A/N: I'M BACK! I am very sorry for not updating this sooner. What started as some simple writer's block ended in being side tracked by homework, revision, tests and other stories. But to make up for it, here is the next chapter. Enjoy!

Napoleon had been quite taken aback at Marie's response. He had been expecting to finish the duel quickly, but obviously this would be different.

Marie smiled at his confusion. She did not think she would be able to best Napoleon to kill him, nor did she think she could gain some sort of upper hand, as she had never duelled before. All she was really trying to do was to buy time to bring Raphael back to life. She hoped the spring would hurry up.

Now even angrier than ever, Napoleon swung his blade again. She quickly deflected it and tried to swing at him but he blocked it easily.

'You're a fool to believe you can best me.' he sneered. Marie's only answer was to swing her sword again and hope for the best.

As time wore on, Marie became surprised as, most importantly, she was still alive, and she was doing a half decent job of holding Napoleon back. Just as Marie was starting to gain confidence in herself, Napoleon smirked, which was not a good sign.

'A most valiant attempt.' he said. 'But I have not played all my cards yet.'

Before Marie could react, he swung his sword as fast as lightning and knocked the blade from her hand, sending it skittering off to the side.

All she could do now was back away as Napoleon walked up to the spring.

'Mine at last…' he sighed. Then he turned to face her. 'You failed, girl. I have won, and you cannot hope to defeat me!'

But Marie wasn't listening any more. She was looking behind Napoleon, who was still talking, to the Rewind Spring.

She was looking to a familiar figure who had risen from the spring water, who was steadily walking towards Napoleon, who wasn't aware of what was happening.

Who was her hope.

Napoleon finished his speech and turned back towards the spring. However, before he could register what he was seeing, a fist collided with his face.

'I'm back.' said Phantom R.

Marie could hardly believe it; he was back. He was really back! And he could save them all.

He walked over to Marie's dropped blade and picked it up, turning to face Napoleon, who had struggled to his feet. He was met with a sword pointing towards his face.

Much to his surprise, Napoleon grinned slyly. 'What are you going to do, Rhythm Thief?' Kill me? You don't have the guts to. But I'll kill you. I'll kill you again, you and the girl.'

Just then, numerous torches flashed, and voices shouted to freeze.

Phantom R smirked. 'Looks like I don't have to.'

Police officers flooded into the cave, along with Charlie and Clyde, who had called them, as they had been on standby. The last to enter was Inspector Vergier.

'You see,' continued Phantom R, 'I could kill you. You did kill me, and I could kill you for revenge.'

The sword point hovered in Napoleon's face. But then, it lowered.

'But I'm not going to. I don't want to lower myself.' Phantom R stood back and let the police do their job. After all, they might remember his was there and go after him. He saw Marie heading out, and decided to follow her.

He found her standing at the cave entrance. The icy wind was blowing in, rushing through her hair and making her dress flutter. He suddenly took notice of her long, blonde hair held in a sliver clip, her eyes that were a beautiful sky blue…

She turned around and saw him. She smiled. He could hear his heart thumping in his ears all of a sudden.

He stood next to her. 'Y'know, I never thought I'd miss having hands so much.' he said to her.

'And I don't think I'll be so keen for another adventure.' she replied, still smiling.

Phantom R smirked. 'But every day is an adventure.'

'For you, maybe.' she laughed. He liked her laugh.

His mind suddenly turned serious. He'd been meaning to ask her for a long time, but many things had been in the way every time, mainly his anxiety. But now, after all he had seen, he could do it.

Couldn't he?

'Marie…' he started. This caught her attention. Well, no going back now.

'Will you…' It was suddenly very hard. What was wrong with him? He took a deep breath and blurted it out.

'Willyougooutwithme?'

She smiled her warm smile. 'You can steal the Mona Lisa but you can't ask a girl out? What were you so afraid of?'

It took him a moment to process that. 'Is that a yes?'

Marie pressed her hand into his. 'It's a yes.'

It was cold, they were in the French Alps in a cave with the police making an arrest only a few metres away.

But Phantom R had a date.

A/N: Sorry for it being short, by the way. I hope you liked this and how it ended. But I have to know one thing; do you think I should have killed Napoleon? I didn't really want to, but my friend was adamant I should. What do you think?

So this is the end of this chapter, but stay tuned for the epilogue, where everything is tied up!