Chapter 27

Disclaimer- I own nothing!

A/N- This is it folks, the last chapter. It's been a fun ride you guys and I'm going to miss it. I'll write more in this fandom as soon as I finish my other stories, or at least a few of them

Alan woke up to see Eric comfortable and passed out beside him. He was happy he had slept well it looked like, he wanted to bust him for not being on guard but he didn't want to bother him. Let him enjoy the state he was in, they may never get another chance to do so. Walking into the private bathroom he was surprised yet happy to see that the water worked so he could wash his face a little. He planned to enjoy this peace and quiet while he could as well. He would miss this but so long as he had Eric it would be fine, they would be alright.
"Ugh my head."
Hearing Eric in the other room groaning he went to see what was wrong.
"Is your neck sore too? I mean damn, I can't move it."
"You are so spoiled. We'll have to go soon but come here." Walking to him he stood behind and started rubbing his shoulders and neck.
"When did you learn this?"
"…hmmmm…I don't know it just seemed like the right thing to do for you. Does it feel good?"
"It does, thanks."
"No problem."
"We should get going, before the sun gets too high, before we feel safe. This is the last time I'll ask. Are you sure you want to runaway with me? I know you had dreams and desires for the future at the society."
Stopping Eric's massage he leaned over to look him in the eyes.
"Eric stop asking. I may have had those desires when I was starting out but since meeting you, since being with you all I want is to stay by your side. You are my future and the only one I need. No matter what that entails. I don't care if we spend forever running as long as I'm running with you."
"…Alan." He really met and fell in love with the greatest person in the world. "Come on, let's go."

Erasing any trace that they were there they took to the streets knowing it was easier to hide in the shadows. Eric grabbed Alan's hand to make sure he didn't lose him. They had a long way to go before they left England for France for a boat towards America. That seemed like the best place to go into hiding. The further they got from England the better. They wouldn't be safe completely there but they could probably have a better life. As soon as the London Dispatch realized they were no longer in the city they would put a kill on sight order out to the other dispatches around the world. That's why he wanted to make sure Alan was a hundred percent about this.

Alan knew he was slowing down and was having trouble breathing. Trying to grab Eric's attention he realized he couldn't hear him. Forcing more air than his body desired to muster he called his name.
"E…Eric…"
Hearing Alan he saw him struggling to keep up.
"Alan, are you okay?" How stupid could he be? They had been going for awhile now. He was probably pushing his body more then he should. Going to him they stopped.
"I…I'm fine…I…just need to…catch…my breath…can…we stop…for a second?"
"Of course." In the middle if the woods he helped him under a tree so they could rest in shade.
"Is it an attack?" Moving to him he watching him carefully, Alan looked exhausted while he wasn't even winded.
"No…I guess…I'm not as strong…as I used to be…"
"Don't say that, you've been sick. I'm going to find you something to drink and maybe some lunch for us. You stay here and take it easy."
"Don't do anything stupid."
With that he watched Eric give his famous trademark salute and smile and run off. He didn't like this idea much but Eric was Eric and would do his own thing regardless of what he thought. Keeping his senses and guard up he closed his eyes and gained a mental picture of what was all around him. He found this to be calming as well as a great way to catch his breath. He wouldn't be completely calm until Eric was back but he would enjoy this and keep tabs on where he was.

"You cannot say I'm not the greatest ever, that I don't know how to take care of you." Opening his eyes he saw Eric holding fresh fruit and live fish.
"Holy! What did you do jump in the river or something?" Standing he went to help him out by taking some of the fruit from his hands.
"I'm hungry and found a river only a little way from here. Drink from it before he head off again. And I have a sword point and plenty of sticks. As you'll see there is not a drop of water on me."
"Okay." Grabbing an apple he bit into it while he got firewood so they could cook the fish. Good to know they wouldn't have to do what humans called "roughing it."
"How are you doing?"
"I'm good. I told you I was just out of breath. I'm sorry I'm slowing us down."
"Stop it. You're not doing anything. We have been on the move for hours. We needed a break."
"How much further to the coast?"
"Another day at least. We could get there sooner if we took main roads but the woods are safer."
"I understand, just curious." Gathering what they needed they got a fire started and put the fish over it. They ate in silence knowing the fire was already enough to blow their cover. Erasing their camp they went to the river to wash up. Alan inhaled its water not realizing how thirsty he was. Giving Eric the okay that they could go once he felt ready to explode if he drank anymore he felt Eric take his hand and held on to it tighter. He was making sure he didn't let go.

Seeing the moon high Eric looked for a place they could rest for the night. There would be a lot of Death Gods out tonight, probably William, Ronald, and Grell looking for them at the very least and those that worked the night collections. Not seeing a cave or anything close to that they stopped under heavy tree coverage.
"We'll stop here for the night, rest for a bit."
"Who do you want to guard first? I can so you can sleep for awhile."
"No go ahead I'm still pumped so I'll go first."
"How about we both lay down and the first one asleep can sleep while the other guards?"
"Sure." Wanting Alan to rest he agreed and fell into the dirt bringing Alan with him. Resting his head on Eric's chest they both looked up at the night sky. This was the first time they had seen so many stars. They could in London but they were always working or it never dawned on them to lay together and watch the sky. It was beautiful and they couldn't believe they had waited so long to do this. No wonder Alan dreamed of them, how could you not.
"Asleep yet?"
"No. And I won't fall asleep first."
"Stubborn as always."
"Do you think we'll always be scared to sleep? That if we both sleep together we'll be found?"
"No, I figure we'll have to be on guard for a few months maybe but after that we should be alright."
"You know what I wished I could have done before we left? Talk to Ronald, let him understand that you're really a good person, that us being friends, that you both being so close was because you are a good person."
"I'm sure he knows. I would bet William gave him the order to attack me. But Al, I killed a lot of people you have to understand that. I'm not that great a person."
"But, you did it to try and save me. You tried to save my life. An evil person would kill only to help themselves. And…you called me Al." Pulling away he used his hands to sit up a little and look into his eyes better.
"Huh?"
"Just now, you called me Al. You've never done that before."
"Oh, sorry, I must not be thinking properly from this view. But, there is something you should know. Ron, Will, they were right to hunt me down." Sitting up he put a hand up to stop Alan from interjecting his thoughts. "I started to save your life sure that much is true but only because I…I can't live without you. Once you entered my life I knew I could never be without you. You may have accepted the fate the thorns gave you but I couldn't. I killed all those women because I was selfish, because I always need you right here."
"Eric. You're wrong."
He was surprised by that, he figured Alan was disagree or say something but not something so blunt.
"You are not evil. You love me, that's what your actions show. Had things been reversed and I did that for you then would you say I was evil?"
"Never."
With a smile Alan moved in for a kiss proving his point. He could feel evil a mile away and he knew all he ever felt from Eric was love. Grabbing Alan's waist he gently pulled him closer. With their feelings for each other flowing through them they proceeded to make love under the starlight.

With the first rays of light hitting their bodies they woke up still wrapped in each other. Quickly throwing on their clothes they went back on their journey to the border of England. They could probably cross by noon if they moved fast enough, meaning they could be on a boat for America by tonight. They wouldn't be safer on one and actually they could be in more danger there but it was their only way to America. They couldn't swim there like they could to France. Eric tried to go under his average speed for Alan's sake but being so close he could tell he wanted to go faster as well. Seeing he was keeping up well and looked to not even have broken a sweat they increased their speed.
"We're close, just a little further, think you can make it?"
"Yea, go on ahead I'm right behind you."
"No, we cross together."
"Eric. Go, your faster, go make sure we can get a boat."
Seeing a strange look on Alan's face he wondered if he felt something. Had they been followed so far out?
"Can you take them?"
"Long enough for you to make sure we can get out of here."
"Only stop running if they attack you. Once out of England they can't touch us."
"Right. Now go."
Seeing Eric go faster he slowed down a little. He didn't want to slow him down because he wasn't feeling so great. His chest was starting to become inflamed. It wouldn't be long now until the attack came, he hoped if Eric could secure them passage to America he wouldn't slow them down too much. He got lucky that Eric believed they were being followed.

Eric ran on ahead checking behind him every few seconds trying to make sure he could keep an eye on Alan. He could get a boat to cross to France or they could swim. It wouldn't be easy but they could do it, Alan on his back or not, wait a second, Alan! Taking a look back his ear picked up Alan and his short agonized gasps for breath. Seeing his hand go for his chest and him fall to his knees he knew what was going on.
"Alan!" Turning he ran back to him as fast as he could to help him. "Are you okay?" Crouching beside him he made sure Alan was still with him, that this wouldn't be as bad as the one he faced earlier in the week.
"I am fine. Just let me rest for a bit." He didn't want to, they were so close but his body couldn't move. His heart, it felt like someone was holding it, squeezing it. Not now, this couldn't be the end for him. As the hand squeezed tighter he leaned forward trying to get the pain to stop. Eric grabbed Alan's shoulders tighter struggling to watch this. He was so close to saving his life, from stopping his pain. Hoping to move him out of the open he helped him to his feet and brought him under the covers of some trees.
"Eric. You will definitely….continue murdering." Keeping a hand on Alan he heard Sebastian's voice, so he had been following them. He must have been waiting for the right moment, only a demon would use their enemies' weakness as the perfect time to attack. Watching Alan in so much pain, seeing him dying in front of his very eyes he knew Sebastian was right. He couldn't stop killing yet, not while Alan was still sick, not with him writhing in pain.
"A pitiable Death God repeating his lies and sins."
Hearing Sebastian taunting him he stood and stepped away from Alan. He could feel a presence behind him, one he searched for for months.
"Just to save one single soul." Lifting his blade from the ground he took a few steps away from Alan. He didn't want to leave him like this but he had to. He was going to break his promise; he tried to tell him he couldn't be trusted. He was known to go back on his word, it was who he was. It was something he could not change. With gritted teeth he turned to the souls being dangled in front of him. He would never stoop so low but he was running out of time. If he didn't do this now then Alan would die, he could not let that happen. Alan had to live on, he had live on!
"An approaching demon following orders just to devour one single soul." Facing the souls in front of him he tried to get the demons voice out of his head. Hesitating at first he stepped back unsure about them. Seeing them readying to attack he gained back his senses and lunged for them.
"Even if you struggle with all your power, there is no exit in this labyrinth." Cutting down soul after soul he was surprised there was still more. They kept coming one after another; them along with the demon speaking about him he tried to stay focused on the task at hand, on getting these souls for Alan. He had to tune out the demon and him speaking of a prophecy all Death Gods knew and feared from when they were children. A prophecy he was fulfilling, there was a reason this cure was a legend. A reason he now saw but couldn't stop, he had to see this through to the very end.
"In a thousand nights, a thousand souls radiate a light piercing through the dark, revealing the whereabouts of the Death God who relinquished his divine name."
He knew now that he never had a chance to escape, everyone knew where he would be right from the start. He had been such a fool to try, and an even bigger one for dragging Alan with him.

Falling he needed to stop, there were so many souls and his own was already struggling with all that was happening around him. It was trying to take in these new one which only weighed it down, weighed him down.
"I am sorry, Alan…I just can't give up yet…I just can't give you and your life up!"
In his mind he believed that if he begged for his forgiveness maybe he would understand, maybe his own soul would be able to finish the job he had set out to do. He had to, he had come this far, he had done enough damage he had at least complete the task.
"But have you realized, Eric? After so much killing the scent of death around you grew thicker and thicker. However, Alan never gave his consent, so all you have done until now holds no meaning!"
How, how did he know so much about what he was doing?
"In a thousand nights, a thousand souls. The Death God who fell into hell suffers, whose body is burned and scorched in the flames of sin." That was right, that was his fate from the very beginning, but, he believed that would happen from the sins he committed even before this. It was a fate he had accepted long ago. Seeing souls coming towards him Eric quickly go to his feet and prepared to go for them. No matter what he would see this through to the very end. Feeling them surround him he tried not to feel overcome but their presence. He was exhausted though and he wasn't sure how much more of this he could take of this.
"Alan will probably never forgive me…But even so...! This is my way to show my friendship."
"Friendship? Something like that is futile. The only thing trustworthy is…a contract!"
Watching Sebastian cease the coming souls he stood. This ended now he could feel it. Sebastian would die here and he would finish the collection of a thousand souls right after. He would succeed, no matter what anyone said.

"Sebastian Michaelis!"
"It seems that you have already collected a great quantity of souls. At the massacre opera at the Crystal Palace only, you have collected more than seven hundred souls. Very soon, you will be able to obtain one thousand souls."
"Yes, thanks to you that is. I only need one more." Stepping closer to the demon he couldn't figure out why he was wasting time.
"Well, that is wonderful. That, by believing in fairy tales, your great effort in collecting souls will not go to waste. Well then, Eric. If you die here, then the last soul will be obtained."
Seeing Sebastian coming forward Eric brought his blade up to halt his attack from hitting. This had to end here, the demon would die and then he could freely collect his last soul. With Alan out of it trying to deal with the thorns he could get it and be saved. He could do it, he had to, he was too close, had come too far to lose it now. Eric stumbled back as he was kicked in the face by Sebastian, reminding himself to focus he got his head back in the game. He couldn't afford to
become distracted now. Readying himself he went on the offensive for round two.

As he felt Sebastian's knives cut across his stomach he knew he had to end this soon. He was exhausted from his bout with the souls and with fighting him. Rolling away he stood feeling a knife imbed itself in his shoulder. Pulling it out he laughed at the situation, at this predicament. He couldn't stop the chuckle that left his lips though the thought itself wasn't funny.
"I appreciate your thoughtfulness but I am afraid that it won't do."
"How so?"
"Because my soul is already sordid like hell!" As much as he wanted to be, he could never be Alan's last soul. Not after all the sins he committed throughout his life. With that thought he knew he couldn't die here. He had to live so he could collect the final soul. His death now would be meaningless. Getting his second wind he went after Sebastian determined to win. There was no other option for him, not even death.

Alan could feel the thorns letting up ever so slightly. It seemed he still had some time left here. Hearing Eric grunting, breathing heavy, he looked around where he was to see where it was coming from. Seeing him in a fight against Sebastian he panicked, they had been found. It may not have been the society but it was just as bad in his book. Watching him not doing so well, seeing Sebastian landing so many blows he tried to help only to feel his body force him to stay put. Eric needed his help though and what was he talking about, his soul being as filthy as hell? He wasn't, no, he wouldn't still be fighting for him would he?
"Eric!" He watched as Sebastian's knives went through his stomach, this had to stop. Eric had to stop fighting for him before he was killed. They both shouldn't die. Seeing Eric fall to his knees he knew he needed to get up and save him. He could be the only one die, Eric had to live on!
"You…have broken our promise? Have you continued sinning for my sake again!" He promised, he thought he meant something to him, he thought he would keep his promise if made to him directly.
"I only need one more…just one more! Just one more soul and I could save Alan!"
"No!" Seeing Sebastian going in for the kill and planning to use Eric's own weapon to do it he mustered his strength to stop him. He wouldn't let Eric die. Running into Sebastian he knocked him back and got him to drop the weapon before collapsing. His body hurt all over. His heart was being tightened even further by the thorns.
"Alan…" Eric watched him try to save him, watched him push himself even harder as the thorns ravished his body.
"Why are you still saying things like that?" Tears started to fall from his eyes. Why couldn't Eric understand that he didn't want to be saved this way, all he wanted was to be with him until he died. That he would watch over him from heaven, forever and always. Even if Eric loved again he would always love him.
"Stop it already!" He was begging for this to stop. He didn't have long and he didn't want to spend what was left watching Eric kill or be killed.

Eric saw something over Alan's shoulder. A ray of hope had appeared it seemed, the thing he needed for all this stop had arrived.
"But there is a soul right here…"Standing he stumbled for his weapon. He wasn't going to let this opportunity pass him by. Alan watched him as he stopped his tears. What was Eric talking about, what was he going to do?
"Ciel Phantonhive, your soul is…"
Alan realized what Eric's next move was. He couldn't kill him, he was just a boy, he had a life to live. He couldn't let Eric kill anymore, no matter how close he was to saving him. Knowing he was faster and closer he pushed himself up to his feet to get Ciel out of Eric's way. Pushing him out of the way he felt Eric's blade cut across his back, felt it cut his lungs, his heart. His body went limp and started too crumpled to the floor. Eric felt satisfaction knowing he had succeeded until his eyes saw it was Alan who had been cut. His body froze seeing what he did, seeing who his blade had cut. No, no, no, what had he done! Catching Alan as he fell he brought him to the ground. He had to hold on. He couldn't' die, not like this, not by his hand.
"Alan…Alan?...Alan!"
No he couldn't…he couldn't die, he couldn't.

Alan looked to see Eric's face in front of him; he believed he could feel his hands holding him. Smiling he tried to let him know he was happy, he didn't blame him for this and that he was glad Eric allowed him to die in his arms. Just as he promised him back home. He knew the man he loved was still there all this time, that he would remember the promise they had made to each other. As his life began to fade, as Eric's face became harder to see he wanted him to let him know that he would be alright, that they both would. Before he could though he felt his eyes become heavy and records begin to leave his body.

Eric watched Alan's face, see the light begin to fade from his eyes. His was…no…he didn't want to believe it. He felt his records surround them. One danced in front of him. It must be Alan's most cherished memory. As it began to play he felt his heart shatter. How could he have been so stupid all this time? They stood together on their way back to town after an assignment. It was their first assignment together.
"Wow, that's a scary face you're pulling, Alan."
"Yeah…the dead this time was still very young, he would have been able to fight for his dreams. 'If you go to that place, you will die in an accident.' If only I had told him, so than he…"
They stopped as Eric could hear the emotion building in Alan's voice. Turning to him he saw he turned away so they weren't facing each other.
"Are you crying? Alan!"
Trying not to make eye contact with Eric he fixed his hair and turned away a little more. He didn't want Eric to get upset with him for crying again, he was just starting to possibly like him. His eyes went wide as something caught his attention.
"Flowers? Those are Ericas."
Following Alan's eye line he noticed the flowers off to the side.
"Erica? That's what they are called?"
"Yes. In the language of flowers, it means solitude."
"Solitude?"
"People are always in solitude, from birth till the moment of death…I understand very well, no one should interfere with someone's death."
"You as a death god should not be so sentimental."
"Eh?" Turning he noticed Eric besides him staring at the flowers with him.
"What solitude? Aren't these flowers blooming splendidly? It might be that one is alone when born and when dying, but like these Ericas, there will always be other flowers blooming beside them, for all eternity."
Alan opened his mouth to say something only to be stopped as it was caught in his throat.
"Mister. Eric…you really like to act cool, huh?"
"You might want to try the same someday." Both started laughing as a breeze ran through them.
"The petals are soaring! It's almost like snow."
"Yes, indeed."

As the memory began to fade away Eric was brought back to the reality of Alan died in his arms. Dead by his own sword, his own hands. Seeing the small smile Alan had given him before his life ended pushed him to the edge.
"Alan!" What had he done? How could he have not stopped the attack from hitting him? Tears flooded to and down his eyes as he tried to get him back. Dropping his head he cried for a moment on Alan's chest. Bringing his eyes up he looked at the still face of his love. The eyes that no longer shinned with a beautiful soul inside of it .
"If you die…then for what…then for what have I dirtied my hands with the murders of one thousand innocent people?" Words came from his mouth but not the ones he wanted. His mind kept repeating, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I am sorry. I love you, I love you, I love you, I didn't want to, I could never, I'm sorry." Dropping his head again he only lifted it after hearing clapping from behind.
"Congratulations. You have finally obtained one thousand souls. No…obtained one thousand meaningless souls."
Turning towards Sebastian he watched him though he refused to leave Alan's side. He didn't want to hear that creature's voice. If he had not interfered they would have escaped the country, Alan, he would not have tried to stop the fight, he would still be here.
"You demon." Going back to Alan he tried to handle the grief that poured through him. His everything was dead. Dead by his hands, how could he have been so blind to let that happen?
"The souls you have collected, might have been able to save Alan from the Thorns of Death, but, it won't revive him. All you have done until now is void of any meaning; it is all but a bunch of worthless souls."
Closing Alan's eyes so they could let him start his eternal rest he said good-bye to the man he loved. His life was now over too but he doubted he would ever see him again. Alan would go to heaven without a doubt while he would go into the deepest pits of hell for all of his sins. And he deserved to after all he did, after murdering his love.
"Just like Alan said, there is no need to grieve, because the fate of the two of you is the same; Death.
"Kill me, demon." Stepping towards him he knew there was nothing to live for anymore. He lost everything the second Alan's life ended. "Please…I beg you to kill me." He didn't care he was going so low as to beg to a demon, he just didn't care to live any longer.
"To go through all the trouble to grant a death-wish. Unfortunately, this kind of philanthropy is not akin to my nature. Young Master how should I proceed?"
"There is no need to ask, kill him."
"Yes, my Lord."

As he waited for Sebastian to come after him he noticed he went for Alan's Death Scythe. What was the demon planning?
"Alan's Death Scythe?" Was he going to kill him with his scythe? It did seem only fair that he die the same way Alan had.
"Is there a problem?"
"No."
"To not let your filthy blood dirt Alan's Death Scythe or to end your life with Alan's Death Scythe?"
"I don't know." His mind was already gone, his body just wanted to die already.
"Oh? You don't know?"
"I really don't know anymore. Everything of everything up till now has been pointless…" Tears started to fall again as he thought of Alan's death.
"Is that so? Then."
Feeling Alan's scythe slice across his back he noticed his body felt instantly lighter as he stumbled and his life began to end. Falling he noticed his head fell on Alan's lap.
*Alan, I love you.*

Alan sat in complete darkness waiting for his time to come to be judged. He hoped Eric was alright, that he understood that he didn't blame him for what happened. He was actually grateful he died by his hand and not the thorns. It was less painful and much quicker. He hadn't suffered at all. A light hurt his eyes even as it shone from behind him. Still, even as it bothered his eyes he found himself turning to it. It was how he ended up here, it would nice to talk to someone else for a little while they waited.
"E…Eric?" He quickly got to his feet as he believed he saw Eric come through. Was that really him? But how? Why was he here?
"Alan…Alan I am sorry for what I did. I never meant to hurt you."
"Eric!" Running towards him he threw his arms around his neck pulling him close.
"I love you Eric, I was never upset. And you kept your promise; you let me die in your arms. Thank you."
"Alan. Thank you." Wrapping his arms around him he held him tightly never wanting to let go. As the doorway opened for their fates to be decided Alan moved his hand down Eric's arm to grab his hand refusing to never let it go no matter what that meant. He would never be alone and he would never let his love be either. Even if that meant he would go to hell he would be alright, they both would. From this day on they had forever with each other, the forever they had always wanted.

Ronald walked out from the briefing of the situation with William about Eric and Alan. He couldn't believe they were both dead. The report said Alan had been killed by Eric's hand and Eric by Sebastian's. He wanted to know how. Eric would never kill Alan, he would never hurt him, so this didn't make any sense. But to find out he would have to ask Sebastian and the society refused to do so meaning he would never find out. Still, both of his closest friends were dead. And considered traitors to the society, and they had denied them a remembrance of any sort. Saying it would only glorify their actions.
"William, sir. Their house, will the society go through it for clues as to how this all happened?"
"No. The case is closed since they are dead. It will probably be sold along with what it contains."
"Can I move into it then?"
"What? If you want. You just have to fill out the paperwork."
"Thank you sir."
Pulling out Alan's glasses he promised both of them he would never forget that they were the greatest people, the purest people he would ever know. No matter what the society believed he knew the truth about them. He wouldn't actually move into their old place but he would keep everything preserved for all eternity. They would live on in his heart and he would watch over their things so their memories were never tarnished. He hoped they were together and got the forever they had always hoped for. The one everyone else had.

0o0o0o0o0o0

That's it everybody. Chapter 27, the finale of this story. I loved writing it, I loved crying bunch of times during this chapter, both in writing and typing it up, and proofreading it. Hope everyone enjoyed it as well. I'll do some one shots or short stories I think while I finish some of my other stories in other fandoms before starting something new. Love you all. Talk to all soon.

~Femalefighter~