Sorry it's been a while since I last updated this story, I've been a little busy. I suppose that's the general excuse for a lot of writers, but I finally found time to write this chapter and I hope you like it. The story I've been busy with is called Shadows, It's my best piece so far, and I hope you like it. You'd also like to know it has regular updates. ;)

A Falling Star
Chapter 20: Ten Years For You

As the brightness cleared, specks of darkness clouded across her vision. Little dots of white here and there made her vision look like the pretty night sky on the summer solstice. Kouki blinked twice, blinking away her hazed and obscured vision. Or at least, she tried. The dark navy blue didn't fade but instead took a hold of her surroundings, expanding out over the great vastness above her. What she thought looked like the night, was actually the real thing. If she could see the night, then that only meant she could be in one place. Earth.

Kouki sprung up, launching her body up and almost straight over. She managed to catch her balance, barely. Her eyes scanned everywhere, jumping from left to right, up and down. The dark night swarmed around the top of a mountain of smooth stone expanding up to the skies. She was stood on mount Taboo. But...she had died, gone to heaven, saved the village. And she was supposed to have died again. How come she was stood on top of the mountain she had departed in her last moments of life? Unless...none of that was real. Maybe it was a dream? Her last moments were spent in the arms of her loved one, before everything turned white. If it was simply just her slipping into a dream, that meant everyone...wasn't saved.

"Don't worry; It was real," A familiar rusty voice spoke behind her.

Kouki jumped around, turning to face an old man with long white hair with a matching silk beard that grazed the floor and pale aged eyes. A thin white liner traced around his body, glowing luminously against the dark night sky. "Star God," Kouki whispered. "Wait! You're real?" Relief rushed over her, sinking her too her knees.

"Yes, my dear. I am real." The star God chuckled lightly.

"But- What's going on. I mean, aren't I supposed to be dead?" Kouki stood back up like lightning, feeling her brain begin to spin around in her head asking too many complicated questions.

"Indeed that was the price to be paid for the villagers lives you saved." The old man grumbled, stroking a hand down his silky long beard. "However, I reject our deal."

"WHAT!" Kouki wailed, feeling her heart sink and rise like a sea buoy. "SO THE VILLAGERS WON'T B-"

"I haven't finished yet." The old man sighed a heavy breath, giving Kouki such tiresome eyes. "You, my darling, are jumping ahead. But, I do not have much time so I will ask you to be quiet and listen to me." His voice sounded stern, compared to his normal easy-going attitude. Maybe Kouki really could push anyone's limit.

Kouki silently sat down, looking up at the Star God with patient eyes, and a closed mouth. "Thank you." He gave her a smile that made her feel like she was praised, possibly. "Kouki, a deal made with a God cannot be changed, especially when you have so whole-heartedly agreed with it. However, I can give you time."

"Time?" Kouki muttered.

"Yes, my darling, time." The Star God repeated, crouching down to Kouki's level. "You are a little star. One that gives hope and brightens the souls of those around you. I, as a God, must be generous. To take you away from those people who need you most, would be selfish. To hold up our deal, and to be kind to those around you and yourself, I will give you time. You have ten years, Kouki. I want you to be able to live, love and find as much happiness as you can in those ten years. Then, I will be back to get you, and bring you back to heaven with me." An old, weary hand cupped Kouki's cold cheek, offering a warm smile. "I wish I could give you more time, little one, you have given me hope once again in humanity, I wish I could show you how much that means to me."

"No," Kouki smiled, taking the man's hand into her own. She offered a gentle smile. "You have given me more than I can ask for. I am grateful. The next ten years I will cherish. Thank you, Star God, for letting me save my village." Without warning, Kouki leapt forward, swinging her arms around the tall man's neck. The Star God rocked back in surprise, but caught his balance, wrapping his arms around the small girl. "Thank you." She whispered into his silk white hair. "Wait!" Kouki thought again, bouncing back from the man. "What about Akio, where is he?" Crystal blue eyes darted around looking for any sign of her friend/lover.

"Don't worry, I'm here." A masculine voice called from behind her. A long tall figure appeared from her shoulder, coming up to stand besides her.

"AKIO!" Kouki yelled in relief, giving him an awkward side hug.

"Yes, Yes, nice to see you, too." Akio chuckled softly, patting Kouki softly on her head.

"Akio, are you coming with me? Back to the village?, back to Amira?" Kouki bounced. Akio gave her a gentle smile. But it was a smile that she always recognised. Her heart fell to the bottom of her rib cage, as her body slowly ceased to a stop. Hot tears suddenly burned in her eyes, streaming down her face. "Y- You're not coming back are you?" Kouki choked, trying to hold back her tears.

Akio slowly shook his head. Dark eyes looked down on her with a gaze that took her strength away. Her knees fell underneath her, and she dropped to the ground. "I don't-" Kouki cried. "I don't want it."

"Kouki, you need to go back, not just for my sake, but for Amira's sake as well." Akio whispered, crouching down to her.

Suddenly, Kouki flung her body at him, wrapping her arms around his neck. "I don't want it. I don't- I don't want to leave you." Kouki buried her face into his neck, absorbing the warmth that always seemed to radiate through him. "I didn't go through all of this just to lose you. Ten years are meaningless without you!" Kouki screamed, squeezing him tighter.

"Kouki," Akio whispered, pulling her into his arms.

The old man thought, his hand tugging on his white beard. His eyes watched the pair with an ache that coursed through his entire being. "Little star," he muttered, his expression reluctant, and hesitant. Kouki slowly peeled her face away from Akio's, turning to the old man. Tears staining her cheeks and her red eyes made his heart quiver. "If this is your choice, I can still give you both time. However, it will not be long." The star king offered.

Kouki's eyes flashed with relief, a small smile pulling on her lips. "You can?" She breathed.

"Yes." He agreed.

"How long are we talking?" Akio intervened.

"Seven days." The man replied softly. Akio flinched, his face falling down the Kouki's. Her face stiffened for a second, then softened with a smile.

"That's just enough time for goodbyes." Kouki smiled.

"Kouki, wait!" Akio snapped, grabbing her shoulders tightly. "You're willing to throw away ten years, for seven days, are you sure?" Kouki stopped, her eyes staring at him for a small white softly. A thoughtful expression crossed her face, and then she smiled again.

"I'm willing to throw away all the time in the world, for seven days with all of us together again; Amira, me and you. Don't you think we deserve to give her a proper goodbye, the both of us?" Kouki gave him that cheeky looked she always did, when she knew she was right. Akio couldn't answer back, his heart relinquished its fight and backed down. Once again, he was captured by the woman in front of him.

"Okay." He sighed, his hands sliding down her arms.

"Then," the old man coughed. A pair of weary old hands reached out, a forefinger touching their foreheads. "In seven days, your spirits will be returned to the heavens. Spend it wisely." he gave the girl a soft smile, as a white light began to spill from his finger tips, coating them in a beautiful shining light, that enveloped everything.

"See you later." Kouki smiled, her hand wrapping tightly around Akio's.

Amira sat on the dry dirt. Her hair was longer, almost reaching down to her hips. Her finger brushed across the rim of the lines driven through the ground. Memories of last week spun in her mind. A phenomenon occurred in the village. While she was outside, she had seen lines spontaneously appear in the ground. They drew a circle, a star and then shone so brightly she was blinded. The next thing she knew, her husband was stood over her, shaking her awake. Ever since then, the village was in prosperity. Fruits, meat and vegetables were discovered in the forest, all healthy and fine. Contaminated people recovered.

When she saw it, she though back to the white light. For a second, in that white light, she was sure that saw Kouki with her cheeky smile, and Akio with his. The thought of her friends were painful. Every day she found herself thinking about the day she sought out Akio, asked him to chase after Kouki. She was always stuck thinking what if; she tried harder to stop Kouki, if she went with Akio, if they were to come back. After the years she spent waiting, her hope slowly dwindled. Akio and Kouki were gone. They ran up mount. Taboo, and never came back. With the hope and happiness brought to the village from the lines engraved in dirt, a little part of her was thanking Kouki and Akio, as if it was them who had done it.

Amira's fingers dusted the dirt on to the skirt of her dress, giving one last look at the lines before she turned away. All the men were out in the forest, to restock the water. Amira wandered around looking up at the blue sky and warm sun. unconsciously, her eyes drifted to the mountain. It's peak disappearing into the clouds. There was many times she wanted to chase after the pair, and every time she managed to stop herself. With only the men left in the village, contaminated or healthy, they wouldn't survive long without her. She had a duty of the last woman to stay. All he children had succumbed to the plague, her three boys and two girls. Sometimes, she shamefully wondered what it would be like to leave the island and travel, to just go. But she couldn't, and she wouldn't.

"Where are you?" Amira whispered.

"Thinking of someone?" A masculine voice whispered behind her. It sounded familiar and warm, but her eyes still faced the sky and the clouds, wondering.

"Old friends." Amira whispered, her gaze falling to the line at her feet. "They're gone now."

"I'd prefer you not to kill us off so easily." The voice chuckled. Her heart leapt in her chest, her brain flipped. Something was clicking in her mind, as her body stiffened.

"You're-" She uttered in shock.

"AMIRA!" A familiar, childish voice wailed. A body slammed into her, knocking them to the ground.

Amira's eyes darted up in shock. Her heart swelled in her face and she froze. Above her, a ghost was looking down on her, hugging her. Tears fell from her eyes. They were brown, and long golden hair fell down her face. But there was no doubt about it. "...Kou-...Kouki." Amira choked, tears welling her eyes, her heart swelling in her chest.

"I'm home." Kouki smiled with the childish grin she always had.

"KOUKI!" Amira wailed, grabbing onto the girl as tight as she could. "You're alive! You're really alive!" She cried, burying her face into her neck.

"Did you really think we were dead?" The masculine voice ridiculed. Amira looked up over Kouki's shoulder. Pink hair brushed in the wind, dark familiar eyes looked down on her with heartening warmth and arrogance.

"Akio..." Amira whispered.

"I'm home." Akio smiled gently. A small smile broke through her tears.

"Welcome home." She smiled.

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-A-ccentric