********* (I Love You) Chapter LIII: SerendipityFollow

AUTHOR’S NOTE: This is a kinda short chapter, but I’ll make up for it tomorrow (and possibly the day after if Fafnir decides to be nice and not pop till last window so I can write :p ).

Read review, etc.

Previous chapters, aki, and Interludes

Part I - Connection (Enishi)

Kasho II - Kodoku (Solitude)

Part III - Reunion (Saikai)

Kasho IV- Suriyoru (Closer)

Part V- Secrets (Hiou)

Kasho VI- Hanarebanare (Apart)

Part VII- Longing (Akogare)
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(Chapter LI)
http://ffxi.allakhazam.com/forum.html?forum=10&mid=1151677343267156940

(Aki LII)
http://ffxi.allakhazam.com/forum.html?forum=35;mid=1153741144155412598;page=1#1153741144155412598
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Bonus Story: Rainfall Memories

For my Rya.
*****

Sometimes fate gives you a second chance.
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Chapter LIII: Serendipity
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Her head whipped around towards my voice, and her eyes suddenly went wide at the sight of me. I dimly saw her lips gently mouthed my name in question and disbelief, and I nodded a couple times to confirm to her that it really was me.

With that, the world slowed down and faded away instantly in that moment, leaving only the two behind to rebuild it.

"Hitomi..." I whispered to myself, hardly able to believe it. After so much wishing, after so much hoping, I had finally found her again…

Faintly, I heard the roar of mighty behemoths roaring as they started to tear through the allied Tavnazian forces towards the walls where I was standing upon with total ruthlessness and without remorse, but I didn’t give a damn. Stepping around casting black mages and rubble from the walls, I quickly my way over to where my beloved was. When I got to her worn body and wrapped my arms around her, I chanced to look down into her eyes...

And I could see she was trying her hardest to not cry.

She then removed a tattered and well-used casting glove from her left hand, casting it carelessly over the Tavnazian walls before lifting her now exposed hand to my face. Her fingertips graced my cheek lightly, before brushing against the corners of my eyes in small delicate motions. As she then pulled her hand back after a moment, I saw it shimmer lightly with small drops of a liquid upon it. Her eyes grew even more misty, and she gave me a quivering wordless smile.

"My precious butterfly, I’m sorry…for all the pain I caused you…I shouldn’t have tried to turn my heart away from you way back when on the Sarutabaruta grasses..." My lips fumbled for an apology, and it came out in rushed gasps, my breath leaving my lungs quicker than it entered.

"Baka..." she finally chided me gently with as she then laid her head against my armored chest, letting her tears flow freely in chokened gasps.

I could feel her body go slightly limp in my arms, and I realized that she had probably been casting quite abit since the beastmen entered into spell range.

"You okay, Hitomi?" I asked her.

She nodded faintly a couple of times, her eyes floating in and out of focus as she looked fixatedly at my face.

I could tell she was tired.

"Listen, Hitomi..."

Unfortunately, my words were broken by the crackle of the linkpearl at my side.

-fin Chapter LIII: Serendipity