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Elder Tree Academy
Aurel stood still. She did not move. She was staring in the distance, back at the blaze and trail of smoke where the Elder Tree once stood.
Selene walked up to her side.
"Aurel..." she began. "I'm sorry."
"Don't be sorry," Aurel replied. "He's still there. I know he is."
Elixer walked up to the two of them.
"Aurel, maybe, maybe he is gone."
Aurel wheeled around to was Elixer furiously.
"Don't say that!" she yelled. "Kael's not gone."
Aurel turned back. She was trying to stay strong, but, she couldn't... Kael... what if he didn't come back...?
"He's not gone..." she repeated, through a stream of tears that could not be held back. "He's not gone..."
A few small tears crept down Selene's face.
But Elixer walked up and put a hand on Aurel's shoulder.
"Aurel, maybe we just have to face it. Maybe Kael is gone."
Aurel couldn't take it. She cried out loudly in despair and slumped to her knees, her sobs shaking her whole body.
Selene watched in sorrow at Aurel's state. And she kneeled down next to her, as tears fell down her face too.
Elixer looked at the ground. But she couldn't help it... Tears began to escape her eyes.
"It's not fair..." she said quietly, "That he should be gone..."
Tyler walked up to Elixer and gently embraced her, who put her arms around him gratefully.
"He was a born leader." Tyler murmured.
Kraven was very quiet. And for once in quite a long time, he felt sorry.
"He'll always be remembered as a hero. He did his family a great honour this way, and he would've made them very proud, just like he wanted." he added with a little smile.
Krylla nodded at Kraven's comment. She knew that others would be sad, but she was happy inside, knowing what Kael did, and how hard he worked.
"We won't be forgetting him any time soon."
Connor nodded, surveying what was left in the Elder Tree's location.
"Rest easy kid," he murmured. "You've earned it after everything you've done."
Selene helped Aurel onto her feet.
"Please Aurel. He wouldn't want you to cry. He would want you to remember him, and move forward as well."
The party heard this and unanimously agreed.
Aurel rubbed the tears out of her eyes. She knew Selene was right. She needed to be strong, for Kael's sake.
Kraven walked forward and rubbed Selene's shoulder gently.
"C'mon, we can't stay out here." he said quietly. "Let's head back."
Selene nodded. She touched Aurel's arm comfortingly.
"C'mon Aurel," she said softly. "Let's go."
With that, the group began to slowly walk away.
Aurel took one final look back, and eventually turned away.
She could feel the breeze caressing her. It was so soft. It was like the breeze was trying to comfort her...
Aurel stooped dead still, her eyes wide. She knew this breeze. Only one person could make the wind feel so nice.
She wheeled around to look back at the Elder Tree. Sure enough, she could make out a faint silhouette...
"…Hey…!"
Aurel could barely hear the call from so far away. But she heard it. It came from this silhouette. She stood rooted to the spot, her eyes wide and unblinking.
"Hey! Over here!"
This time, the group could hear the faint calling too. Selene walked up back next to Aurel in amazement.
"Is... Is it...?"
Kraven grinned.
"It is him."
The silhouette could now be seen more clearly. It was him.
Bruised, bleeding, but triumphant, and with his hand still grasped on a cut-up and scarred Aurionelle, Kael slowly walked towards the group, with one of the biggest smiles on his face that anyone had ever seen.
"Kael!"
The name echoed from the party, who rushed forward to help him.
They all exclaimed excitedly before Kael, showering him with praise, who smiled back at them all gratefully.
But eventually, Kael stopped hearing their voices. He could see her. And he smiled lovingly.
Aurel stood still. Small tears were welling in her eyes. But she was smiling sweetly.
Connor noticed this.
"Hold on, guys." he said over the top of the group. "Give him a moment."
The group quietened down. They noticed where Kael was looking, and they were soon silent.
Krylla giggled cheekily, giving Kael a little push forward.
"Go on." she said. "Don't mind us."
Kael didn't need any more convincing. He made his way over to Aurel, who walked forward to meet him.
There was a pause.
"I'm back." Kael said with a warm smile.
Aurel's smile quivered, as two small tears crept down her cheeks.
"Thankyou for coming back."
Kael saw she was slowly becoming more and more emotional. He walked forward, dropped Aurionelle, and put his arms around Aurel's waist.
Aurel's arms flew around his neck, and she held on tightly, her head buried in his chest. She finally let down her emotional walls, and her tears ran freely down her face.
"I thought you were... I thought..." she stuttered.
Kael lifted her head up and put a finger gently on her lips. He was still smiling warmly.
"Don't worry. I was scared too. I thought I might not see you again. But I knew I had too."
Kael caressed her cheek softly.
"I knew I had to be with you. I know by today, that anything can happen to any of us. I know now that it's who I want to be with everyday, Aurel."
Aurel quivered at his words and sobbed softly, but a hopeful smile came to her face.
Kael rested his forehead gently against hers.
"I love you."
Aurel's heart beat fiercely.
"I'll always love you, Kael." she declared through her tears.
She raised her head up, and kissed him deeply on the lips, pulling his face closer to hers. His kiss sent an amazing electrical rush surging through her entire body.
Kael wrapped his arms around her and held her tightly. Her lips spread a passionate and fierce fire all over, engulfing him completely.
Back with the group, they were respectfully quiet.
Krylla was quite amused but also impressed.
"Well, they sure don't waste any time." she commented, to no one in particular. "Things are getting pretty steamy out here."
Kraven chuckled.
"I'd say it was about time they did." he replied.
Tyler was smiling.
"It's good to see them together again."
The rest of the group all agreed.
Kael and Aurel were back together. Where they belonged.
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Burn-Blaze
Hikari blushed.
"I... I want to say thank you. For what you said..."
Yoru shrugged and smiled.
"You don't really have to thank me. I'm just telling the truth."
Hikari felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude. She felt so thankful to have Yoru there for her.
"You... you really care about me?"
Yoru chuckled.
"Well if I didn't, I wouldn't have bothered to defend you."
Hikari blushed once more. She felt so happy and grateful to be with him.
"I'd... like to make it up to you..."
"You don't have to reward me." he replied straightly. "Not for something like that."
"N-no, I insist. I-I, I want to." Hikari began to stutter. She couldn't believe she was going to say this, but she felt like this was all she had to offer him.
"If you like..."
She swallowed with embarrassment.
"Y-you can touch, a-any part of my body..."
Yoru blinked.
What did she just say? Was she serious?
After a pause:
"Do you mean that?"
"Yes..."
"Any part of your body?"
"Y-yes..."
"And you won't stop me?"
"Yoru, just-! Just do it- do something already!!!"
Hikari blushed a bright red. This was a dumb idea. What the hell made her think of that anyway? Was she really that desperate to win his affection?
Or maybe...Was she more that willing to give her body to him?
"Too late now..." she thought to herself.
"Okay then." Yoru announced. "Here I go."
Hikari's entire body tensed up, immediately expecting the worse. Determined not to watch, she shut her eyes tightly.
At first, she couldn't feel anything...
She couldn't feel anything at all. Was he even going to-?
Then she felt something.
Something soft. That was on her lips.
Hikari opened her eyes wide.
Yoru...
...Yoru was kissing her.
Yoru was kissing her!!!
His lips were so warm... Her face turned a deep crimson. This felt so wonderful.
She had imagined what this would be like, but it felt even better.
She felt light-headed.
Yoru gently released his lips from hers, and smiled warmly.
"Sorry. That was a little longer than just a touch."
Hikari was frozen in place, her eyes unblinking.
She didn't know what to think...
Yoru watched her for a little while, until he realized that her lack of response was quite amusing.
He affectionately poked her forehead, to which Hikari responded with surprise, almost shock.
He chuckled.
"You still awake there?"
Hikari was immediately defensive, her face still bright red. She shook it violently and glared at Yoru.
"What are you talking about!? You're the one who-! You're the one messing around with me!!!"
"But you said I could touch you. So I did."
"I thought you would use your hands!"
"And do what exactly? I'm not like that."
"But I didn't think you meant-! I mean-! Well- I..."
Hikari began stutter. She was still trying to come to grips with the fact that Yoru had just kissed her, but now...
She was trying to explain how she felt.
She couldn't. She didn't know how. She was confused. She couldn't think straight.
"You didn't think I meant what?" came the reply.
Hikari shook her head, and looked at the ground in embarrassment.
"I just... I just didn't think you cared about me... In that way..."
Yoru was puzzled. It was strange to hear something like this from Hikari. For some strange reason, it unsettled him.
"Why not?"
Hikari exhaled deeply.
Now she had to try and explain...
"Yoru... I knew deep down you were always different, unique from everyone else. You were the best, really well skilled, one of the best in the school. Everyone agrees on that. But you have this air about you... This charm, this strange aura. You were always so confident. Always so smart, in every way..."
Hikari sighed.
"All the girls were attracted to you anyway. And, I wanted be different. I wanted to be unique too. I refused to be interested in you. But, you came to know me anyway, and all these weird events occurred, and well, here we are now..."
Yoru was entranced. He didn't say a word, and continued to devote his attention.
Hikari gulped. She was getting to the main point now.
"Now when I look back, I think it was you who inspired me to be different. Because you were different too. I respected you, I was captivated by you, I was grateful to you, and, well... I liked you. And you probably already noticed that, but..."
She blushed a deep crimson, but looked up at him valiantly.
"I... I really cared about you, Yoru. After everything we've been through, I found that I truly wanted nothing but the best for you... But, well, you were always so calm and forward on what you did..."
Hikari felt pained in saying it, but;
"I didn't think you cared about me, as much as I cared about you..."
With that, Hikari looked back at the ground again.
Yoru was dumbstruck.
All in a few minutes, Hikari had suddenly made sense of everything.
But, in reality, he was actually glad to hear all this.
He smiled warmly.
"And that's how you feel about things?"
Hikari nodded solemnly.
"Yes... It's exactly what I think..."
There was silence.
Hikari wondered what Yoru was now thinking.
Did he maybe, care too?
Hikari looked up.
And she exclaimed softly in surprise.
Yoru had thrown his arms around her, and was holding her tightly.
Hikari blushed again.
"Y-Yoru..?"
"Promise me you'll always think that way."
Hikari froze. What... What did he mean?
"Hikari, at first I thought you were just the odd one out, but then, after everything that's happened, I saw you for the selfless, and recklessly brave girl you are. And, I saw that you cared about me. You did so much for me, and for others. Selflessly. And I appreciate it. I'm ever so grateful."
Hikari's heart stopped, frozen in time. All he could see was Yoru's shoulder, but he could feel the warmth from his entire body.
Did he... Really...?
"Hikari, promise me you won't ever change. Never forget just how special, just how much of a treasure you are. The girl I'm holding right now, is the only girl I'll ever respect and cherish. And the only girl I'll ever love."
Love.
Love.
Hikari's heart may have well stopped completely.
He never thought he'd hear that word coming from Yoru, directed at her.
The word echoed in her head, as two tiny tears welled up in her eyes.
She grabbed hold of him tightly, clenching onto his shirt, underneath his jacket.
"I love you, Yoru! I love you! I don't want anyone else but you!"
She practically cried the words out. And she wanted to. She wanted the whole world to hear. She wanted the whole world to hear she loved him. She loved him more than the whole world itself.
The couple lessened their embrace, and looked into each other's eyes.
Hikari's eyes shimmered as two small tears trickled forth. Her smile reflected the utmost joy and happiness inside her.
Yoru's smile was filled with pure and passionate warmth, his eyes staring intently, unflinching.
He gently brushed her tears away with his thumb, and held her cheek gently in his hand, as his lips drew closer to hers.
Hikari closed her eyes, her lips slightly parted, expectantly, waiting, almost impatiently.
Until she felt it again. That amazing warmth. That wonderful sweetness. The passionate feeling...
She had to be in heaven right now. She had never felt so truly wonderful in all her life. She was as high as a kite. She felt like she had grown wings. She was soaring through the sky.
And then gently, she came down to land, as her lips were slowly released. She landed softly on the ground, caught in Yoru's embrace.
She immersed herself deep into his arms, a tiny smile on her face.
"Don't let me go..." she whispered.
Yoru smiled, and tightened his embrace.
"I won't. Not ever. I promise."
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