Chapter 90

"You're an idiot." Celine informed him, leaping from the desk to the couch's arm, blinking her eyes at Melyssa. "The Grandmaster had Mariabell separate you from Ouroboros. From my understanding, it was quite the show."

"Your eyes went pure orange." Like her entire body on the inside had been in flames.

"They did?" Melyssa felt weak, but…not in a bad way, in the way that happened whenever someone slept for 3 days straight. At least, that's what it felt like. "They really did it, then."

"Did what?" Celine cocked her head.

"They took the power out of me by severing the link between me and Ouroboros." Melyssa understood what happened now, waking up a little more and sat up with Crow's help. "When you become an Enforcer, there's a ceremony that's performed and they inject this…power inside of you. It's not MY power that I was…born with, I guess. The Grandmaster said I have some kind of power inside of me that can create a shield and that's what I used to fend off McBurn's magic. The problem is it uses up your life force and…I exerted myself, which is probably why I couldn't handle the severing without passing out." Slowly, she looked up at Crow and leaned back against his chest, her hands coming up to squeeze his forearms. "I'm sorry if I scared you or worried you."

"Nah, you know me, nothing worries me." He joked, though the truth was shining in his red eyes as he stared down at her.

Well, that explained quite a bit about her and that shield. Now that he knew it basically ran on her like she was a human battery, however, he hoped she never used the damn thing again. Her life wasn't worth the time it bought. Or maybe some time with Rosalie was required, maybe the ancient witch with the perky breasts -and he'd love to know who she had sold her soul to for THAT bit of youth- could help her learn how to use this shield more effectively with less risk to herself.

"Sure, that's why your entire head of hair is white." Celine snorted, licking her paw. "I'll let Rosalie know you're awake."

"Thank you, Celine. Sorry for being such a troublemaker."

"Yeah well, I'm used to it. I look after a troublemaker myself, you know." Celine winked her cat eye at the girl before hopping down to go inform Rosalie what was going on.

That left Crow and Melyssa alone and she felt his lips brush against the top of her head, his arms tightening around her slightly. He was afraid she would disappear again or fell back out, she could feel it. Melyssa knew him well and sat up more to turn around to face him, staring into his crimson eyes. Then, she leaned forward to press her lips against his and moaned at the first touch of him, the sound super soft. Three days, she had gone three days without this man, right after they had finally gotten together too. It was three days too long and she pulled back, rubbing her nose gently against his.

I love him so much. And I know he heard what I said to the Grandmaster, but I won't bring it up first. When he's ready to talk about it, he will. "Three days, huh? I really am a troublemaker…"

"You are." He agreed with a grim nod, those soft kisses having set his blood to a low simmer, though the part of him that actually loved her and not just loved to fuck her, informed him that Melyssa had been asleep for 3 freaking days.

She needed food and drink, along with a shower because sponge baths only went so far. Actually, maybe she needed to sit in a shower and let the water run over her, he could wash her hair and whatnot. Crow wasn't sure where her strength was at right now. Three days asleep wasn't overly taxing, nothing bad would happen to the body in that short amount of time, but given what had PUT her in that state, that was potentially a whole new ballgame.

"Rosalie will be coming. You should probably let me baby you a little bit more before she starts poking around in you." Figuratively speaking.

"As long as it's you doing the babying, I don't mind enduring it. But first…" Melyssa kissed him again, this time with a little more passion and fire, tasting him for the first time in 3 days.

What Crow didn't realize was the reason she had slept was her body just needed time to recover from all the life force she used in that shield she produced. Mariabell's magic had helped with that and she felt…energized, actually. It was weird since she'd been asleep for 3 days, but it didn't FEEL like three days.

"Okay, now I'll behave and let you baby me." She grinned, giggling at his growl, and hugged him around the neck, feeling his arms encircle her to return her embrace. "What do you want to do with me first, Doctor Crow?"

"Not that." He said it sternly, amused when she instantly recoiled and then she realized the mischief in his eyes and he was a bit surprised when she lashed out with a quick rap to his forehead. "Touché…Still not that. Yet anyway." He grumbled, rubbing the spot with the heel of his hand. "You haven't eaten or drank anything in 3 days, so let's start there. You want something from the cafeteria or the vending machine?"

Crow was already up, moving to Machias' water cooler to get her a cup of cold water. He also had fresh clothes for her because he had left long enough to pack her a bag, knowing Melyssa wouldn't take kindly to being left in the same attire she had gone to City Hall in that night to confront McBurn. That had just ended… badly, and good.

McBurn was gone.

She wasn't talking about sex! The cheeky jerk! Melyssa couldn't wipe the smile off her face because she knew what else had happened and remembered it vividly. McBurn was GONE. History. He would never bother her again and she could be free to do whatever she wanted in her life. All she wanted to do was be with Crow. Wherever he went, she would follow because she would not lose him again.

"Actually, I really need a shower. Three days sleeping…yeah…" Melyssa probably stunk to high heavens and bit back a groan, sipping some of the water he handed her.

"Yeah, you do. I've been sponge-bathing you and that only goes so far." Crow was rifling around in the bag he had brought her from her apartment, not feeling an ounce of shame as he pulled out underwear along with a bag of toiletries. He had even been a gentleman and gotten her the boring underwear, a plain cotton set. "I'll have you know, I was a perfect gentleman and did not ogle and/or grope you while you were unconscious and I did your nethers." Because he wasn't letting his woman get swamp ass or crotch, he was way more considerate than that. "I'll walk you to the showers." Which were in the lower levels, with the cafeteria, how convenient for him. "And then while you're doing that, I'll make you something light to eat, yeah?"

"Crow…" How was Melyssa supposed to tell him she felt perfectly fine? "Look, I appreciate your concern and all you've done for me, but…I don't know how to say this…" She looked pensive suddenly, chewing her thumbnail and decided to just come out and say it. "I feel fine. I don't feel…weak or anything. It's hard to explain, but I feel…energized for some reason. Like I could run a marathon or take on a whole slew of monsters by myself. It's weird, right? Tell me it's weird and I shouldn't feel like this after sleeping for 3 days straight…" Whatever Mariabell had done to her, it revitalized her.

"Lyssa, hate to break it to you, but I have functioning eyes and I can see you're perfectly fine." Crow informed her quietly, functioning eyes raking over her. "Your entire body is practically thrumming with energy, doesn't change the fact that you haven't eaten and you need a shower. Rosalie will probably be able to tell you why you're bouncing around like a fully charged battery, but I can't. Magic is way above my pay grade." He utilized it, obviously, but he wasn't able to explain how it worked or anything like that and he didn't abhor it the way Ash did. Grinning at the look she gave him, Crow began guiding her out of the office.

"It must have something to do with the spell, Armbrust." Rosalie had arrived, her staff in hand and looking bewitchingly beautiful as ever with her long blonde hair and a smirk on her lips. "Welcome back to the land of the living, dearie."

"Thanks…and you mean the severing of the bonds?"

"Well that, but…Mariabell DID siphon her magic into you to save your life because you had used a great deal of your life force with your…power." Rosalie explained, sounding almost bored and stifled a yawn. Emma was due any day now with the triplets and she had been running around like a chicken with her head removed, trying to get everything ready for their arrival. "A shower and food, you'll be right as rain. You do need sustenance, no matter how GOOD you feel right now. It may wear off."

"Okay."

"Good girl for not arguing. I'll be off then." Rosalie disappeared in front of them and Crow proceeded to guide Melyssa to the showers like he originally planned on doing.

Melyssa had to admit, a shower felt AMAZING after three days of sleeping.

While she was in the shower, Crow was both whipping up something even HE couldn't mess up while explaining what Rosalie had said to Rean via the ARCUS. The idea that Mariabell, who was certifiably insane, had actually SAVED Melyssa's life was both a good thing and a worrisome one because things like that…usually had to be repaid later on down the road. Mariabell wasn't generally one to do something out of the goodness of her heart. Not unless she and Melyssa had become the best of friends or something. Now there was a disturbing thought, though… maybe that was how people viewed him and Rean since he was technically a former terrorist. By the time she walked into the cafeteria, Crow had microwaved leftovers and was setting it out, enough for both of them since his appetite had picked up.

A turkey sandwich and some soup that looked like chicken noodle. She smiled at his thoughtfulness and leaned down to softly brush her lips against his. "Thank you." Sitting down, she waited for Crow to join her since he had a setting for himself and together, they began eating. Food tasted amazing after three days without it and she sucked down her water. Crow got up to get her refill before she could, ordering her to stay put. "If there's ginger ale, I'd love some of that too." Melyssa began eating again, finishing her sandwich, and had dipped some of it in the soup, which was delicious.

Crow rifled, finally finding a few bottles and carried them over to her, setting down the water first followed by two ginger ales for her and one for himself. He dropped down at the cafeteria table, sitting opposite of her, and had made himself some as well. Crow had skipped the soup in favor of a few bags of chips. Now that he thought about it, he slid one to her. She probably needed her sodium levels balanced out after that 3 day power nap his lovely little battery charger had taken.

"Rean will be here in a few hours, there's no point in moving you until morning, nobody but us knows you're here."

"We're in City Hall, right?"

"Yeah, in Machias' office part, actually. It wasn't scorched by McBurn."

"Got it. Whatever you want to do, Crow. I'll comply." Melyssa winked at him, feeling a lot better about everything now that McBurn was gone for good and she was OUT of Ouroboros completely. She was not an Enforcer anymore. "When we're finally released out of here, there's somewhere I want to go." She informed him, after she was done eating and didn't know how Crow would react to this, but she felt it was something she had to do. "And I'm hoping you'll go with me."

Crow raised a brow and couldn't help asking the obvious question. "Yeah, I will, but where do you wanna go?"

"McBurn is gone and I'm no longer an Enforcer of Ouroboros. I want to do what we said we were going to do." That day in the park, the same night she had been set free and McBurn had been exiled from their world. "I want to go on an adventure with you and sail the seas to travel all over Zemuria."

Crow smiled widely, remembering that conversation vividly because he had also been thinking about it, long and hard. While she was out for those 3 days, all he'd been thinking about was them running away together, telling Class VII and everyone to screw themselves and to live the rest of their lives the way they wanted. He didn't realize Melyssa had the same exact mindset he did.

Taking his hands, Melyssa laced their fingers together and stared deep into his crimson eyes, so much love swirling through them. "I just want to be with you, Crow. No matter where we go, what we do…I know finding my Mom should be a priority, but…I have a feeling she's going to remain in hiding. And I'm done worrying about her. I know she'll be fine." She had survived this long, after all.

Crow smirked, knowing she meant every word she said, and leaned forward to softly brush his lips against hers. "Wanna hit the road then, Lyssa? Just you and me?" They could go to Jurai, grab a boat from there, and then begin their sailing adventure together.

By the time Rean arrived, all that was left behind was a note from Crow, explaining where he'd gone with Melyssa. He smiled, in spite of everything that had happened, shaking his head and knew they truly were meant to be together. Melyssa's heart had always been with Crow and he was happy for both of them, glad she had taken his advice to tell Crow how she felt. Rean really did enjoy happy endings and folded the note, slipping it in his back pocket, and went to inform everyone Crow and Melyssa had taken off.


A week later, Melyssa was standing on the deck of a beautiful boat they had acquired in Jurai from a retired fisherman. They had gotten a hell of a deal and she was wearing a cream-colored sundress, leaning on the railing. A pair of arms wrapped around her waist from behind and she smiled, leaning back against him as they watched the sunset together.

"I forgot to tell you something, Lyssa." Crow figured it was now or never and the setting practically screamed at him to do it.

"Hmm? What's that, love?" Melyssa felt his lips brush against her neck and his arms tightened around her slightly, making her smile. "Don't leave me in suspense, Armbrust."

Just as the sun began setting over the horizon, Crow turned her around to stare down into her beautiful teal eyes and cupped her face tenderly in his strong hands. "I love you too." Then, he kissed her, and Melyssa's heart exploded with newfound love for him, kissing him back with equal passion.

Any other obstacles that were put in front of them would be knocked down. That was what their life revolved around, overcoming impediments, and eventually finding their way to each other. The path had taken a lot of twists and turns with Melyssa thinking she was in love with Rean Schwarzer and even Ash Carbide, thanks to a dark spell. Ultimately, however, her heart belonged to Crow Armbrust and nothing would EVER change that fact. No matter where life took them next, whether it was finding her mother somewhere in Zemuria or simply settling down with Crow somewhere, Melyssa was ready to take the journey WITH him.

Never again would she take a peregrination without the love of her life beside her.

The End.

**This one took WAYYYYYYYY too long to finish and post, sorry about that, but I hope you all enjoyed Melyssa's adventure and hopefully, I'll be able to post more Legend of Heroes stories in the future! This was a lot of fun to write! As always, thank you for the love and support! Until next time!**