could happen?"

They then stared at each other, they have a feeling that even they could contribute something. They were still Chosen Ones after all.

With a nod, the twins faced Chaos, their weapons at the ready on one hand and a ball of energy on the other.

No matter what happens. They will go down fighting, and hopefully, bring Chaos down with them.

Who am I? Where am I? Those were the questions that had found itself into his mind. It nagged at him. But, no matter how hard he thinks, he could not remember. He could not remember a thing about himself.

What he was doing. Where he was. Why was he here, wherever here was. A list of questions continued to pour on his mind. All those questions that he could not answer, it could have been enough to drive anyone crazy but, somehow, for one reason on other, he felt calm.

Calm. Perfectly calm. It was the only feeling he could feel and grasp. Apart from that, he could feel nothing. He didn't even know if he was standing up or sitting down, floating or falling. But, he didn't mind. Nothing mattered to him now.

He was content. He didn't want to go anywhere, or even to move.

It was with that thought that she appeared before him. More dazzling than he could remember. Yes, for he can somehow, vaguely remember seeing her before. He didn't know who she was but, he felt like he know her and she know him.

The look that she gave him with those deep silver eyes of hers seem to bore down at his soul. It didn't look like she was angry, on the contrary, she looked as though he cared for him. Somehow, he knew she did.

"Is that it?" She asked. Her voice was gently but there was some edge in them. "Is that all that remains of what humans can do? Is that all the power that remained? Has the power that was shown by the heroes of old been diminished?"

He stared at her, confused. He wanted to ask what she meant and what she was talking about but he couldn't find his voice. It was like he has forgotten how to speak.

"Endlessia is being torn apart now. The balance of power has shifted." She went on but as she spoke her eyes never left his so it was impossible not to see that he was the one she was talking to. "The people are praying for a miracle. For some kind of hope. A hope to see the bright future that lay before them. They are calling for you."

He looked at her quizzically. Why would they be calling for him?

"You are the beacon of hope. The lighthouse that will the seafarers look up to for direction. You have taken on that mantle when you accepted the sword." She explained to him. Still, he couldn't understand what she was talking about. He was no beacon of hope, he didn't even know what he was or who he was. "You are responsible for keeping that hope alive and channeling it. That is the gift and the power given to you by Eos, Takuya Kanbara."

Takuya Kanbara? That sounded familiar.

It felt as though he knew that name in some distant past, some distant dream. Was that his name? He didn't know. He couldn't remember. But somehow, that name made him feel something - warmth, a feeling that says he belong. A feeling he thought was so alien here, wherever here was.

"You have made that choice, Takuya, and I have told you that I needed to make mine." She said. Somehow, he could remember those words. Those same words being said a long time ago. "And I have chosen to give back to humanity the hope that they need. But, I can't do that on my own. You have to remember Takuya, who you are and where your place in this wheel of destiny lies. Unless you can remember, you would not be able to return, much less help your friends and your people who are now suffering."

The beautiful woman then walked towards him, sending him warmth. She then poked his chest with her index finger and suddenly, so suddenly, pain shot from it. And then he remembered: a sword digging deep into his heart. He remember the pain, the darkness and...death. He had died! He was killed!

Suddenly, he felt scared. His body was trembling as the woman retreated back from where she had stood before. He didn't want to try to touch the point where the blade had sunk. He was afraid that if he did try to touch it, his hand may find the hole that punctured him.

"I...died." He found his voice and croaked. His mouth seemed so dry, like he had walked through the desert for many days. "Why? Why did he...kill me?"

"Because you were a threat. You were the only one who could defeat him." The woman replied. "Do you remember why you were fighting against him?"

He shook his head. Images of all that have occurred in his life flashed before him. They were so fast yet so detailed. In all of those images, one person kept on appearing in them. One person who seemed brighter and more detailed than the rest.

Suddenly he remembers. He remembers everything!

Lumina smiled as Takuya's empty eyes were suddenly filled with life.

"What's going on, Goddess Lumina?" He asked. His voice was still shaking. "I am dead, aren't I?"

Lumina nodded. "Chaos has managed to kill you. However, as I have said, the world is calling for you, the beacon of hope."

"You keep telling me that but I do not see myself as a beacon of hope."

"Eos. Do you know what the name means?" Lumina asked as she walked towards him. Helping him stand up and calm down.

He shook his head.

"It means dawn." She said, and then went on walking, motioning Takuya to follow her. They weren't really going anywhere, as far as Takuya could tell, for they were back in that white-filled world. "The time when light crawls up on the darkness of the night, ushering forth a new morning."

They stopped walking. Lumina then turned to face him and said, "It means 'Hope'."

They were way beyond their limits. They know that. They could feel it. Whatever attack they could muster, they knew it was going to be the last one. They wondered if it would be enough; if a miracle was awaiting them upon setting their final attack on Chaos. They wondered what will happen after that.

Many things. They wondered about many things. But, if there was one thing they didn't question, it was the strong feeling in their hearts. A feeling that says they did all they could do and that there was no regrets in this battle. A feeling that said they had done their fallen comrades proud. A feeling that said, no matter what lays ahead they were sure that there was a light at the end of the tunnel. How they came to know that, well, there was only one answer for that - they felt hope for the future, no matter how grim it may look from where they were standing.

Chaos didn't look as drained as they looked. He didn't even looked disturbed. He looked indifferent, like he didn't care what was going to happen. Maybe he didn't. He has, after all, attained that which he had sought for for so long.

"Well, this is it." Kouji found himself saying, gritting his teeth as the pain from his wounds reached his nerves.

"We did good, didn't we?" Tomoki asked. His hands felt numb with fatigue.

"We did more than good." Junpei replied, and Kouichi nodded at that.

"Who would have thought this was how it was going to end?" Shinya laughed. There wasn't much energy in his laughter.

"Who would have thought you'd be fighting along with us?" Teppei said, there was a hint of gratitude in his voice.

"I certainly didn't think I'd get to fight along side you all again." Katsuharu said, wiping the blood that stung his eyes.

"Too bad you didn't get to become king." Kouichi said. "You are your father's heir. The only heir to the throne."

Katsuharu laughed. "Well, it's not like there would be anything to rule over once this is through."

"Who knows." Kouji was the one who spoke. "Everyone ready?"

Everyone around him nodded. No words were said as Kouji nod back and together they began their final charge. Their final attack.

She could feel them still fighting. She could feel the desperation in each of the attacks that they set upon Chaos. She could feel their hope.

"They haven't given up yet..." She muttered, her face was streaked with dried tears. "They are still fighting...even without me or...Takuya."

The leaves on the tree rustled. There were only a couple of branches with brown leaves on them. Izumi knew that in a couple of hours, no, minutes the tree would be gone and she felt she would disappear as well.

The balance has been tipped. The power needed to bring forth a new seed, a new tree, was gone and without a new tree, what use is a guardian?

She could imagine what Takuya would have said if he was there and if he could see her.

"Come on, Izumi." He would say. "You can do better than that. We can do better than this."

He was right, of course. But, what can they do? For one, he was gone and she would soon follow in his footsteps.

"I won't allow you to go down in history as the worst guardian ever." He would have argued. He didn't like her decision of becoming a guardian, and who can blame him?

"If there is still something we can do, even if things may seem hopeless but there is still something we can help with, we should take it!" She gave a small smile. He was always the first one to jump into a dark tunnel, even if he doesn't know where it would lead him.

"You really would be angry at me for acting this way, wouldn't you, Takuya?" She asked as she looked up to the ominous sky - that vast expanse of red sky and black clouds. Lightning flashed at the distance and thunder boomed.

Fate had been trying to keep them apart. She had come to realize that as she remembered how many times they were forced to be separated - when he was captured and branded a traitor, when he had to pretend that he was dead and that he was a different person, when Chiaki had turned him to the dark side - those only to name a few. But even as they fought for the two of them, she remembered never giving up on the idea of them being together. Even now, when she can no longer feel him alive and breathing, there was a burning hope in her heart that they would be together in the end - when she herself has passed from the void.

If death was the only way they could be together then she was prepared to welcome it. In death, no one would be able to separate them. In death, fate can no longer keep them apart. But, she knew that she would not be able to face him there if she would allow herself defeat even before the others, who were fighting, allowed it themselves.

She stood up and touched the bark of the dying tree. There was still a small amount of power in her and in Milanai.

She pressed her forehead on the tree's bark and closed her eyes as she whispered, "Let us do this, Milanai...One final time."

Yes, if she was going to die along with the tree, she might as well go down fighting.

Takuya could not help himself. He was laughing. He felt so energized as he realized why it was that only Eos can defeat the god of darkness. It should have been clear as day and yet, he didn't realize it without Lumina telling him.

If hatred, pride and despair were Chaos' weapons, it only made sense that love, humility, and hope were theirs.

He realized what the true powers of Eos were.

"I had thought that, when you told me about Eos' true potential, that it would be something god-like. Something that can only come from the sword. I can't believe I was so wrong in thinking that." Said Takuya, he could still feel the slight pain in his chest but it wasn't as bearable as before. Somehow, he felt revitalize.

Lumina nodded. "The stronger the hearts of the Chosen Ones are, the more powerful the fire of the beacon of hope is. The sword echoes the power to the catalyst and together the sword and its wielder, by the power of Solaris, Luna and Vesper, are granted the power of Light and Rebirth."

"Hope resonates in the sword." Takuya said as he held Eos in his hands. "And it is stronger now than ever... I don't understand. Why is that? You would have thought that by losing me and the sword the others would have given up already and saw defeat was imminent..."

"That is what puzzles me with you humans as well." Lumina said, a small smile was on her lips. "But, I have seen the power that humanity possess. They may be creatures that can call upon destruction but, they are also creatures that can bring forth life - whether physical or from an idea that turns into an innovative invention. They may be creatures bent on hatred but they are also capable of love. And just when you think that you know everything there is to know about them - their flaws and their good points - they surprise you. Humans, whether they know it or not, has always clung unto hope, they just don't realize it. They fail to see that the whole world, their whole world, was built on the foundation of hope."

Takuya smiled. "A world built on the foundation of hope." He repeated.

"Are you ready?" Lumina asked, looking at him intently.

Takuya nodded. His face etched with the seriousness of the situation. "Are you sure about this, Goddess Lumina?"

Lumina looked at him and it was her turn to nod. "We all have a place in the world. I have been this world's protector and I have watched humans change, for better or worse. I have seen the power that humans have, whether they know it or not. I have taught them everything they know and they have taught me everything that has to be taught as well. There is nothing more I can give to the world than this. This is one of my final gifts for the world."

"But, what if I fail?" Takuya asked. Failing wasn't certainly an option but he still wondered 'what if?'

"You won't fail. You are not fighting this battle alone. The whole world, although they may feel despair, still cling to that little bit of hope. No matter how little that hope may be, hope is still hope." Lumina assured him, touching his face with her soft hands. "Yuuki had taught me to trust humans again. Kaien had taught me the value of self-sacrifice and atonement. And you, Takuya, had taught me the unconquerable power of love - that is the greatest lesson any human have taught me. And I am thankful for it."

Takuya could not help but blush. He didn't think gods would learn anything from humans. They were supposed to be omnipotent, omnipresent, and any other omni's out there.

But, even behind that blush, Takuya could not help but wonder if their love - his love for Izumi and her love for him - was really 'unconquerable' as Lumina had said. Somehow, under their current predicament, that didn't seem like the case.

"We have wasted enough time already, Takuya." Lumina said as she straightened. "You have to return now and set things right. Make Chaos see what humans are truly about and make him remember who he is. Who he really is."

Takuya nodded.

Lumina closed her eyes and she began to glow. Her whole body was glowing in a silver light, so bright but at the same time, the light wasn't blinding to Takuya. It was pleasant and warm and he knew why. It was because Lumina's light was filled with love. Love for the world she is willing to sacrifice herself for. Love for the humans despite their wavering commitment to all that is good. And, of course, love for her brother who despite all that has happened, she still genuinely believed he will come back to his senses.

The last thing Takuya remembered of that place were the words that Lumina gave him.

"Thank you."

What happened was such a blur that none of them knew what to think. Chaos was about to slash his sword, which had built a large amount of energy on it, to finish them all of with what they could guess would be a wave of energy from the sword. A very sharp wave of energy that could easily dismember any part of their body. And, before he could finish, someone had blocked the sword and dissipated the energy from it.

It took a while for it to register on their muddled heads and when it did they surprised. Very much surprised and confused. The same, Shinya noted, could be said of Chaos.

There with his sword locked on Chaos was Takuya. He was shining with the same light that Lumina had. He had no blemishes on his skin, no wounds, no scars - as far as Shinya could tell. He wasn't even wearing the armor he had been wearing before.

Gone were the black and dented armor. In it's place was something that he could only compare to what royalty would wear. Takuya looked like a prince: A silvery-white coat with golden linings and an intricate golden design and a pair of pants that go well with it. A red cape held in place by circular, golden emblems that have the rune of a moon, a full moon. His hair was back to normal - no longer spiky and short - he now looks like how he had looked when he first saw him, which made them look like twins. The sword, Eos, glowed with the same aura as Takuya, whose face was calm, as far as he could tell with Takuya's back on him.

"You!" Gasped Chaos as he pressed his sword harder down, Takuya still blocking him. "How can this be possible! I have killed you!"

"Well then, I guess you didn't kill me enough." Takuya retorted. His voice was calm. "Although, I should thank you for putting me through that. If you hadn't, I wouldn't have met the goddess again and wouldn't have learned what I needed to learn."

At the mention of the goddess, Chaos immediately understood what she did. Takuya felt the anger welling up inside his adversary. Summoning all the strength he could muster, and all the strength Eos can give him, he pushed Chaos back with his sword.

Chaos stumbled back. This time, he didn't seem all too surprised.

"So, you have learned Eos' true name." Chaos said, looking at Takuya, sizing him up. "And Lumina has brought you back. Such a foolish thing to do, Lumina..."

"It isn't foolish at all, Chaos." Takuya told him as Takuya took a step forward. "It is an act of love from the goddess who believed in the beauty of the world and those that live in it. It is an act of love from the goddess who believed that she can still save her brother. She didn't send me back to kill you, Chaos but, to release you from the darkness in your heart."

"Release me?" Belowed Chaos, he seem to find that amusing. "I am darkness and the darkness is me. To release the darkness, as you say, is to kill me."

"You aren't just the god of darkness, Chaos!" Takuya took another step forward, sword still in hand. "You were born from Solaris, the Celestial of the Sun and though you may be the god of death and darkness, you are also the god of rebirth! You heart was once pure, as pure as Lumina's, but your anger twisted it and yourself!"

"Was that what my sister told you?" Chaos asked, he was seething.

"That's not all she told me." Takuya replied. He was just a couple of steps away from Chaos now. "She told me the reason why you came to hate humans."

Chaos didn't wait to hear another word from him as he quickly went for the offensive. He hacked and slashed while Takuya defended and, with every attack that hit his blade, Takuya could feel the anger and the betrayal that Chaos felt.

Chaos didn't want anyone to know who he was and of his past. That was the only thing he and Lumina shared and now...Now, Takuya knew as well...And Chaos didn't like it. Not one bit.

Izumi almost fell back with surprise when she felt Takuya's life force so strong as if he was reborn. She could not believe it and at first thought it was some kind of trick - a trick by the desperation to be with him, the desire to see him again. But, she soon learned that it was no trick. It wasn't a dream either. Takuya was alive. So very much alive.

She was so happy that she was crying with relief, it was as if the thorn in her heart has been plucked away and the pain she felt was healed.

For a few moments, she felt happy and elated. It was as if the tree wasn't dying and disappearing. It was as if she, herself, felt that she was alive. But, that wasn't really the case.

The tree had withered, all of its leaves had fallen, leaving only the bare trunk. With only the trunk left, the tree has began to crumble and disappear. The barriers protecting the island had also begun to disappear. Milanai's power and its protection had been depleted.

And so was Izumi's power. And, like Milanai, she too was disappearing.

"I guess," Izumi says in a whisper as she slumped back on the ground, her back leaning on what remains of the tree, her figure flickering. "in the end, we still have to wait to meet each other again...Takuya."

They were back on the throne. Neither of them felt tired or weak after such a display of swordsmanship and power. They were, as it seems for the first time, on equal footing.

The ground rumbled. Their power was far too great for the castle, or what remained of it, to hold. Pillars crashed and crystal windows cracked. Debris fell and soot and grime and muck began to appear. The tremor from Lunesca told them that the the whole place was at the brink and Takuya knew that unless the battle ends now and unless his friends go back to Endlessia, they will all end up dead.

"Go back!" Takuya shouted, his voice was louder than the sound of destruction. It was as if his voice was being amplified. "Shinya, Kouji, Kouichi, Teppei, Junpei, Tomoki, Katsuharu... Go back to Endlessia now!"

"What?" Shinya said, his voice was loud and clear as well. It was either that or Takuya's hearing was well beyond normal. "Do you expect us to leave you here fighting against him?"

"There's no choice..." Takuya shouted back as he ducked another one of Chaos' sword swipes and launched his own, which was caught in Chaos' sword. "Lunesca...the whole of Lunesca... is going to be destroyed. You all have to go back to Endlessia."

"And what about you?" Kouji asked. No matter what, Takuya was still an ally. He had proved that much.

Takuya shook his head. "I...have to finish this and see this through to the end."

"And you think we don't? We're all in this together, Takuya!" Tomoki shouted back. He didn't want to leave a comrade behind.

"You don't understand. You guys can't stay here much longer. The barriers in this place are all but gone. You will die if you stay here so just go back!" Takuya said. Eos and Chaos' sword was still locked in battle, both vying for dominance. "This is something...Eos has tasked me with. It's not a matter of choice...It's a matter of responsibility. My responsibility!"

"But-!" Shinya wanted to argue but, somehow, he knew what Takuya meant.

"Please..." Takuya sounded almost begging. "just...go."

No matter how much they wanted to stay and help out. No matter how much they wanted to see things through 'til the end. They knew there was nothing they could do here. They knew that Takuya wanted to save them, to help them.

With a heavy heart, they turned around and began to run. They ran as fast as their legs could carry them. They ran through the crumbling castle and they run without looking back until they got to the Gates of Gaia, activated it, and jumped through the portal.

"Don't die, Takuya." Was all Shinya could say before he disappeared into the portal, leaving his brother and the crumbling castle behind.

"That was so noble of you, Takuya." Chaos said, their swords were still locked in battle. "To save the lives of those who you hold dear...except for the life of the one who you really love: Izumi."

Takuya was caught off guard with that statement that Chaos managed to push him back and that he almost fell to the ground, if it were not for Eos who seem to be bent on keeping him on his foot.

"Were you so keen in battle that you did not even feel her being taken by the void?" Chaos asked. He had found Takuya's witness and he was willing to exploit it in order to win.

"What are you talking about?" His voice was shaking as he asked.

"I'm sure with Eos in your hands you can feel all of Endlessia. You can feel their hopes and their despairs as well as their desires. You can feel their lives flowing through you." Chaos smirked, he wanted to see his reaction when Takuya learns of what has happened. "Surely you have felt Izumi drifting far away. Farther away from you than ever."

Takuya closed his eyes and concentrated. Sure enough, he could feel what Chaos was talking about. And sure enough, he could no longer feel Izumi.

"She used up all of Milanai's powers and her own trying to defend your friends and the world. She is, as much of a protector as my sister." Chaos went on. "Milanai has died and without a new tree to protect, what do you suppose happens to a guardian without a purpose?"

Takuya didn't say anything. He didn't want to believe it. How can this happen just as he was brought back to life?

"They end up in the void, Takuya." Laughed Chaos. "They DIE."

"NO!" Shouted Takuya as he jumped forward and began hacking, slashing and thrusting furiously at Chaos. Even when he managed to wound and scratch the god of darkness, Chaos continued laughing. "No! No! NO!"

"Yes!" Laughed Chaos as he was being beaten by Takuya. Golden blood flowing from his side, his shoulder, his arm, his neck, his brow and his thigh. "Be angry, Takuya. Be angry with the world! Be angry with me! Kill me out of anger, hatred! Out of revenge!"

And Takuya was about to do that when he heard Lumina's voice: "Save my brother, please."
It was faint but it felt so powerful that he was brought back to his senses.

It was enough for Takuya to stop himself before he could plunge the sword into Chaos' heart and kill him out of anger.

"What are you waiting for?" Chaos asked. He didn't care any more if he died. "Kill me."

"I won't." Takuya answered as he withdrew Eos and stepped back. "I won't kill out of hatred. I won't kill for revenge."

"Then you're going to kill me with the hope of saving that pathetic planet and its denizens?" Chaos spat. "You're a fool!"

And Chaos lurched at him, his dark sword in hand. Takuya was surprised and he allowed his reflexes to take over him as he ducked and swiped Chaos' sword out of his hand and thrust the sword in Chaos' heart, all in a span of a second.

Chaos fell on his back with a loud thud. Golden blood flowing from the wound in his chest.

Takuya was surprised. He had not expected his attack to connect. What may have surprised Takuya even more was the expression Chaos has on his face.

He was smiling, a soft smile. His eyes were no longer as evil-looking as before. The golden color of his eyes was vibrant, despite the fact that he was losing blood, and losing it quickly.

"You...did good...Takuya Kanbara." Chaos said as he looked at him. He was still smiling. "You..are noble...indeed."

Takuya walked towards where the god lay, dying. "I did not want it to end like this..."

"Like what?" Coughed Chaos, blood appeared on the edge of his mouth. "You managed to defeat me without resorting to hate and revenge...you defended yourself...and this is the result. You...have won."

"But-!" Somehow, Takuya did not feel too victorious. Somehow, he felt pity and he felt stricken with grief over the god's demise.

"I did not want...to kill Lumina. I did not want her...to die." Chaos said. "I wanted...the throne because...I was jealous. Because I want her to look at me the same way...she looks at the world and your kind...I wanted revenge on the humans for what they did and I lost myself in the process..."

Takuya kept quiet.

"I do not regret...however...the choice that led to this moment..." Chaos went on. His golden eyes were slowly losing the light in them. "I am...glad. I finally understood what humans are all about because of you, Takuya. I had looked at humans as beings who fear...fear those who are different than they are...beings who despise those who are better than them...I had closed my eyes and my heart on what they could become...on what they really are."

"I loved my sister so much...so much that I didn't want anyone else to get her attention...even if it means reverting the world into the great nothingness that it once was." Chaos went on and he sighed. "Finally, I can be with her again."

Chaos then looks over at Takuya once again and said, "You, who stands at the path that I cannot follow...I wanted my own way of things...my own world...I do not regret my choice...I would have...would have made the same choice all over again...Farewell...and Thank You..."

And Chaos was no more. His body dissolved in the same kind of light as Lumina's. Takuya understood, when Chaos learned that Lumina had chosen to sacrifice herself and revive him, Chaos had lost all the reason to fight. All the while, Chaos' reason for doing the things he did was her.

Takuya gripped the sword in his hand. Eos throbbed with light.

"I hope you find happiness again, Chaos." Takuya muttered as he looked one last time at the place where Chaos had laid.

Takuya then looked around, the whole place was crumbling down but he didn't seem fazed by it. He had expected as much.

Eos glowed, and he realized what it was he needed to do. He was the only one who can hold the place together. The only one who can make sure that Lunesca isn't destroyed and who can bring everything to right. He was the only one who can use Eos to fix those that has been destroyed both here in Lunesca and over at Endlessia. What Eos was asking as compensation for lending his power was this: that Takuya must stay in Lunesca and control the flow of energy in order to remake the world.

"How long?" Takuya asked, resigned to his fate.

Eos glowed once again and answered his question.

Takuya sighed. "Can I at least talk to the others while I do this?"

Another glow and Takuya nodded and whispered a word of thanks before standing between the two thrones, Eos in front of him. He raised the sword up and struck the ground with it. A burst of light flowed from him, creating a pillar of light which grew and grew as time passed.

He caught a glimpse of Izumi, lying on the ground surrounded by the others who had made it safely back to Endlessia and were waiting for him. She was unconscious but he was glad, she was safe and alive - something he had realized was attributed to the other gift Lumina had mentioned him before.

Shinya seemed to notice him before the others did, and he pointed towards him and said, "Takuya? Is that you?"

Takuya nodded. Eos had allowed him this.

"What are you doing? Where are you?" Shinya asked, everyone's attention was on him now.

"In Lunesca." Takuya replied. "I have to stay here...for a while. I don't know how long but, as long as it takes to stabilize the flow of energy and to ensure that Endlessia isn't destroyed by the sudden influx of power. It's...the payment I have been asked to give."

"Asked by whom?" Kouji didn't seem like he liked the idea.

"Eos." Takuya replied. Then he looked over at Izumi. He felt sad that he didn't get to talk with her. "I will be back...Please...tell her that..."

Kouji, Kouichi and Shinya all nodded. They promised to convey that message to her when she wakes. Takuya smiled at them one final time and said, "Tell her that...I love her." before he disappeared before their eyes. But, before he did, he saw a tear escape Izumi.

She had heard him. She had heard his words. And that was enough...for now.

To be continued...

Post Author's Notes

Ritornare. If you guys are not familiar with Italian, it means: "To return", "To come" or "To go back". It's a fitting title for this chapter, don't you think.

And also, with this chapter done, we only have another chapter left in the story. I'm so excited about that.

Now, I wonder what you all think about this chapter. What with Takuya being revived, Izumi dying, Lumina bringing Izumi back as a gift to Takuya and Takuya ending up as a catalyst and staying behind in Lunesca.

I hope this didn't cause too much confusion while you guys were reading.

Anyways, the next chapter would be out by Friday this week, maybe even earlier than Friday, if I can.

Having said that, it's time for me to rest for a while before I go ahead and write the final chapter of the story. This is Sakura Martinez saying "PEACE" and signing out. Be sure to check my blog to see the cover of the final Rabbit of the Moon arc, if you haven't seen it on DeviantArt yet.

End of Post Author's Notes