AN;; This chapter is...incredibly late. I feel just awful about it. I fell into this low period and I just didn't feel like writing at all. Seeing that review, though, brought back my want to get this out there. So I sat down and finished it, finally. Thank you so much to Major Mike Powell III, and all the others that read this story. I really appreciate it. More than I could even begin to express. I hope you enjoy this chapter!

It was hot and it was cold. Her skin hurt with the bitterness of it, ached. Stung. It blistered and bubbled and numbed. She was falling, too, falling through such a blackness. It was so freezing and searing and, damn, it hurt. It hurt like nothing she had ever felt before, such a horrible pain. Made her mind ring and the thoughts, the thoughts that were burning, push and push at her skull. Clamoring to get free, to escape such a fate. She wanted to scream, to reach out into the void. Call out for help. But her eyes were screwed shut (though, somehow, she could see?) and her mind would not cooperate. Her voice would not function. Her lungs would not take in oxygen. But then, there was none.

She wanted to scream and rip and tear the place apart, just to escape. Just to get out of this hell. But she wouldn't stop falling, couldn't read solid ground. There was no light shining through the clouds. There were no clouds. There was nothing but her own self, and that would be gone soon too. Yes, she would burn and burn away into ashes, and then they too would burn away. And then there would be nothing left at all.

She would become just like all the others she knew. Nothing.

Nothing because she was just another carbon copy, another clone. Another meaningless person meandering her way through life. Not really mattering, not really doing anything. Just existing by the standards of everyday life. And she was falling, falling, faster toward that fate. Burning away like the feeblest of candles. But what else was she to do?

Fight it?

Did she truly want to be just like them? To speak when expected and say what's proper. To keep on pretending, to keep this mask. She was accepted, sure. Maybe not well-liked, but accepted. And, wasn't that easy? Wasn't that grand? Wasn't it just dandy to be average, to be normal? But she wasn't normal, was she? No... And it didn't make her happy to act in such a way. Though, even when she had acted naturally, she hadn't been very happy. Treated like some sort of strange wild animal. And because she was weak, because she trusted and didn't know any better, they tamed her and molded her into...

This.

This stupid cowardly excuse for a person. She had never been strong, but this was pathetic. What she was was pathetic and she hated it. A disgrace. She was a disgrace and downright pitiable. That is, if she even deserved any pity at that point. Disgusting. Was it even possible to go back? Was it possible to undo corruption? To purify and cleanse herself of all of that. To undo the damage. If it was, god, she wanted it. She wanted more than anything to be...

Something unlike her present self. Something true.

And then everything was light again. Instead of black, there was blue and green and pink and yellow and cream. Instead of cold, it was so very warm. She could breathe. She could see. The grass was so soft on her back, as she lay there.

"S-Sonika..." came that sweet voice.

Gumi was there, hovering over her. She looked concerned, eyebrows furrowed in worry. Her rosebud lips pouted unnaturally. "Are you OK?" she said. It was then that Sonika realized that she was propped unceremoniously on the girl's lap, and that Gumi's little fingers were gently playing with her hair. Had it grown? She didn't recall it being quite that long... Well, no matter.

"I think so," she replied to the girl, voice weak and groggy. Her frown curved into a smile, but it felt more natural than usual. Was this what they called happiness? She doubted it, but even so, it felt nice. This warm sort of feeling, spreading from her toes to her fingertips to the top of her head, filling her up. The way her heart seemed to expand and glow. The beautiful girl sitting right by her, smiling down... The sunlight, rippling and making everything glitter... The birds nestled in the trees, singing their sweet melody... Was this beauty? Was this "happiness"?

Sonika sat up, and leaned on the flower's shoulder. She shut her eyes and simply inhaled her sweet scent, and that of everything around them. Listened, for once. It felt magical. A serene sort of expression covered her face.

"You seem...different."

Sonika opened her eyes, surprised by the words. Did she really? It just felt so, well, normal to act like this. Maybe that was it. For once, she wasn't forcing herself to do or feel anything. She laughed softly, nuzzling Gumi's neck affectionately. "I don't know what you're talking about!"

Gumi laughed in turn, and leaned into her. It felt so warm and wonderful. So sweet. She just wanted to feel the girl's skin, feel her presence right beside her, forever. Their voices mingled and harmonized in the air, dancing around each other.

Like butterflies. Little green butterflies.

Sonika lifted her head and kissed the other. It was tender and sweet and just... Aah, how could she even put it into words? She pulled away to simply look into Gumi's eyes, which were widened in surprise. The flower's gaze then softened. She looked beautiful, without a doubt.

"You really are acting funny, but I don't mind..." Gumi whispered, smiling. "I love seeing you happy." She reached out, touching Sonika's top with small, pale hands. They grasped loosely at the fabric. "Because, y'know, I love you."

Hearing those words, her heart lifted. She felt so warmed and so... So happy. So happy that she just wanted to laugh and cry and fall back into the soft grass. Because... She loved Gumi too! She loved her completely, more than she had ever loved anyone else prior. More than anything. Looking into the girl's eyes, seeing her smile, hearing her perfect little laugh. She adored it, all of it. With all of her heart.

Sonika took Gumi's hands. She took them and intertwined them with hers, and kissed the girl's slender fingers. Soundlessly, voicelessly promising forever.

Aah, when had she gotten to be so cheesy?