Original Stories Fan Fiction ❯ Was she worth it? ❯ Our One Last Chance ( Chapter 5 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

By: axel720

And it's done. Felt like ripping off a band-aid.

I want to dedicate this to everyone that has reviewed and encouraged me to continue through `till the end.

Disclaimer: This is an entirely original story, the name Artemis Entreri belongs to R.A Salvatore, all characters are original.

The song
'Breaking the Habit'
is by Linkin Park.

Here we go…!

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His vision was foggy, but his ears worked fine.

Screaming.

It echoed in his mind relentlessly, rattling his senses, tearing at his wits. They were a child's screams, helpless, desperate screams.

He realized they were his own.

His hands were shaking again. They wouldn't stop shaking.

Blood.

It was everywhere. He lifted his shaking hands; her blood was dripping off his hands. He looked down at his reflection in the shards of a broken mirror; her blood was splattered across his face. It was everywhere. Don't leave me.

Mother!? Don't leave me…

The screaming stopped. There was laughter.

Laughter?

A sick, gut wrenching laughter.

Father.

It was before him. The image he had feared the most. The fragment of his memory that he had condemned to the deepest depths of his mind. Sheer willpower had kept it there. It had escaped somehow. It was before him, the image he had feared the most. As clear as the night it had happened some decade ago.

The image of his father slicing her throat before his eyes.

It was a messy death. Her blood had sprayed everywhere, on the walls, on the floor, on his horrified face. A merciless death.

Right before his eyes.

She may have survived, had she gotten the proper medical attention. Had her killer not left her there to rot in front of her son.

Mother…

He felt so much hurt at the thought of her. His throat would always constrict, tighten to the point of pain. He was always afraid to talk in case he choked somehow. He could no longer remember the tender memories of her that brought him happiness. All that was left was the pain.

Father…

Fear, rage. The image of his father was the epitome of both, the embodiment of all that was wrong and evil in the world. The reason children were starving, buildings were falling and countries were warring. At least to him. His father had killed his mother.

I will never call you `father'.

The image was there again. The quick motion of the knife as it slid across. It went back and forth on her neck in his mind like a gruesome saw. He couldn't push it away. He was usually able to push it away.

I shouldn't have fallen asleep.

Wake up.

His eyes opened, silencing the screams that ricocheted around his head. He coughed a bit, and then almost choked, realizing he had fallen asleep with a cigarette in his mouth. He dusted the ashes off his clothes, off his bed and onto the floor of the empty room. He was back in his room at Montblanc de Claud's manor. It was elaborately decorated, but everything still felt empty.

Jacks' empty bed beside him, the empty room, his empty heart.

Time was going slow for Artemis Entreri. Days dragged on, painfully stretching out his empty life. He had come back, he had left her.

As long as she's safe.

Someone had sent out the order for Entreri. He wanted Entreri alive.

Who, why…?

Yeah, plenty of people would want him dead. Not many would offer so much money for him though. He was worthless. Not many would want to face him alive, either. So who, and, why?

It was a lot of money. The people in his world cared a lot about money. They would have hurt Chidori to get to him…for the money. He knew he had to leave her. He refused to allow them to use her like that. And if they had hurt her somehow…? He visibly shuddered in his sitting position on his bed.

Now that he had left her…he felt empty. He must have forgotten his soul or something, not that it had ever mattered to him. Before he had met Chidori, he hadn't really noticed it was even there. He must have felt the same back then as he did now, but he couldn't remember feeling so pointless, so god damn empty.

In the back of his mind, he wondered when they would come after him. He had sent the word out that he was back. They should be coming after him soon, whoever `they' was.

All he could do was wait. He was an empty shell waiting to be noticed.

And it was snowing.

The last snowfalls of the season, apparently. It would be a long winter this year. Maybe they were waiting for winter to finish, waiting for the snow to melt.

What happens when the snow melts?

`It becomes water'? That's what Jacks had said. Entreri felt like he knew the answer, but perhaps had left it behind with Chidori, with his heart, with his elusive soul

I don't need a soul if I'm going to hell.

He let out a sigh and got up; he needed to escape the empty space. There was far too much room in it for his thoughts.

The manor was silent; it was late afternoon, almost twilight. Everyone would be coming back soon. A good time for a walk. He jumped out of his window and landed in a crouch ankle-deep in snow. He couldn't feel the cold outside; he couldn't feel much of anything anymore. He was a numb, empty…thing. No, not even a thing. Things have substance, matter. He was more like a ghost, no longer considered human without his other half. Not without Chidori.

He made is way across the snow-covered courtyard. He looked back absentmindedly to check if he had even left footprints.

His life was black and white again. He felt like the gray in between absolute darkness and absolute light. As he walked, he noticed people still on the icy streets. A man with a yellow scarf, a little girl with a green ribbon in her hair. Each person had a distinct colour about them, and it had nothing to do with what they were wearing.

His mind drifted to her. It had been doing that all the time; escaping the tight leash he had strangled it in, it seemed desperate to get back to her. All the time. He wondered what she was doing at that moment.

Are you thinking of me, too?

His sharp ears picked up activity from the mansion. Time to go back. He would get information, anything that could clue him in to who was after him, where they were. If he found out whom it was? Nothing… he didn't feel like doing anything anymore. There was no point. He had lost the adventurous side of himself, the part of him that craved action and intrigue, his `fighting spirit'. He was just the colour gray now.

On his way back, he pictured Chidori, in her warm world of spring and colours. He realized why he hadn't given up on living just yet…

I want to come home to you.

“Entreri,” he turned to see Montblanc de Claud, they stood together in the middle of the frozen courtyard. A gust of wind blew and there was a momentous pause. “She's in danger.”

That was all it took to snap Entreri out of his self-pitying trance.

“What!?” his face was one of disbelief, puffs of smoke evaporated around his gaping mouth. He turned to De Claud, his full attention on the older man. Time was of the essence, every second that went by was crucial. Chidori was in danger.

“An anonymous tip. He wants to meet you here,” De Claud handed him a scrap of paper with an address on it. Not really an address, a location. There was another pause and gust of wind. “…Entreri,” the boy lifted his head and looked into the older man's eyes, “Be careful.” He gave a curt nod and continued towards his mansion.

Entreri stood there for a while, staring at the note. Agate Cemetery. The name felt familiar to him, the place was nearby. He could reach it before sunset.

It's been…ten years.

Memories consume,

Agate Cemetary

Like opening a wound,

A quiet place, like all other cemeteries. There was a small hill in the center of it, with a single tree at its peak. The tree had grown well, it was big, strong and sturdy, and it shaded a lot of the graves. The tree was ten years old.

I'm picking me apart again

Headstones fanned out around the hill, and a circular fence bordered the place. The hill was bare, aside from the tree, and a single lonesome grave. Entreri entered the cemetery, opening the waist high gate with a creak. He paused to scan the area; a soft, solemn wind was blowing, passing over the gray headstones, soothing the spirits of the dead that lay there. They were all covered in snow, it gathered around the base of the hill.

You all assume,

The wind blew again and he locked his gaze onto a dark form atop the one tree hill. The sun was setting behind the figure, giving it an eerie black silhouette. Entreri took a deep breath, and headed to the figure.

I'm safe here in my room,

Wind tossed his black hair around, he didn't show any acknowledgement of Entreri's presence beside him. His eyes were fixed to the blank headstone of the lone grave, stretched out before him. He was dressed in all black, a stark contrast to his pale skin, and in his hand he held a single red rose.

Unless I try to start again

Entreri took his eyes off the man, looking at the headstone instead. Some snow gathered on the top edge of it and at its base. There were no carvings, no name, no mention of children or grandchildren. Just a single glass jar with a single withered rose in it. The wind blew and it slid around the rim of the dried up jar. The man spoke.

I don't want to be the one
the battles always choose

“Your eyes…have changed.” His voice was deep and slightly croaky; his chin was lowered into his collar to block the cold wind. “They used to be blue, like your mother's.” Both pairs of eyes stayed on the headstone.

`Cause inside I realize
that I'm the one confused

“Things can change like that.” Entreri lowered his eyes to his shoes, almost covered completely in snow. He glanced back to the man beside him. He was the same height as Entreri, his hair black and tussled. His features were sharp, he was a handsome man but his age had caught up with him. Aside from the lines around his eyes and mouth, he was a handsome man. He had expressionless gray eyes, but there was a depth to them that hid many secrets. Entreri realized after some time that he was accurately describing an older version of himself.

I don't know what's worth fighting for
or why I have to scream

“I guess you ended up taking after me in the end.” The man looked at Entreri and their eyes met, the smallest hint of something was in the man's cold eyes. Pride? Disappointment? Entreri couldn't quite place it. There was so much pain in those eyes, so much heartache. The evidence of a deep wound that had never healed. It still ached. He wondered absentmindedly, if Chidori died, would his wound ache forever, too?

I don't know why I instigate

and say what I don't mean

He stood there, beside the man, staring at his mother's grave.

I don't know how I got this way

I know it's not alright

“It's her life for yours.” the man let out a sigh. “I'll do you this one favor,” He turned fully towards Entreri, “you can go see her one last time.” Entreri turned as well, his heart warmed at the thought of seeing Chidori. “You will go, and come back here when you're done.” Entreri gave him a nod. “I'll take your word for it.” The man turned toward the grave and replaced the withered rose with the fresh one in his hand. He turned back to Entreri. “Tomorrow, then.”

So I'm breaking the habit

I'm breaking the habit

Entreri nodded again and turned to leave, stopping in his tracks halfway down the hill. He turned his head slightly and looked to the setting sun. He let out the breath he was holding in a puff of smoke, looked back at the man on the hill,

“Consider it the one thing you did for me as a father.”

Tonight.

Chidori had been sitting alone on her bed. She had lost count of the days that had passed since he had left. Jacks' body was no longer in her living room, but she could still smell his blood on the wall.

She had stopped thinking about work, her friends, her life. She hadn't even been crying. There was just no point in it. She was alone again.

I don't want to be alone.

She looked to her bedside table and stared at the portrait of her parents sitting beside her alarm clock. The bold red digital numbers read 11:48 pm. She should be going to bed soon, but she didn't want to sleep. She would only dream of him.

She wasn't mad at him for going. She understood somehow why he had left. He hid his thoughts from her well, but she could always read them through his guard. Jacks had said they wanted Entreri, and would hurt her to get to him. She knew he was trying to protect her; he wanted her to live a good life and be happy.

But I'm happiest with you…

A rap at the glass doors to her balcony sounded, it broke the silence of the entire house. She snapped her head towards the door, moonlight filtered in, the full moon was glowing in the sky. It basked him in an ethereal glow and she thought that she must have fallen asleep. It had to be a dream.

Another sound was heard around the house, the click of the door as she flicked the lock up. The door opened slowly, letting the breeze into her room. She kept her hand on the edge of the door and rested her head against the frame. The wind blew her hair from her face, dried the moisture that was gathering in her eyes. She opened her mouth to speak, but he silenced her with a soft touch to her face. He cupped her cheek and ran his thumb delicately over her lips, his other hand braced on the doorframe, just above her head. Time stopped for a brief moment when their eyes met. He let it out with a breath, what had been bottled up inside for so long.

“I love you.”

Clutching my cure,

He stepped toward her and she took a step back, making room for him to come inside. This time, when the door closed, it was Entreri who was smashed against it.

I tightly lock the door,
I try to catch my breath again,

Their lips met in a desperate kiss, their arms wrapped around each other tightly; afraid of letting go of the most precious thing either of them had ever held so close.

I hurt much more
than any time before

They found their way to the bed somehow and the last articles of clothing dropped to the floor. They were locked in a sweet kiss, her hands were cupping his face and his hands were running over the smooth skin on her hips, he cupped her cute ass like he had been craving to since the last time he had held it. It's a fucking great ass.

I had no options left again

Their kiss slowed and they parted, pants of breath mingling between them. Their lips were plump from kissing and their skin was flushed from the effect the other's hands had had on their body. He dipped in for a slower kiss; he wanted this time to be different.

I don't want to be the one
the battles always choose

He made love to her for the first time that night, he wanted this significant moment of his life to last as long as possible.

'Cause inside I realize
that I'm the one confused

They just lay there afterwards, basking in the afterglow, tangled in sheets, bathed in moonlight; she was lying on his chest, her arms rested on his collarbone, stroking the pulse on his neck with a thumb. She buried her face in the crook of his neck, he held her closer in response.

I don't know what's worth fighting for

Or why I have to scream

“I love you so much…” she said as she tightened her grip on him, so scared of letting go.

I don't know why I instigate

and say what I don't mean

He stayed awake, long after she had fallen asleep. He just stared at her. He had wanted to cry, but couldn't bring himself to admit that it was the last time he was going to see her. He refused to close his eyes, resisted the stinging need to blink, he didn't want to miss any part of his last moments with her.

I don't know how I got this way
I'll never be alright

He resisted the urge to hear her voice one last time; he had promised himself he would leave before she woke up. He just lay there and imagined what she would do once he was gone.

So I'm breaking the habit

I'm breaking the habit

Would she find someone else? Get married? Have children with this other man? The pang of jealousy he had expected didn't come.

Tonight.

I just want you to be happy.

Sunrise.

I'll paint it on the walls
'cause I'm the one at fault

His father was in the exact same spot, as if he had never moved from there since the previous night. Something had changed. This man wasn't his father. This was the man that had killed his mother.

I'll never fight again
and this is how it ends

“Welcome back.” His voice had changed as well. It sounded sickening; there was that disgusting laughter in this voice. “Are you ready, little boy?”

I don't know what's worth fighting for

or why I have to scream

“Yeah.” He tried to keep the venom from his voice. He tried to keep his hands from shaking. He clenched them into fists instead. He closed his eyes. The image was back.

His father was sawing through her neck again.

But now I have some clarity
to show you what I mean

What would his father do to him now? There was only silence, no sign of an ambush, no flash of a weapon. His senses were on absolute edge, there was nothing this sick bastard wouldn't do.

I don't know how I got this way
I'll never be alright

“Are you really ready to die?” The asshole couldn't keep the laughter in, he was mocking his son. “And for a woman, no less!” The laughter echoed. The morning air was still. The laughter died.

So I'm breaking the habit
I'm breaking the habit

“Is she worth it?” His hands came from his pockets, Entreri checked to see if anything had come with them. No weapon. Nothing. Of course she's worth it.

I'm breaking the habit
Tonight.

He blinked, another image from his earliest memories flashed before him. The image of his father's fast approaching fist. Only, this one was real.

The harsh cry of a raven echoed in the distance.

Everything went black.

It was cold.

Consciousness slowly returned to him. It was dark.

Blinking through the haze in his eyes that had not yet cleared, he lifted his heavy head and slowly took in the unfamiliar surroundings.

His eyes adjusted to the darkness, straining to make some semblance of shape with the guidance of the sliver of moonlight that crept in through a small barred window, inches from the ceiling.

Four damp, stone walls bordered the cell. Entreri realized that his feet had no support and he could barely move his arms, save for an experimental clench of his fist. He was suspended off the wet ground, sparsely clothed, chained loosely to one of the walls by his outspread arms.

Chidori…

He was wet and cold. He missed her warmth. The warmth her smile brought him, like the warmth spring brings to winter, melting all the ice and bathing everything in joyous sunlight, all that jazz. He hated winter. This place… was worse than winter. This place was hell.

His ears registered the rhythmic dripping of water, echoing in the silence. His nose registered the stench of death, the smell of blood. It was stained on the walls, it was dripping off himself.

A sudden, harsh flash of light sent both of his pupils haywire as a cheap fluorescent light swinging from the ceiling was switched on. He hung his head low, shading his face with dark, messy hair. His eyes were screwed shut, temporarily blinded by the unexpected flash after adjusting to darkness. His ears registered the heavy footfalls of an unknown person, the grating of metal against the hard ground with every step.

The next thing he registered was pain.

Cold, hard steel speared into some semi-vital organ low in his torso, plowing right through to the wall at his back. It burned. It spread. The pain lanced cruelly up his spine and ravaged his nervous system. His neck snapped up and he caught a harsh groan in his parched throat, letting it out through his teeth out the side of his mouth with a shudder.

He heard the mocking laughter of a low, baritone voice. It seemed to last forever, echoing off the walls in his hell. The devil himself had come to deal with him. Entreri heard a click and felt his insides explode. Blades from three sides of the torture device sprung out and slashed at whatever they could reach. He knew what came next. The demon tore the weapon back out of his body and he bit back a scream.

It was that voice again. Blood poured from the wound and soaked into his clothes. Shit.

“Have you decided to tell me what I need to know?”

The voice of the devil was gruffer than he had imagined, but this was not the devil. He didn't know this man, but could safely conclude that this man was an asshole. His own voice sounded distant to him and it hurt, but he spoke.

“Go…” he struggled with his speech. His throat was dry and his lips were parched. Oh, he was bleeding a bit, too.

“Spit it out!”

Shut up, asshole. He felt a metal-laden fist punch into his wound and he doubled over as far as he could, and let out a strangled growl, gurgling blood. Through blurry vision he could see it dripping to the floor. Shit.

“Now, what were you saying…?”

He struggled more this time. Swallowing the blood in his mouth, he lifted his head slowly. He took the time to get a better look at the petulant man. Nothing special. His neck strained under the suddenly tremendous task of holding his head up as he cleared his throat, ready to speak.

“Go…fuck yourself.” He managed.

The blow went to his head this time, faster than he had thought the man capable, and the last thing he remembered was the sound of a heavy lock and door, and those same grating footsteps leaving the cell.

It was dark again.

Her legs worked below her with a mind of their own. All she could think about was finding him. It wasn't the first time she had lost control of her body, but was nothing like the times she had been too afraid to move or afraid enough to shake.

Please…

Cold sweat glistened on her skin; icy drops ran down her arms from her armpits. Her lungs burned, her nostrils were dry. None of it mattered.

I need you so much…

She ran through the wet, stone corridors, her footsteps echoing, splashing in the small puddles. The dark stone smelled like blood, a scent that was somehow familiar to her, though it shouldn't be. The warmth of her own blood ran down her injured temple, she had a splitting migraine piercing through her eye. None of it mattered.

Don't leave me.

There were so many hallways, so many turns. Too many options. She had to find him, but couldn't find her way through the endless maze. It was like a bad dream, no matter how far you run, you stay in the same place, and no matter how loud you scream, nobody can hear you.

Just keep running.

How did she find this place? The blow she had taken to her head must have wiped the information from her memory. All she knew was that he had been brought here. He was somewhere close by.

She took a left turn, then a right, straight ahead. She was letting her body take her, she trusted the part of her that was controlling it, the new part of herself that reminded her so much of Artemis. A sort of `fighting spirit' that had burst into her system. She had to deliver it to him.

The part of himself that he had left behind.

She's so beautiful…

He watched himself with her, as if he was watching the happiest moments in his life on a huge screen. Images of her smiling face flashed by, emerald eyes shining down at him. Then she was dancing in a field of flowers, her raven hair shining in the sun. The pair of them ended up tangled in bed sheets, bathed in moonlight.

It was like a corny chick flick, but they were the happiest moments in his life.

He had done a great deal of bad things in his life, he was a thief, a murderer, a liar, but they never showed up in this dream. All the bad things ceased to exist once he had met her. Hell, he had even quit smoking. He had been so happy…

Soft, warm light crept in from the corners of his vision, he could feel himself fading, happy that he had lived some of his life the way it should have been lived…am I in heaven?

Wham!

It was the fist again, plowing right into his gut, bringing him back to reality. Persistent asshole... He was back in hell.

Wham!

He choked up some more blood, not able to wonder how much time had passed since he last blacked out. His hands must have long since gone numb, the blood circulation cut off by the combination of chains and his weight. The dingy light was back on, showing him just how much blood he had lost. Why am I still alive?

“Welcome back.” The man said, with a malicious smile in his voice. “Eager to get back to where we left off, I see.”

Entreri was panting now, having tried and failed to breathe deep and even, each pass of air to his lungs brought more pain.

Wham!

Back again.

“Enough stalling! Talk!” Demon reared his fist again.

Wham!

Ass. Hole. He had been tortured before, but had promptly spat out all the information they had needed to know to save his own ass, no matter who had been ratted out because of it. This time it was different, he had no idea what this man needed to know.

Just…try not to scream. The demon had produced two sharp iron blades from the folds of his clothing and, in a flash, stabbed them into the palms of Entreri's hands, pinning them to the wall. More blood seeped from his palms, but he couldn't feel anything there.

“I will kill you. If you won't talk, I'll kill you.” Still no response. Demon was getting angry.

For you, Chidori.

Where are you?

More drops of water sounded down the dungeon-like halls.

She tuned her ears to her surroundings. She had come to an open hall with two adjoining rooms. One to her left and one to her right. She willed her new spirit to lead her down the right path. She went left. Artemis was in the room to the right.

The heavy door wasn't locked, she prepared herself, reached into her jacket and pulled out the gun she had brought with her, hoping she wouldn't have to use it. The smell of the weapon, that peculiar slippery smell of oil, agitated her nostrils and she almost sneezed.

She pushed the door ajar with great effort, it groaned loudly, obviously unused to being opened. There was a man sitting at a dark desk at the center of the room. His voice made her sick.

“You must be Chidori.”

He heard an annoyed grunt as the demon turned to what seemed like a surgeon's table. He didn't need to wonder what the table was for. He could see the spear from before, still dripping with his own blood. He was distracted by the smooth sound of sliding steel, and the ensuing disturbing chuckle. Shit. The man had pulled a scimitar from its sheath. Don't scream.

He pointed the blade into Entreri's neck, just breaking the skin and drawing blood.

“Was she really worth it?”

The air was tense.

She had never seen this man before, but she knew who he was.

Who else would have gray eyes?

“What have you done with Artemis?!” she had blurted it out, betraying her emotions. Her eyes watered at the surge of emotions that had been building up to this very moment, convulsing in the pit of her stomach.

“Dear Artemis is busy at the moment, little bird.” He moved to get up but she halted him by raising her gun. She aimed it at his head, right between the eyes. His mocking laughter sounded. “Are you going to shoot me?”

“Shut up. Where is Artemis?” she secured her fingers on the trigger.

“You'll know soon enough.” He sat back in his chair. “Go on, then. Shoot me. Kill me.” He was toying with her. He knew she didn't have the stomach to end a life. “Sayonara.” He said with a wave and a mock Japanese accent. He started laughing again. Wrong decision.

With this Entreri, she didn't hesitate.

Close range. Perfect aim. Simple as that.

A fiery tunnel burned through his forehead, splattering his brains on the wall behind him. His face was shattered. If you had picked up the pieces and put them back together, he would have still been laughing. The body slumped forward on the desk and blood pooled on the surface.

“Sayonara.”

The blade sliced clean through his neck, spilling his blood onto the stone floor. The demon unchained him and let him fall to the ground. He left the cell, turning the light off and closing the door. Entreri faintly heard a thump.

He lay there on his back, looking up at the ceiling. Moonlight still shone in through the barred window and the rhythmic dripping of blood and water continued to echo off the walls.

Was she… really worth it?

He was seeing parts of his life again. He was surrounded by light, engulfed in her warmth, her smile,

Yeah.

“Artemis!?” The voice was faint…it was heavenly…

Chidori…?

“Oh my god! Artemis!” He heard it with more clarity this time.

Chidori?!

She was sobbing, kneeling beside him in his blood and pulling things from her jacket. She was tearing at her clothes, her hands shaking. Chidori looked at him lying there, hastily surveying his wounds. There was no time to spare.

You…

He couldn't speak, he couldn't swallow. It made blood gush from his neck. All he could do was lie there. His vision was still too hazy. He wanted to see her face.

You came back for me?

“Oh gods…please…please!” He started choking on his own blood; Chidori panicked and quickly turned him to his side, letting the blood run from his mouth. “Artemis! Just…just don't talk ok?!” He could feel her hands around his torso and felt a tightening near the gash above his hipbone. She was bandaging him, desperately putting pressure on the open flesh. All he could do was lie there.

How did you get here?

His vision was slowly clearing and he could feel his arms again. They were aching and his hands felt like shit. He tried to turn his head to get a good look at her but an ear splitting scream in his head told him not to move his neck.

Am I going to die?

He knew what it felt like to die. In his earlier years, many jobs had gone wrong and he had cheated the Devil by a thread. He had been to hell and back so many times. They had said Artemis Entreri was like a cat with nine lives. He couldn't count how many he had wasted. So how many did he have left?

How many times is a person allowed to die?

Chidori had rolled him over onto his back again, he coughed. He could finally see her properly. Tears were coming from her eyes but her face was a mask of determination. She had dressed his hands and stopped the small flow of blood that had been escaping from them. The deep wound above his hip was still bleeding, dying the bandages a deep red colour. A lot of his insides had been torn; all she could do was subdue the blood flow out of his body. Internal bleeding was another matter. She needed to get him to a hospital, very soon.

He eyed her and studied her face; her eyes took on a horrified glaze when they landed on the slash at his neck. I must look like shit.

He opened his mouth to speak.

“No! Don't talk!” She was afraid to touch it, afraid her shaking hands would kill him if she touched the grave injury. Her arm ached as she tore some more bandages. It must have broken when the brute outside threw her against the wall. She had shot him, too. None of that mattered now.

I need to save your life.

He could see the blood running down the side of her face, the bruises on her arms as she leaned over him. Who the fuck hurt you?

She very delicately lifted his head just enough to slide one end of the cloth underneath. This was the difference between life and death. She slowly wrapped the long material around his neck. It almost instantaneously turned red. She didn't know what else to do; she needed to get him to a hospital somehow. How?

She looked down to see him staring at her, when he opened his mouth to speak, she didn't stop him. She brought one of his bloodied hands to her face, holding it between her cheek and her own hand.

“Chi…dori.” He managed. His lip curled into a small smirk. The one he knew she loved.

“You're going to be okay.” She believed her own words, she had to. She refused to let him die.

“Chidori,” he paused, taking deep breaths. He was uncomfortable. He was lying in his own blood on a cold stone floor, his hair was wet and his stomach was hurting. None of it mattered.

“What happens when the snow melts?” he somehow knew she had the answer. He needed to decide weather or not he should give up on living.

She almost laughed; bittersweet tears ran down her cheeks. `What happens when the snow melts'? The blood must have stopped running to his brain. She answered, smiling her beautiful smile down at him as if it was the most obvious thing in the world,

“It becomes spring.”

He only smiled back up at her. The decision had been made for him. It was the first true smile that had ever reached his face. He decided that his ninth life was well worth living.

He would not waste it.

It was their one last chance.

It's settled then.

Chidori,

We'll get married in spring.

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A/N: I couldn't do it! I couldn't kill him! XD
Surprised?

SO many things with this ending don't add up at all, but I hope you can forgive me for being such a hopeless romantic. Besides, you should know that I hate sad endings!

I hope it's not too mushy, either. I felt so tacky during this chapter, but I guess it had to be done. I think tying the first chapter really helped me keep the writing at the same standard (or something close enough, at least =p)

Thanks for sticking this one out with me ^^!
R&R, tell me what you think!