Chapter 11: Your Name

Since one day you will disappear
I'll keep every part of you
Make sure that it's burned into the back of my eyes
It's not a right that I'm due
My duty that is must have been kept

Even the second, hour hands of the clock
They look at us sideways as they tick and tock
How I hope to have forever to spend
This life, no—all future lives
Right here in this world with you

Meliodas stared at his hand, his eyes tracing on the lines that crisscrossed on his skin. The crosshatching was familiar of course, his skin a patchwork of callouses and scars that had healed, burns from cooking and redness from cleaning, but for some reason, something was missing.

"Captain," someone said, and he looked up. The tavern was full, customers jostling at the counter, and his eyes connected with Diane, who stood impatiently with a hand on her hip. "You have those drinks ready?" she asked, her eyebrow raised.

"Yeah," he said, shaking his head to clear it. It was noisy, and the sound seemed to get louder all of a sudden. Bits of conversation floated over the clanking of glasses and shouting and laughter, so that it was easy for Meliodas to slide back into his role as bartender.

The Boar Hat had been bustling like this every night since they were now free from the Ten Commandments; three long years of war, followed by two years of reconstruction, and now Britannia was recovered and at peace. The Seven Deadly Sins, without a kingdom to call home, traveled from city to city in their mobile tavern, attracting the attention and patronage of everyone within miles. It was a good living, and a fun life, and what Meliodas had always wanted. He was free from fighting and war, and could just enjoy…

He slid a bottle to another customer, pausing to scoop up the coins on the counter, when a woman's laughter caught his attention. He peeked up and saw a flash of silver in the crowd, and for a moment, he was frozen. Then he moved, jumping over the counter and landing easily, the customers nearby laughing at his antics.

Quickly he pushed his way through the crowd, looking for the girl with the silver hair, but he couldn't find her. Eventually he ended up at the door, and he opened it and stepped out, staring into the twilight. With a disappointed sigh, he hung his head for a moment before returning to his spot behind the counter.

Meliodas was searching for something, but what he couldn't say. It was a feeling that had consumed him for some time. And his friends noticed.

Ban would clap him on the back when he was off in one of his daydreams. "Welcome back, Captain," he'd laugh, and Meliodas would brush him off, or even give him a punch back.

Gowther would eye him curiously, and Meliodas would be sure not to let him look in his head. Merlin too, for that matter; last thing he wanted was to be an experiment for either one of them.

Diane and King usually didn't notice much, now that they had noticed each other. But when they did, their questions were a little too pointed.

Escanor, surprisingly, seemed to be the most sympathetic. "The search for meaning is endless," he told him one night as they were cleaning after the bar closed. "And it should be; for what would become of us, if we stopped searching for our hearts' desires?"

"Happy," Ban had quipped, making the others laugh.

But Meliodas frowned. "I am happy. Britannia is at peace. We have everything we worked for, and it's happening now."

"Is it?" Escanor had asked, pushing his glasses up his nose.

"Is it something, or someone?" Meliodas sighed.

"Talking to yourself again?"

He cringed and looked over at Merlin, who was smirking at him a bit. She crossed the balcony until she stood next to him and leaned against the railing, her eyes scanning their surroundings. "Still feeling off?"

"I'm fine," Meliodas assured her.

Merlin nodded. "Yes, sitting and talking to yourself are signs of well-being." He pursed his lips and looked over at her smirk. "But I have an idea for you."

"Can't wait to hear it," he muttered.

She turned and leaned her back on the wooden rail, perching on her elbows. "Perhaps the tavern life isn't for you," she suggested.

"How do you mean?" he asked.

Merlin smiled. "There are many kingdoms in need of Holy Knights, Camelot included. I have it on good authority someone of your ranking and reputation would easily become a Grand Master in no time." She winked at him then, and Meliodas huffed. "I could even put in a word for you with Arthur."

"Thanks anyway," he laughed, shaking his head.

"A new profession could be what snaps you out of this," she said, surprisingly without any of her usual barb. "The Boar Hat is fun, but you're not a bartender. You are a warrior. You need something to protect."

"I want to protect my wallet," he joked.

Merlin looked at him curiously. "Being a knight would make you more money than this place ever would, if that is your worry. In fact, at this moment, Liones is hunting for a new Great Holy Knight."

"Liones?" he said in surprise. "What do you mean?"

"Apparently the kingdom is trying to make a comeback. It has been eight years, after all." She folded her arms as the news sat between them. "Do you remember when we went there?" she asked quietly. "It was…"

"Five years ago," he murmured.

"That long?" Merlin tapped her finger on her chin. "It seems as though I've forgotten a lot."

"I don't remember all that much back then either," admitted Meliodas.

"That was before we found the others, was it not?" she asked. "Before the second Holy War. Did we argue? I remember you had left for a day or two."

"I spent a night alone in the wreckage," he admitted. "I don't remember why. But for a while, I was really drawn to that place. I was interested in what had happened there."

He looked down at his hand, studying the patterns of lines. "That's where the demons were raised, wasn't it?" Merlin wondered.

Meliodas nodded, curling his fingers into a fist. "The Grand Master was corrupt and raised a demon. But miraculously, the people had been evacuated from the city. There were only a handful of casualties, and the Holy Knights had been ready to fight. They were able to stop him and kill the demon, even though the castle and the land was destroyed."

"What luck," she mused.

"There were a lot of rumors about how the king knew it was coming," Meliodas said. "I remember hearing people talk about him having prophetic visions of some kind. There was a weird freak storm that night too; but it's all just stories. There's no telling what the truth really is, because soon after the war broke out."

Merlin nodded. "If I remember correctly, the king died not long after. His daughter assumed the throne, but with the war was unable to get the financial backing to rebuild." She dipped her head towards him. "Until now, that is. The queen is rebuilding Liones, and Arthur is helping with supplies and men. But they need a Grand Master. You should think about applying for the job."

"I don't know anything about Liones," he argued.

"It's something to think about at least," she replied. "You seem to be searching for something. I just want you to find it, and maybe find some peace yourself."

Merlin turned to go back inside, and Meliodas watched her walk away before looking back at the sun, which was just beginning to set.

Meliodas was in town buying supplies when the rain started. It looked as though it wouldn't last long, just one of those little pop-up storms that happen in summer, so instead of hiking back to the Boar Hat and getting soaked, he decided to wait it out first. They were in a new town, not far from Camelot, one of many that had sprung up and grown rapidly with the new trade routes established after the end of the war.

Across from the general supply store was a little café, and amused, Meliodas headed over. There was a bell over the door that jingled as he walked in, and after running his hand through his hair, took a seat at a little table near the window so he could keep track of the weather.

A waitress came over a minute later with a menu. "Do you want a coffee?" she asked.

He smiled at her but shook his head. "Just some hot tea. But…" His eyes traced over the menu, and for an absurd moment, he wanted a fancy dessert. "I'll take a raspberry cake too."

She nodded and headed back beyond the counter, and Meliodas looked out the window. A little treat would help the mood he had been in for sure. It had been several weeks since Merlin had suggested he return to being a knight, and if he had to admit it, he had been tempted. Having orders to follow and soldiers at his command felt natural, and Meliodas did feel like he was missing doing some good in the world. But how could he leave the others, and what would he do with the Boar Hat? And he just got done fighting, did he want to start again?

He was deep in thought when his tea and cake arrived, the waitress pulling him from the daydream. As he stirred sugar into the hot drink a bit of conversation caught his ear.

"I think we should find somewhere bigger for the ceremony," a female voice said.

"They're all the same," her companion, a male, groaned.

"Yes, but we have a lot of guests coming to the wedding."

Meliodas took a sip and smiled to himself. Poor fools didn't know better than to not fall in love. "Doesn't matter," the man said, "if it's warm enough we'll be outside anyway."

"Oh, that reminds me! Howzer, you need to do something about that hair. I'm going on a diet for this you know."

Meliodas froze. Slowly he placed his teacup down as he listened to their argument.

"She says as she eats more cake."

"I'll be serious tomorrow!"

"Whatever you say, Jericho."

Swallowing thickly, Meliodas turned his head. The table the voices had been coming from was now empty, and he heard the bell of the door jingle. Spinning around, he watched as two people hurried out into the rain, squeezing together under one umbrella.

Meliodas sat in his room, watching the snow falling outside. Everyone was gone, having closed the tavern for a couple of days and letting everyone have some rest. The other Sins had cleared out, some heading to the Fairy King's Forest with King, Merlin checking in at Camelot, Gowther going who-knows-where. It was peaceful for sure, maybe a little too much.

Antsy now, he went to his closet and pulled out a box of old drawings. He hadn't drawn in ages, years maybe; but his fingers had energy inside them that was pricking at his nerves. Meliodas carried it all to the little table, but before finding a blank bit of paper, he instead started leafing through the pictures he had saved from years ago.

He smiled at some of the sketches of his companions, pictures of landscapes and armor, designs from when he first bought the Boar Hat. There were even pictures that looked like a dream, sketches of women and figures he didn't recognize, but somehow familiar.

Inside the sketchbook were several loose sheets, and one by one he pulled them out to examine them. It was of a castle, and Meliodas recognized them from before the Holy War. What was the name of this place?

Liones.

That's right, Liones, and he frowned as he looked at one after another. They were pictures of the castle façade, rooms and corridors, flags, the city buildings: sketches of a place that was no longer there. But looking at them made his chest feel so tight, and Meliodas could not explain the sear in the back of his throat.

Deciding he needed some air, he headed out the door. The snow was barely sticking, just on the grass mostly, and he pulled his coat around him as he walked towards the village. They were somewhere in central Britannia, maybe even a bit north; it had been months of travelling from one stop to another, and Meliodas didn't bother much in remembering where or why. The road that led to the town was nearly deserted, and he enjoyed the silence and the cold, brisk air as he walked.

The sign at the entrance read "Dalmary Town", and Meliodas smiled. He had been here before certainly, and as he walked through the empty streets, he recognized a few things, even as things had changed since the war. It had been years since he was here, but a sense of being in the right place made the uncomfortable confusion from earlier settle a bit.

The storm had kept the day from any sunlight, but at the normal time for sunset Meliodas noticed the shift from dim to darkness and decided to head back to the tavern. The snow was still falling steadily in big, round snowflakes, sticking to his coat and his hair. He smiled to himself as he walked, just a few people passing by as they hurried to their destinations, enjoying the quiet stillness of the town.

He passed a young woman with an umbrella, wearing a long coat and bundled under a thick scarf. Meliodas glanced at her as they passed one another, and did not think a thing of it until a little glint of something caught his eye. After a few more steps he paused, thinking, wondering what it was, before realizing it had been an earring dangling from her ear.

Meliodas looked over his shoulder, watching as she moved farther and farther away. It was a little blue bead that had caught his attention, and he frowned. Who cared about a random girl and her earring? But his heart was fluttering just the same, and for a moment he considered calling out to her, or even following her.

Instead, he watched as the snow covered her footsteps, turning to continue his walk home with his hands stuffed in his pockets.

It was the first day of spring, and Camelot was decked out for a festival to celebrate the anniversaries of the king's coronation and the end of the Second Holy War. Meliodas tapped his foot impatiently as he stood listening to the speeches, giving Ban an elbow as the man stifled another yawn. "How much longer is this gonna go on~" he complained.

"It'll be over soon enough," he murmured. "Merlin is being honored, and we should be here for her."

"As long as the booze is flowing at the after party I'm good," Ban joked.

Meliodas snorted and turned his attention back to the ceremony. Arthur was speaking, looking every bit of the king he was meant to be and not like the young, overly enthusiastic young man he had met years ago in the war. Merlin had been mentoring him throughout the years, and he was generous in return. The two had formed an interesting alliance as they both benefited from her work and her magic.

He honored her now, as well as other heroes of the war, then spoke of those that had been lost. Interestingly, he began to speak of the first demon that had appeared in the war: a red demon that had appeared in Liones.

Meliodas stood a bit straighter. "The loss of Liones was a loss for all of Britannia," Arthur pronounced. "That is why it has been my deepest honor to give aid to Queen Margaret and the citizens who have been working tirelessly these past years to rebuild."

Margaret! Meliodas gasped when Arthur held out his hand, and the queen stepped forward. Her lavender hair was pulled back and pinned beautifully under her crown, and the two monarchs embraced as she stepped up to give her own remarks of thanks and friendship. But he could barely hear, the blood in his ears rushing frantically, pounding in his veins.

"You all right there Cap'n?" Ban asked. "You look like you seen a ghost."

A ghost. Why was this so… familiar? Strange? He looked down at his hand, staring at his skin, and wondered why. All this time, since the war—since before the war—he was always searching for someone.

His eyes darted back up and he scanned the group of nobles that were standing on the balcony with the king, when his gaze landed on a girl standing to the side, smiling at the queen, her long silver hair blowing slightly in the breeze.

Meliodas gasped, his heart stopping. Then, the impossible: she looked over the crowd, and their eyes connected.

Her mouth fell open, her eyes widened, and Meliodas knew she recognized him, just as he recognized her.

Instantly he was off, weaving through the crowd, trying to figure out a way to get inside. From the corner of his eye he saw the silver-haired girl also moving, heading back inside the castle. Merlin could help him, but she was on the balcony as well, out of reach and no way to contact her. There were hundreds of people there, and Meliodas and Ban had been standing in the center; he cursed under his breath as he stepped between people and groups, looking every which way for the closest doorway.

Finally he got to the edge of the crowd, and after a brief negotiation with a guard was allowed inside. But now where? He took off in a run, hurrying down the corridors, but this castle had a twisting layout that left him more confused than anything. There was a roar from outside as the crowd cheered, and his heart sunk. If the ceremony ended, would he ever find that girl? Who even was she?

His lungs were tight as he ran, and somehow Meliodas ended up outside again. He growled in frustration and barreled back inside, nearly knocking over a group of housemaids who were hurrying to some task. "Where is the balcony?" he gasped, and one pointed to a hallway on the right.

Shouting his thanks Meliodas took off again, still not sure where to go, but knowing he had to get there. Turning one last corner, he stopped at a large staircase.

At the top stood the silver-haired girl, her hand on the railing. She had also stopped, staring at him in surprise, and Meliodas' first thought was that he had never seen anyone so beautiful. Her eyes were a brilliant blue, her figure stunning under the formal dress, her skin soft and creamy, her cheeks dusted with a beautiful rosy hue.

This girl took his breath away.

His mouth went dry, not knowing what to say. Embarrassed, he rubbed his hand through his hair, sure he looked like an absolute sight after running like a madman through the castle. Meliodas was glad he had decided on more formal clothing for the occasion, and he cleared his throat, straightening his jacket a bit.

Feigning confidence, he strode forward, reaching the staircase. He began to climb one side, and at the same time, the girl walked down the steps on the other, no sound except for the soft click of their shoes. Meliodas stared at her as he went higher, and he could have sworn she gave a little gasp when their eyes met again; but then hers darted away, and he began to doubt.

What was he doing? She was obviously someone important, to be on the balcony with the others. She was beautiful and young and probably scared half to death to be stalked by some unknown stranger whose hair was sticking up on end and who was sweaty and out of breath and saying nothing as he walked up the steps. Meliodas' stomach dropped, and then they passed one another, neither saying a word, both of their eyes on the ground.

He reached the top, and stopped. The corridor before him was empty: as empty as he had been all these weeks and months, and somehow he knew that if he did not seize this moment, he would regret it forever. Her footsteps behind him told him she was still walking down the stairs, so he turned and shouted, "Excuse me!"

The girl froze, her silver hair swinging as she went still. Meliodas heard her breath catch, so he screwed his courage and called down, "Haven't we—I mean, haven't I—have we met? Somewhere?"

She did not turn around, instead bringing her hands together to wring her fingers; then one reached up and slid over the bead that dangled from her ear.

Whether it was a second or an eternity, Meliodas could never say for sure. But then she turned, and he blinked. Tears were streaming down her cheeks, but her eyes were bright with joy, and she smiled at him, the most beautiful smile he had ever seen. "I thought so too," she answered, her voice like an angel, calling to his heart.

Meliodas smiled, feeling a tear of his own slide down his face. He gave a little chuckle, and their eyes met again. At once the feeling that he had been looking for was his—this feeling of being found, of no longer searching, but the search being over.

"Can I ask your name?" they both said at the same time.

A/N: I both love and hate coming to the end of a story. But this is the end, and I must thank you all for reading. This fic meant a great deal to me to write and to share with you, and I truly hope you enjoyed it. And if you haven't watched Kimi No Na Wa yet, go do that! Let me know what you thought of this interpretation. I also want to note that all the quotes were lyrics from the soundtrack by RADWIMPS. I encourage you to give it a listen; the songs are beautiful and somehow just work for Meliodas and Elizabeth.

This is the end of this story, but not for Meliodas and Elizabeth. I'm considering a sequel that's an original work... what do you think? And this is not the end of me either; I'll be publishing a brand new fic in a couple of weeks.

Finally I must give my most deepest love and thanks to TheGreatLlamaFish. She was with me every step of creating this story, and she made the most incredible art for it. You are a wonderful and talented friend, and I'm so happy that we had the chance to do this together!