To the readers, if you got time or if you already have it, I'd suggest reading this epilogue along with the song of Our Lady Peace that's entitled "Somewhere Out There". For me, the song really fits.

The end of this journey...

Epilogue

It was just really sudden. She had not expected the man who once saved her from ShadowLabs to just appear at her side in the bustling city of London. Before she entering the airport, she left a voice message on her manager's cellphone, explaining that she needed to go somewhere for a few days and apologized for her disappearance. Shizuma even thought for a moment that she was looking at Blake Saberhart because of the vast similarity between the two of them. The last time she had seen Leon, he still had boyish feature to him. Now, he was taller and was sharper looking. She was feeling a little amused as she glanced at Leon from her seat in the small-chartered plane. They had left the London airport at around one in the morning. He really did look a lot like Blake... even the way he dressed was exactly just like Blake's style of clothing.

"You are staring."

Shizuma turned away, feeling her cheeks grow hot. "Sorry," she mumbled, wrapping her arms around her shivering body. She was still wearing the coat of Sebastian, but she still felt cold. It was already winter in these parts of Europe. Finland was one of the northernmost countries in the world and was located quite close to the Arctic Circle. "You just remind me a lot of, Blake," she admitted.

Leon raised an eyebrow at his travelling companion. "Well," he glanced at his watch. "We have about twenty minutes more before we land." The flight from London to Finland lasted three hours. "The reason why I remind you of Blake a lot is because I'm her half brother."

"You never mentioned this when you broke Blake and me out from oilrig," Shizuma said, a little bit surprised at the revelation. She most felt that she understood now why Blake and Leon indeed looked alike.

"I didn't want to reveal myself and it wasn't the right time," Leon replied. "Blake only found out when I led the attack for ShadowLabs two years ago." Leon waved a stewardess over. "May I ask for a blanket for my friend here?" Once the stewardess had gone to do his bidding, he focused his attention on Shizuma. "She was unbelieving at first, but after all the explaining I did she finally accepted it."

Shizuma nodded her head and gratefully accepted the blanket when the stewardess came back. "So you had the same father?" she asked, wrapping the blanket around her cold frame. "I'm assuming you had a different mother since Raine Skylar told us that she only had one child."

The young man nodded. "I was a 'test tube baby' as they would describe it. The scientists from ShadowLabs used a collected sample of semen from Alex Skylar and a random egg cell from an unknown woman to make me." He looked out into the early morning skies. "I was told from the start though that I was the younger brother of 22,018 or Blake Saberhart." He was silent for a few seconds. "I think the Redferns were trying to play with mind, making me feel like I was inferior to Blake. Unfortunately, it worked because I willingly fought Blake two years ago."

"How did the two of you survive that missile attack?"

Leon lowered his gaze and closed his eyes. "Hunter had just fired the rocket launcher at one of the oil tanks," he recounted. "The whole platform was on fire and Blake and I were still in the middle of the platform surrounded by burning debris. Blake was unconscious after being fired at by Hunter and I was just about to go unconscious too from exhaustion and smoke inhalation. While I was on the ground and losing my sight, I managed to catch Blake moving and pushing herself up to her hands and knees. She was picking me up when I finally lost it."

"So you weren't conscious when the missiles hit the oilrig?" Shizuma asked.

Leon nodded his head and fingered the scar on his face. "I got this though from the blast despite not really experiencing it first-hand," he explained. "By the time I had woken up, we were on some deserted part of a beach several miles away from the destroyed oilrig. The tide was coming in and I was partly in the water. Blake was a few feet beside me and she looked almost lifeless." His hands clenched involuntarily. "I dragged Blake for a few miles and broke into a closed clinic and did my best with our injuries. Thankfully, I learned a few things from one of the doctors at ShadowLabs before he was killed."

"How did you end up in Finland?" Shizuma asked, hearing the pilot's voice on the plane's sound system. "You're quite a ways from the USA and why didn't you contact any of us? We could have helped you and Blake!" The model was feeling a little bit angry at the fact that Blake's existence was kept from her.

Leon leaned forward and rested his elbows on his lap. "If people found out, specifically the Lionheart Organization and the government, Blake and I would never be free again," he explained. "They'll be fighting over us... we are still weapons after all. I didn't want that to happen so I stowed away on a freight liner with the help of some sympathetic crew members. They bought my story thankfully," he added. "I didn't know the freight liner was heading for Finland so I did my part and helped the ship's crew to feed myself, earn some money and to care for Blake. The doctor on the ship even cared for Blake while I worked."

Amber orbs regarded the young man beside her. "She was still unconscious?"

"Coma," Leon informed. "We were at sea for two months already and she wasn't awake yet. They wanted to stop at the nearest port so that I could take her to the hospital, but I refused and gave them another story to believe in." He chuckled. "I have never lied in my life and I thought I'd be found out easily but it turned out I was a really believable person. Anyway, by the time we arrived at Finland, I had earned enough money to go by for a few weeks. This far away from America, I did not worry about the Lionheart organization or the Finland's government searching for us. They knew we were dead anyway."

"It must have been difficult to go by with what little you had," Shizuma commented. "Not to mention you had to care for a comatose Blake at the same time." She buckled on her seatbelt when the pilot announced that they were approaching the runway. "How did you manage anyway?"

Leon also buckled on his seatbelt and straightened his shirt and vest. "I did a few odd jobs and earned enough to feed myself and pay for motel rooms, but of course it didn't last," he told Shizuma. "We were in Finland for about a month when I finally had no more money. We were in the southern Savonia when that happened. I was carrying Blake as we walked down the deserted highway that cut through a forest. Since I had no more money, I couldn't afford hiring transportation so I decided to walk to the next city and try looking for work there."

"Did you make it to the next city?"

Leon shook his head and smiled ruefully at the model beside him. "The next city was over thirty miles away and I didn't have it in me anymore to keep going," he said. "I brought Blake to a big tree on the side of the highway and sat down there. I was just going to rest, but I was starting to lose consciousness. I blacked out a few moments after that and when I woke up, I was in a bed and staring up at a wooden ceiling."

"A hospital?" Shizuma tried, bracing herself as the plane touched down in the small airport in southern Savonia.

"Nope," he replied, glancing out the window and frowning as sleet hit the windows. "It turned out someone happened to be driving down the highway and spotted me and Blake on the side of the road." He pointed outside the window and showed Shizuma that it was snowing. "Blake and I were brought to a small cabin hidden in the forest a few miles away from where I passed out. Ever since then, Blake and I lived with that person. Blake woke up a week after being saved," Leon informed her. "She didn't talk or do anything for the next few months though. She talks now, but she's still withdrawn."

Shizuma threw the blanket off herself and fixed the coat around her body. She was still wearing her gown from the dinner earlier. She and Leon got up and headed out of the plane and into the quaint airport. She wanted to change into more comfortable clothing, but she had no idea where she should get some.

"Would you like to put on more comfortable clothing suited for this kind of weather?" Leon asked, reading her expression. "I need to get a coat myself. I know this airport has a store that sells coats and some other clothing. I'm just not sure if it's open at this time of the morning." He glanced at the large digital clock hanging from the ceiling and noting that it was past five in the morning.

"It's worth a try," Shizuma told the younger man. "Lead on, Leon." She followed Leon through the airport until they stood outside a small store run by two women.

"May I help you?" one of the women greeted. She smiled warmly at Kairos and at Shizuma. "In need of clothing for this weather?"

Leon nodded and smiled back as the other woman attending the store walked to them. "Actually, I'm from around here and I accidentally left my coat," he informed them. "My friend here doesn't need a coat, but she would like a change of clothes. Could you find something that would fit her?"

"I'll see what I can find," the first woman said. She frowned at her young assistant who gaped at their customers. "Aino! Why are you staring like that? Don't be rude!" she scolded.

Shizuma smiled at the gaping Finnish woman. "Please don't scold her," she told the owner of the store. "I think I'm the reason for her odd behavior."

Leon grinned at the confused look on the owner's face and pointed at a nearby magazine rack. "Why not take a look at those magazines?" He watched as the owner leaned forward and looked at the magazine covers, her eyes widening in shock upon realization of who her customer was.

"Shizuma Hanazono?!" The owner breathed out, feeling flustered. "Please come in!" she invited Shizuma and Leon inside her store. "You could pick out anything you want!"

After ten minutes, Shizuma walked out from a nearby public bathroom in a fresh set of clothing. She shrugged on her borrowed coat over a light blue-gray long-sleeved shirt and jeans. She sat on a bench in the store, holding her high heels on her lap. "I don't think going out in this cold weather in heels is appropriate," she told Leon and the two women sheepishly.

The store assistant named Aino stepped around her boss shyly. "Miss Hanazono," she started. "I could lend you my sneakers if you want. We look to be the same size." She was blushing as she made the offer to the famous model. "We could give you a brand new pair of socks too," she added.

Shizuma smiled brightly at the assistant. "Really? Are you sure it wouldn't be any trouble?" she asked, watching the woman nod her head vigorously. "I am truly grateful!" The platinum-haired woman began to pull on the socks and slipped her feet into the offered sneakers. "I have to thank you somehow," Shizuma said, looking at the heels in her hands. "Here," she handed the pair to the woman. "It's a fair trade, right?" The store assistant continued to goggle at her. "I suppose I could also give an autograph and pose for a picture," she joked, smiling when Aino took the pair from Shizuma's hands and grinned.

As the owner brought out a permanent marker, Shizuma posed with a star-struck Aino while Leon took the picture. Afterwards Shizuma, autographed Aino's diary and happily autographed the store's wall as requested by the owner. She stood back to look at her work. The wall sported her sharp cursive that said, "Thanks for the clothes! You saved me from freezing in this weather! I'll remember you always! Shizuma Hanazono."

"We should get going," Leon announced, shrugging on the newly bought coat. He shook hands with the store owner. "Thank you for everything," he said, smiling at her and Aino. "I have a feeling, business will be booming after this."

"I believe so," the owner replied, shaking hands first with Leon then with Shizuma. "Have a safe trip and enjoy Finland!" She and her assistant waved at Shizuma and Leon as they walked to the exit.

Leon immediately flagged a cab down and helped Shizuma into the backseat as an icy wind hit their bodies. He said something in Finnish to the cab driver before leaning back. "It'll take us about an hour to get to the place. Why not take a nap first? You haven't had any sleep since I picked you up." He made himself more comfortable, looking like he was going to do for a nap himself. "I'll wake you when we're there."

Shizuma nodded and allowed her eyes to close. I'll see her again... I've... missed her so much.

Shizuma woke up slowly, feeling the cab drive over a rough road. She sat up straight and rubbed her eyes sleepily. Looking out the sleet-covered windows, she gazed in silent awe at the scene before her. They were driving through a snow-covered forest. Shizuma craned her neck to look up at the skies as snow continued to fall.

"Awake already?" Leon asked her. "We're quite close already. Just a few more minutes down this road and we'll be at the cabin." They waited in silence looking out the windows for the next five minutes until the raven-haired man pointed out a fairly large wood cabin in an open area in the forest. The cab parked in front of the house and accepted the offered cash and generous tip from Leon.

Shizuma got down first to gaze at the homey looking house. She let out a long sigh, her breath coming out in wisps of white. They were finally here. She felt a hand on her shoulder and looked up into the smiling face of Leon.

"Let's go inside," he suggested. "It's starting to get really cold and the snow looks to be coming down harder." He led her up the small path and onto the roofed veranda. He knocked briskly on the door and waited patiently as the door opened and a young woman with long and wavy hazel hair smiled at them. "Morning Elina," Leon greeted. "I was hoping you'd be awake already."

The woman named Elina smiled warmly at Leon and at Shizuma. She looked to be in her late twenties and had jade green eyes. "I didn't expect you to be back so soon!" she ushered the two into her home, closing the door behind her. "And you brought a visitor too!"

Shizuma looked around the interior of the house. She liked it that there was burning fire in the fireplace and that it kept the inside deliciously warm. It was modestly furnished too. There weren't too many furniture and decorations. Her eyes then locked with the jade green eyes of the house owner.

"You must be Shizuma," Elina exclaimed, shaking hands with the platinum-haired woman. "I've heard a lot about you," she told her.

Shizuma cocked her eyebrows. "Oh? From who?"

Elina laughed. "Well from television and radios," she replied with a smile. "Whenever I head to work your name is often mentioned." She reached up and ruffled Leon's rumpled hair. "But most of the things I heard about you came from this guy here." She motioned at a pot of steaming coffee. "Would you like something to hot to drink?"

Leon shook his head. "Maybe later, Elina," he replied. "I brought Shizuma over to settle an important matter."

The hazel-haired woman cocked her head in interest at Shizuma. "Ah I see now," she said. "She is here for hopeinen." She motioned for them to follow her through the house.

"Hopeinen?" Shizuma asked, looking puzzled. She and Leon followed Elina across the first floor towards another door at the back. She glanced at Leon for an explanation.

"She said 'silver' in Finnish. It's her nickname for her," Leon explained as she and Shizuma waited for the older woman to open the door. Apparently, it was a back door that would lead them to a small enclosure outside. "Has she been out there long?" he asked Elina.

"For a few hours now," Elina replied, wiping her hands on a dishtowel. "Go on ahead outside. I'm sure she'll be glad to see her brother again," she said then smiled at Shizuma. "I'm also quite sure she'll be glad to see you too, Shizuma."

Leon led the way outside, shivering slightly at the cold. The snow had temporarily let up a bit, giving the both of them a good view of Elina's huge forest backyard. Several meters away from them, there sat a familiar raven-haired woman on a tree stump with her back turned to them. Raven hair tied in a loose ponytail that had been short two years ago now fell a handful of inches below her shoulders. Despite the weather, the woman looked to be wearing only a somewhat thick long sleeved shirt made of fleece and pants. Snow had collected on the tops of her shoulders and there was some in her hair.

"That's been her favourite spot since we arrived here," Leon told Shizuma in a whisper. "Even in the winter, she can sit there for hours and hours at a time." He looked at the sitting figure and cupped his hand beside his mouth. "I'm back big sister!" he called.

He and Shizuma watched as the figure's head raised up slightly then tilted to the side, turning an ear to them as if to listen. A grunt came from the seated person. "Disappeared without a word," the familiar deep voice said.

Leon rubbed the back of his head and smiled sheepishly. "Sorry about that," he apologized. "Won't you come inside? You'll catch your death if you keep sitting out in this kind of cold." He looked to his side and saw that Shizuma continued to gaze at the raven-haired woman.

"I'm comfortable here," the woman replied in a cold voice, turning her head away from them to regard the forest once more.

"I brought a visitor, big sister," Leon called out, patting Shizuma's shoulder and smiling at her.

They watched the raven-haired woman's shoulders droop. "Visitor?" she asked, sounding uninterested. "I'm not interested, Leon," she said, paying them no mind.

"I'm sure this visitor will help you out," Leon reasoned out, gently pushing Shizuma forward, who looked confused with what she was supposed to do now.

The raven-haired woman let out a long sigh. "Another doctor? I told you so many times that I won't let a doctor see me," she told her brother.

"I know, big sister," Leon told her. "But I really believe you would like to see this visitor," he pressed on. Leon gestured at Shizuma and urged her on. He stood back and watched as the platinum-haired woman walked a few steps forward before stopping a few meters away from the seated woman.

Shizuma's heart thundered inside her chest as she struggled to control her emotions. Her feet sank a few inches into the snow-covered ground as she gazed at the raven-haired woman's back. She held her hand over her beating heart, closing her eyes and gathering her nerves. Looking up and opening her amber orbs, she said the first thing that was on her mind. "Blake..." she said softly.

The woman seated on the tree stump did not move and remained motionless for a few moments. Shizuma opened her mouth to call out again, but her voice caught in her throat when the raven-haired woman got to her feet, her head craning to the side first as her body slowly followed suit until she was facing the so-called visitor.

Shizuma could feel her lips quivering as she took in her lover's appearance. After two years of being taken for dead, Blake Saberhart still looked the same as she had back then. Aside from the longer hair, the woman before her was slightly thinner and had developed a harder and colder look on her face. Those once soft lips that smiled so easily for her were now drawn in a tight line. Her intense storm-gray eyes that used to be full of kindness were now empty and devoid of warmth. The two years had certainly done a lot for the raven-haired woman. "Blake..." she called out again in a shaky voice this time. Her emotions were getting the better of her. She could not help it anymore as tears trailed down her cold cheeks.

As she cried silently, she watched as the inadequately dressed Blake stood there for a few seconds before finally taking a step towards her. The slow gait turned into a purposeful stride and once she was a few feet away, the storm gray-eyed woman's arms raised up... hands reaching out and finding Shizuma's tear-stained face. Shizuma stood there unmoving as those piercing silver eyes stared at her while callused but gentle fingertips roamed her face. Blake's hands moved from beneath her quivering chin... up to Shizuma's smooth but tear stained cheeks... up higher into her silky platinum hair then settling her hands onto her cheeks, thumbs lightly pressing below her tearing amber orbs.

"Shizuma?" Blake finally said in a soft voice.

A sob broke out from Shizuma's lips. She thought that she would never hear that voice say her name ever again. She threw herself into Blake's embrace, burying her face into her fleece-covered chest. Breathing in deeply, the model recognized the familiar and unique scent or her lover. Her hands left Blake's back and travelled up to her lover's face, gazing at her yearningly before pulling her down to meet her waiting lips. The kiss was hot... sweet and full of yearning. When Shizuma pulled away, she saw Blake still looking at her with an unbreakable gaze, but there was a small smile on her lips.

"I thought that it was you," Blake said, her hands going up to Shizuma's face again, fingertips roaming over her features again. It was only now Shizuma realized that there was something unusual about the raven-haired woman. There was something... awkward about the way Blake's silver eyes stared at her and never seemed to lock with her amber orbs. Not to mention the way Blake was frequently running her hands over her face and hair.

"Blake?" Shizuma asked, looking confused, turning her head to the side and watched in surprise when her lover continued to gaze forward instead of following her gaze. "What's wrong?" she asked, her voice sounding a bit scared. She listened to the woman sigh and watched her.

Blake stepped back and waved her hand over her unblinking eyes, letting Shizuma know her state with that simple action.

"She's blind, Shizuma." Leon walked over to where they stood.

The platinum-haired woman shook her head in disbelief as she stepped towards her lover and cupped Blake's face in her hands. She gazed into those unblinking silver eyes and it slowly dawned upon her that what Leon said was true. "How... did this happen?" she directed the question to no one in particular.

"From the blast two years ago," Leon answered, running a finger along the length of his scar on his face. "I was unconscious that time so my sight was spared. I think some burning debris... oil or something else hit Blake's eyes when we jumped the platform as it exploded upon impact from the missile attack." He crossed his arms over his chest and frowned. "We only found out that she had gone blind when she woke from her coma of course," he explained. "She refuses to go to a doctor though to have her eyes checked. I tried to tell her that there was still a chance to restore her eyesight if she went."

Shizuma shook her head at the news. She looked up into Blake's face and smiled at her. "How could you tell that it was me?" she asked her lover. "My voice must have gave you a clue somewhat, right?"

Blake nodded her head, eyes still gazing at where she thought her lover stood. "I felt it," she said, raising her hands in front of her face. "I've touched your face so many times in the past so I thought that I would be able to recognize the features on your face," she explained, running her fingers through her raven-black hair. "Your hair too," she added. Her head cocked to the side, her eyes gazing ahead unblinkingly. "You've grown thinner haven't you, Shizuma?" she asked. "Your face has hollowed out a bit." She frowned deeply.

Shizuma laughed for what seemed like the first time in years. "Work has done that to me," she told Blake. "I'm sure you've heard about my career from your brother and Elina."

"I heard, but I didn't really bother," Blake replied, her hand reached out and took Shizuma's hand into her own. Her slender fingers travelled down Shizuma's pale and cold digits and stopped at the diamond ring on her ring finger. "I heard that there was an auspicious actor courting you," she said darkly. "And it seems like you have already accepted his love."

Shizuma stared at her hand, realizing that she had accidentally slipped the ring on unknowingly. She jerked her hand away and pulled the ring off. "It's not like that, Blake," she tried, stuffing the ring into Sebastian's coat pocket. "He did court me, but I never expected him to propose."

Blake turned her head away, staring into the forest. "Is this why you disappeared suddenly, Leon?" she directed the question at her brother, not looking at him. "You found out somehow that Shizuma would be getting a proposal," she grunted. "You're starting to irk me." It came out as a deep and throaty growl. To Shizuma she asked, "How can I be so sure that it's not like that?" she muttered, her hands clenching into fists at her sides.

Shizuma was starting to get flustered before realizing she had something that would assure Blake of her love for her. Grabbing Blake's hand, she brought it up to her chest and closed her lover's fingers around the silver pendant around her neck. She waited patiently as Blake turned to face her once more while she ran her fingers over the features of the pendant.

Blake blinked once at Shizuma, holding the pendant in her fingers. "You... still have it?" she asked softly. Her fingers couldn't lie to her. After losing her sight, Blake had relied heavily on her sense of touch and hearing to get on with her life. Her fingers glided along the thin chain first then across the bumps and grooves of the silver dragon pendant that she had gotten from Mikhaila ten years back. She remembered that Kairos had told her that the pendant was with Shizuma after she had left Astraea Hill abruptly. She felt Shizuma nod her head.

Arms snaked around Blake's body. "This is far more important... and valuable to me," she whispered into Blake's ear. "You have to understand, Blake. I thought you were dead," she explained, shivering in the cold. "I may have been a little bit interested in Sebastian, but I was never looking forward to getting tied down by commitment..." she paused and looked at Blake. "... not with him at least," she added.

That startled a bark of laughter from Blake. "I guess I could believe you then," the raven-haired woman said, pulling away from Shizuma and twining their fingers together. "You're hands feel like ice," she remarked. "Let's head inside," she suggested, pulling Shizuma towards the house with Leon leading the way. "You could fill me in with what's been happening back at home."

"Take care of yourselves now!" It was the following day and they were standing outside of the airport departure gate. Elina had driven them to the airport after ensuring that each of them were warmly dressed and had full stomachs. The Finnish woman hugged Leon and patted the top of his head affectionately before pulling Blake into her arms. "As for you, hopeinen," she used her nickname for the raven-haired woman. "No more of this sulking and depressed business of yours!" She pinched Blake's nose and grinned. "I heard you had quite a happy life before you and Leon ended up in my care," she said and stepped away. "Besides, you're reunited with the love of your life!"

Blake raised her eyebrows and turned an ear to Shizuma who had giggled. "I have a feeling you and Shizuma talked about a lot of things last night."

Elina chuckled and hugged Shizuma this time. "Take care of hopeinen here," she told the model. "I'm sure she'll give you an easier time than she did to me." The woman stepped away and smiled at each of them. "Make sure you bring her to a doctor too when you get back to America. It's worth a try to check if she could regain her eyesight."

"I'll be sure to do that, Elina," Shizuma told the older woman. "If you come to America, you're always welcome to stay with me."

Leon cleared his throat. "We should get going," he told them. "Our flight leaves in a half an hour." They said their goodbyes to Elina then headed into the airport. Half an hour later, the three of them were seated side by side in their plane that was bound for New York City. "We got a long flight ahead of us," Leon told his companions, noting the announcement of the pilot that it would take them around fourteen hours to reach New York. It would be around lunchtime when they would arrive. He leaned around Blake who sat between him and Shizuma in the first class section of the plane. "What do you intend to do when we arrive?"

Shizuma rested her elbow on the armrest and leaned her face on her hand. "Of course we have to inform everyone that the both of you are alright and also explain that the two of you are related," she stated, looking thoughtful. "I do want it to be a surprise though!" She broke into a wide smile. "I've got an idea," she told the brother and sister. "As soon as we land in New York, I'll contact a nearby hotel and hide you and Blake in one of the suites then I'll tell everyone that I'm throwing a party that night."

Leon chuckled and looked at his older sister. "Does that sound alright to you, big sister?" he asked.

Blake let out a long sigh. "I never liked these kinds of things, but I guess I could go along with it," she relented. "Anyway, the idea seems alright, but don't you think it'll get found out when we arrive at the airport?"

Leon nodded his head. "She's right," he agreed. "Two years may have passed since we were declared dead, but we shouldn't take any chances. The government and the Lionheart organization may have people at the airport who may recognize us." He also gestured at Shizuma with his hand. "Not to mention your presence alone will attract a lot of attention."

The seatbelt light blinked off and the pilot announced over the sound system that they were cruising at a good speed. Shizuma unbuckled her seatbelt and got to her feet. "Leave that to me," she told Blake and Leon. "I'll be right back." The platinum-haired woman walked down the aisle and through the curtains that separated first class from economy class. As soon the curtain settled in place, they could hear the sounds of raised voices and the clicks of cameras taking pictures.

"What is she doing?" Blake asked, her silver eyes staring at her brother who looked over the back of his seat.

"You got me," the eighteen-year old man replied, shrugging his shoulders in the process. "But it looks like she's getting a lot of attention back there," he remarked, reclining his chair and leaning back. Fifteen minutes later, Shizuma went back to first class with a handful of things in her arms.

"I've got it all covered," she told them with a grin, handing them the things she collected. She put a Boston Red Sox baseball cap on Leon's head and handed him a case of contact lenses and a bottle of the cleaning liquid. For Blake, she placed a rocker-style hoody on her head and handed her a pair of sports shades. "That's for your disguise when we get off the plane," she informed them after sitting down in her seat. "You wear the baseball cap and put on the colored contacts, Leon." She took the shades from Blake's hands and helped her lover slip it on. "Blake will wear the hoodie to cover her head and hide her hair. The shades will conceal her eyes."

Leon furrowed his eyebrows. "How did you get all of these things?" he asked with Blake nodding her head to the question.

The model chuckled and combed her hair with her fingers. "You won't believe the things people will do just to get a chance to talk with a famous celebrity," she told them with a grin.

"Let me guess," Blake said. "You used your womanly charms and exotic beauty to seduce both men and women to give their belongings to you," she drawled, wincing when Shizuma slapped her arm hard. "What?!" she demanded, rubbing the afflicted area of her arm. "Don't tell me you did something else."

Before Shizuma could voice out her retort, Leon cleared his throat and stopped them. "Let's not argue and just get some sleep," he suggested. "By the way Shizuma, what about transportation? We obviously can't be seen together. The paparazzi will be on you once you step out of the airport."

"I'll have my manager bring two cars," Shizuma replied. "I'll leave first on the first car then the other car will come and bring you and Blake to the hotel."

Blake placed her hand on top of her lover's hand. "You won't be coming to the hotel with us?" she asked. A scowl formed on the raven-haired woman's face.

"I'll be gathering all our friends," Shizuma assured Blake with a squeeze of her hand. "And there's something I need to take care of first," she added.

The silver-eyed woman raised her eyebrows. "What would that be?"

"Returning this," Shizuma replied, placing the engagement in Blake's hand. "I also have to return Sebastian's coat and do some explaining." She took the ring back and put it back inside the coat's pocket. "This is what you want right?"

Blake nodded, leaned back in her seat and closed her eyes. "If he comes later, I won't hesitate to throw him out of the window and send him to his death," she muttered, keeping her hold on her lover's hand as Shizuma chuckled at what she said.

Shizuma's plan was a success. As soon as the plane landed, Leon and Blake donned their disguises and headed out together after Shizuma had gone out first. The now brown-eyed Leon got an airport employee to bring a wheelchair so that Blake could sit back while she was wheeled to the exit. Just as they expected, Shizuma was surrounded by photographers and reporters as she tried to board her transport. The siblings tried to look inconspicuous as the crowd worsened around Shizuma.

"Miss Hanazono!" one reporter shouted. "Is it true that Sebastian Crowell went to London to meet you just for one night before heading back here?"

Another reporter shouted. "Bystanders say that he proposed to you after having dinner at a restaurant! Did you accept Miss Hanazono?"

Leon lowered the brim of his hat over his eyes, still watching as Shizuma answered a few questions before finally boarding in her car and driving off. After a few minutes of standing, a Mercedes Benz pulled up in front of them. The driver rolled down the window and looked at the both of them. "The Etoile's friends?" he asked. It seemed Shizuma had meant that as a code.

The raven-haired man nodded and helped Blake get into the car before hopping into the front seat. "You're taking us to the hotel right?"

The driver nodded. "The suite has already been prepared for the two of you," he informed them before driving the car out of the airport.

Shizuma thanked her manager and apologized several more times throughout the car ride. Her manager had originally been angry at her for suddenly disappearing and finding out that she had taken a trip to Finland, but after the model's explanation she had calmed down. Now, Shizuma stood waiting in Sebastian Crowell's dressing room in the studio, his coat draped along her forearm. She had already steeled herself for what she was just about to do, but she couldn't help but feel a little bit nervous.

Just then, the actor burst through the door of his room and picked Shizuma up, twirling her around. "I didn't think I would see you so soon!" he exclaimed, grinning down at her. He set Shizuma back on her feet and leaned down to kiss her.

"Sebastian," Shizuma said, placing her fingers over the actor's lips and stopping his impending kiss. "There is something I must tell you."

The actor looked confused for a moment then broke out in a smile. "Sure Shizuma," he said. "What is it that you want to talk about?"

"About us," Shizuma replied, offering the borrowed coat back to the actor. "Look inside the pocket," she told him.

Sebastian pulled out the engagement ring he had given Shizuma a few days ago and gazed sadly at her. "Why won't you accept my love?" he asked, leaning heavily against the wall. "I thought there was something special between us and I really was serious about you."

Shizuma smiled and kept her distance. "There was something between us, but it wasn't what you thought it was. You're a charming man, Sebastian," she told him. "I really enjoyed your company, but I don't feel for you in the same way you do for me." Shizuma reached up and gripped the silver pendant that hung on a chain around her neck. "There's someone else that I deeply care for," she admitted. "And I am not that willing to let her go after just finding her again."

Sebastian's eyes widened. "Her?!" he stuttered.

Shizuma smiled and nodded her head. "You should read those magazine columns once in a while, Sebastian," she advised, walking to the door. "I'm sure a lot of those writers have researched my background." She opened the door, but didn't step out just yet. "I don't think you're the type of person to blackmail people because of a grudge, but if you do decide to do that, I wouldn't care." Without turning around, she waved goodbye to the still shocked actor. "See you around." She closed the door behind her and headed outside, intent on gathering all her friends for the reunion.

Kairos felt like a fish out of water as he stood in the Ritz-Carlton Hotel lobby uncomfortably. He had just arrived and had no idea where he was supposed to go. He was teaching his trainees at the academy when Jez had suddenly called his cellphone telling him to head to the Ritz-Carlton Hotel at seven in the evening. He had asked why, but his fashion-designer sister had to hang up because she was tied up with her work at that moment.

The agent turned instructor stood in the lobby trying to ignore the frequent glances of people around him. He certainly looked imposing because of his appearance. His body was more built as seen by the ripple of muscles along his arms and the broadness of his shoulders and chest. The shades on his face finished off the look. Looking at a mirror, he realized that he must have looked like bodyguard.

"Kairos-san!" Someone called out to him from the couches in the middle of the lobby.

The blonde-haired man turned to look for the source of the voice and smiled upon spotting Chikaru waving at him from her seat on the couch. He strode over to her and exchanged cheerful greetings with her, realizing then that the woman had company. Seated on the couches around him were Kaname, Momomi, Shion and Miyuki who held a ruddy faced baby girl in her arms.

"This is a surprise," he observed, looking at the group of former Astraea Hill students. "Can any of you tell me what we're doing here?"

"It's not just us by the way," Kaname started and pointed at the hotel's entrance where Amane, Jez and Ash happened to be in.

Miyuki nodded her head and smiled up at Kairos. "It looks like Shizuma's back from London and she wants to throw a party."

Kairos scratched his head. "Whatever for?" He hugged his sister when she and the two other women reached their group.

"Shizuma says that she'll be leaving the country for several months," Jez answered, grabbing her phone and looking at it. "I guess she wants to see us first before she leaves again."

Amane nodded her greetings at her former schoolmates before pointing at the hotel's check-in counter. "Speaking of Shizuma, there she is now." She and the rest of the group waved the model over.

"Good!" Shizuma said as she hugged each of her friends including Kairos. "All of you are here for the party!" She motioned for everyone to stand up and to follow her to the elevators. "I reserved a suite just for us and I already ordered everything on the menu."

Miyuki caught up to Shizuma at the front and looked at her quizzically. "You've become quite a party girl," she scolded her best friend. "I should have left your goddaughter with a babysitter if you were planning to have a party."

Shizuma laughed and cooed at her goddaughter. "Don't worry Miyuki," she told the blue-haired mother. "I've already asked the hotel staff to put a crib in the suite's separate room. Ayame could sleep peacefully while we enjoy ourselves in the main room." She, Miyuki, Kairos, Jez and Ash filed into one elevator while the others boarded another one. "Besides, we won't be making a lot of noise," she added with a grin.

"You're a little perky tonight," Kairos pointed out. "Has something happened? The news has been rambling about that Crowell actor chasing after you." He raised an eyebrow at the model. "Don't tell me that's what's making you happy."

Shizuma shook her head. "Not at all," she replied. "Why are you guys being so suspicious of me? Is there something wrong with my desire to see you guys again before I disappear for several months?"

Jez chuckled. "I think she's right," she said. "Let's just have this party. We haven't been together like this for years already." The elevator doors opened and they filed outside into the hallway.

"Now that I think about it," Kairos suddenly said. "I'm actually really hungry! Is the food in the suite already, Shizuma?" he asked as they followed Shizuma down the hall before stopping in front of the suite's door.

"It should be," Shizuma replied, fishing out her card key and opening the door. She stepped inside first and disappeared into another room while the others went inside and murmured to each other at the grandeur of the suite.

Kairos whistled loudly as he took in the fully furnished suite. "Man! This is great!" he exclaimed, feeling the plush carpet beneath his feet. "Hey Shizuma!" he shouted, ignoring the look his sister shot at him. "Where's the food?"

"I thought I would miss that voice, but after hearing it, I changed my mind." A familiar voice drawled from across the room.

Everyone in the main room looked surprised after hearing that voice. Kairos in particular searched the room for the voice before his eyes settled on two figures that stood by the fireplace. One of them, a raven-haired man leaned against the stone hearth regarding them with eyes as crimson as blood. The other figure had her back facing them, raven-black hair falling across her back in a lose ponytail and hands shoved in her pockets.

Every single person in the room, save for Shizuma stared in shock at the two figures before them. They easily recognized the crimson-eyed Leon, most of them knew from detailed pictures taken by the news from the ShadowLabs incident two years ago. Now, they stood waiting for the other person to turn around.

The raven-haired woman faced away from the fireplace and regarded all of them with her silver eyes. She let out a long sigh and covered her eyes with one hand. "This is definitely going to take me a while since I'm blind," she drawled, holding out her hands in front of her. "I'm going to have to go through feeling all of your faces just to see how you guys have turned out."

Kairos forced a lump down his throat before striding forward and lifting his charge in his arms. He squeezed her tightly, feeling tears form in his emerald green eyes. "You stupid idiot!" he let out in a harsh whisper, setting her back on her feet but still kept his arms around her. "After all this time, you come back to show that you're alive?!" He yelped in pain as his charge flicked him hard on his forehead.

"I can't breathe, Kairos," Blake growled and reached up to run her hands over his face. "Hmmm… no more long hair and you've been working out huh?" She grinned at her former guardian.

Kairos blinked then grinned back at his charge. "So you really can't see?" He ruffled Blake's hair then led her to her group of friends. "You've got a lot of feeling to do then!" He laughed as Blake repeated the treatment to the rest of her friends. He walked to Leon and clasped arms with him while Blake went through each of her friends. "Was she blinded because of that?" he asked the young man.

Leon nodded. "We should bring her to an expert," he suggested and explained how Blake refused treatment. "I think something can still be done about her blindness. She's willing to go now since Shizuma has convinced her," he added. He watched as Shizuma pressed herself to Blake's side while she helped her lover explain what had happened to her in the past two years.

"We'll do that then," Kairos replied, fishing his cellphone out of his pocket. "Before that though, I'll need Blake to help me out with something."

Leon regarded the older man with his eyes. "What would you need her for?"

"To end an old grudge justly," Kairos replied as he spoke quickly and softly into his cellphone. He and Leon stayed together while the women crowded together in the living room.

Halley McQueen sat behind her desk, reading through the dozens of documents that she was supposed to finish by the end of the day. The six years that she had been president had been a very tiring experience for her. Back then, she was set to work for the United Nations as an ambassador that was until she was brought before the council of the supposedly reclusive Lionheart organization. The members had expressed that they thought she was the best person to take over the presidency after their current leader retired. When she accepted, she had grand plans laid out for the organization under her leadership.

Then she had come across the secret archives of the organization and found out about the existence of scientific facility that went by the name ShadowLabs. The former president had his agents observe the facility and make detailed reports about their often secretive activities. The opportunity that had presented itself to her from reading those reports kept her up each night until she finally decided to put her plan to action. She masterminded the whole thing, first sending Mikhaila Blackthorn as a medical doctor undercover. She wanted hard evidence that ShadowLabs possessed a human whose genetic code had been manipulated to become a perfect soldier or weapon. McQueen had wracked her mind trying to figure out how to get Blake then known as 22,018 without letting her true motives be known. She didn't expect Mikhaila Blackthorn to be the one to push the organization to save the girl. Everything went by perfectly except for the death of the doctor and that ShadowLabs kept making attempts to take back their subject.

McQueen smoothed her graying hair. She was able to contain the attacks of ShadowLabs by appointing one of their younger agents as the guardian of Blake Saberhart and having them travel from one country to another. Kairos Blackthorn had done such a good job that he was able to throw off the pursuers completely from ShadowLabs. She then gave the order that he and his charge could settle down in an unsuspecting country and allow the both of them a respite. She had chosen Japan and even arranged for Blake to attend school so that it could contribute to their cover.

But then her agents had brought her information that ShadowLabs was moving around suspiciously. Due to her folly of refusing to think that the illegal organization knew the whereabouts of Saberhart, she had been assaulted during one of the school's trips. Halle McQueen issued a direct order to Kairos to pull Blake out of Japan and sent them to their branch in Switzerland. They had a reprieve for five years before ShadowLabs struck again, this time kidnapping one Blake's friends and luring her into their trap.

Blake and her friend had made it out alive thanks to the existence of another experimental subject, which fuelled her lust for power more. If could somehow manage to get her hands also on the boy, she would have had enough power to drown in. When Blackthorn and his charge had asked for the organization to take action against ShadowLabs, she immediately agreed and used all her authority to get the council to agree with her. Everything was going according to plan even during the surprise attack staged by the facility, but then an outsider was suspecting her leadership and it was brought up to the council who now clamored for her to put an end to the human weapons who were wreaking havoc in the city. If she didn't follow the council's wishes, they would have seen through her façade so she ordered the deaths of Blake Saberhart and Leon.

"I sacrificed a lot just to keep myself clean," she muttered to herself as she piled the documents on one side of her table. "I had the means to my ascent for power killed and my most promising agent quit." McQueen continued to browse through the reports on her table when she heard her office's door open. "I am not to be disturbed," she barked, not bothering to look up. She heard the door close and thought that whoever it was had left. Suddenly, a piece of paper slid on top of the report she was reading and she looked up in surprise at a familiar blonde-haired man. "Blackthorn," she greeted. "What brings you here?"

"Just delivering a notice for you, McQueen," Kairos smiled at her, tapping the paper that he had just set on top of her table.

McQueen quickly read the paper and laughed. "You must be fooling me, Blackthorn," she told the ex-agent. "A notice calling the president of the Lionheart organization to court on charges of treason, subversion and crimes against humanity?" She pushed the paper away from her. "That's quite a hefty charge against the president of a well-known organization."

Kairos shook his head at the woman he respected in the past. "Your rise to power using the ShadowLabs human weapons would have brought about destruction," he said, glaring hard at the older woman. "This time, you can't slip out of this court order. It's time for you to recompense for everything that you have done."

McQueen barked out in her laughter. "You're a fool Blackthorn," she spat out. "Even if I go to court, my power and authority is vast. All the charges will be dropped against me and you have nothing that will back up your claim!"

"Not if a pair of dead weapons came back to life, huh?" Kairos asked, still glaring at the president who glared back at him with a mocking look on her face.

"At least you're not stupid to acknowledge that fact," McQueen retorted, going back to her reports and heard her office door open again.

"Then I will testify against you in court then, president," the new intruder declared. "Or should I say, the pair of dead weapons will testify against you?" Blake Saberhart and Leon stood at the doorway staring coolly at her with their silver and crimson eyes. "Surprise," Blake drawled, saluting the trembling elderly president.

Kairos walked towards his charge and her brother and led them out of the office. "We'll see you in court, McQueen."

Beginning of April… two months later…

Shizuma led Blake down the familiar beach they had been rescued on by Raine Skylar when they had escaped from the oilrig. The lovers had gone to visit the retired doctor to spend the whole day with her.

"Slow down, Shizuma!" Blake told the platinum-haired woman by her side. "I can't see where I'm going you know!" Her storm-gray eyes were hidden beneath a few layers of bandages that were wrapped around her head.

Shizuma laughed raising her face to the ocean breeze. "Don't worry, Blake! I'm right here!" Today was a rare moment for Shizuma to be alone and unbothered by an entourage of reporters and photographers.

Many things have certainly happened in the two months that had passed. After giving the notice that called McQueen to go to court, Kairos, Blake, Leon and the rest of their friends and family attended the trial of the now deposed Lionheart Organization president. As promised, Blake and Leon stepped up to the stand to testify against the power-hungry president while others including Doctor Raine Skylar and Shizuma also gave separate accounts. With all the testimonials and evidence given, particularly in the form of the only surviving ShadowLabs experimental subjects, a verdict had been brought in. Halley McQueen was pronounced guilty of the charges filed against her. A number of penalties were given to her, which included a hefty fine, relinquishing her position, being banned from taking any other position and an indefinite period of house arrest.

Kairos was so pleased with the outcome of the trial that he temporarily lent his assistance to the council of the leaderless Lionheart Organization to restructure their system. The blonde-haired ex-agent did not intend to rejoin the organization, assuring the council that he held no grudge against them since McQueen had been dealt with. Kairos had found his true calling in the Security Academy and Agency that he started and ran with the help of his former agents.

After explaining the significance of Leon in Blake's life, the crimson-eyed eighteen-year old was formally adopted into the Blackthorn-Skylar family. After an ensuing battle between Blake and Kairos regarding where he should live, Leon finally decided to live with his adoptive mother. He calmly explained to his older sister that he would like to try living with a mother in his life since he had none of the sort in the past. Blake's mother was also happy with the arrangement saying that she would finally have company since Blake would be staying with Shizuma.

A week after the court trial had been adjourned, Blake was accompanied by Shizuma, Leon, Kairos and Shion to a renowned ophthalmologist whom Shion knew when she was still a medical student. After a series of examinations and tests, the doctor told the good news. It turned out that Blake's loss of sight wasn't permanent. There were microscopic bits of debris that were still on the surface of her eyes, irritating the nerves and making her blind. He suggested that he use water treatment to flush the debris out, explaining to them that it would take a series of six sessions to finish. For two sessions a week, Blake underwent the treatment and tried her best to ignore the force of the jet of water being fired into her anaesthetized eyes. At the end of the sessions, the ophthalmologist wrapped a bandage around Blake's head, covering her closed eyes. He ordered it to be kept on for a month to give her eyes enough time to heal.

Blake was often moody; having been ordered to refrain from doing anything physically demanding just to make sure that the treatment is successful. She grumbled frequently as she stayed in a variety of homes while Shizuma was out doing her work as a model. For most of the month, she stayed either at Amane's home since it was quite close to the horse club. Vittoria Hughes had the portion of the field that was destroyed by ShadowLabs remodeled and assured Blake that it was no problem at all. The raven-haired woman spent many of her days laid back on the grass with Darkmoon grazing nearby. The Friesian had escaped relatively unscathed from the explosion, having run off to safety with the rest of the horses.

Blake also used up her month long recuperation by grooming the still moody Friesian and observing… listening mostly, to the horseback-riding lessons conducted by Amane and her friends from the club. The students mostly composed of young teenagers from the Wayland's School for Young Men and Women were captivated by the raven-haired woman whose eyes were hidden by bandages wrapped around her head. Emil and Dom would tease Blake that the students had started calling her the "blind horse whisperer", much to her dismay. When she asked why they called her that, Dom explained that the students were dumbfounded that a blind woman could calm the meanest horse at the stables and came up with the conclusion that you were one of those self-proclaimed horse whisperers.

On other days, Blake would be fetched by Kaname and Momomi to go to the school with them. Momomi would bring Blake along to her classes and let her sit in as she lectured. She would often have to call the class' attention because many of the students would be glancing back to look at the eye-covered woman. Blake couldn't see what was happening, but she often felt uncomfortable as she sat there in the back of the room. She always got the feeling that people were staring at her. Momomi would also force Blake to come to the front and give some of her insights on the countries they were taking up in class, particularly the countries that Blake had lived in. From an initial feeling of uneasiness, the students were now impressed and awed by the worldliness of their teacher's friend.

After classes, Kaname would fetch Blake and bring her to the athletic department of the school to observe the training sessions of the various teams. After complaining to Kaname that there was no reason for her to sit and watch training sessions when she couldn't see, the Athletic Department head dragged Blake onto the football field, halting the practice of the women's team. Positioning Blake for a penalty kick, Kaname grabbed a football and placed it in Blake's hands, daring her to score a goal with a mocking tone. Of course, she couldn't back down so she placed the ball on the field and with a few tips regarding the location of the goal posts, Blake backed away, ran towards the ball and miraculously kicked the ball into the net with such blinding speed. It didn't stop there because Kaname claimed that it was just luck. She dragged Blake to the outdoor basketball court and claimed that it would take Blake an hour before she could shoot a clean three-pointer. To her disdain and the awe of both the football and track teams, Blake was able to shoot a clean three-pointer in five tries with the help of her newly acquired fans.

During one week, Blake stayed over at Miyuki's home caring for Ryu and the now four-month old Ayame. Babysitting for one rowdy boy and a helpless baby proved to be too much for Blake who'd be at home with the kids while Jin was at work and Miyuki at school. Halfway through the week, Miyuki came home with a cheerful Chikaru in tow. Blake was grateful for the help and had more fun caring for Miyuki's children with Chikaru. Ryu was a growing boy and was becoming interested in sports, often asking Blake to come with him to the local park to watch kids play football and older kids play basketball on the outdoor courts. The raven-haired woman promised the young boy that she would teach him how to play both sports when she could see again, telling herself silently that she would if the treatment was successful.

Kairos did not want to be left out so he invited Blake to his academy. He would often ask for second opinions from Blake when it came to his work. There would be times Blake would listen in to the panel evaluations of each trainees or she would be demonstrating hand-to-hand combat stances to trainees who were falling behind. On one occasion, Kairos had embarrassed his class of students by making Blake assemble an assault rifle faster than any of them could despite having their eyesight. Blake of course lessened the bite of the strict instructor. She told the trainees in her usual wry drawl that anyone could do it that fast if they were forced to assemble the assault rifle in twenty seconds blindfolded and in a completely dark room for a week. Kairos denied that claim, but could not counter the brutal honesty in his charge's voice.

"Do we have to be out here?" Blake asked as she allowed herself to be dragged by Shizuma. "I was hoping to stay inside and see what mom's decision would be." Just recently, the Lionheart organization had requested for Raine Skylar's presence and had asked her to take the presidency. Blake and Leon were reluctant to allow their mother to accept because of the organizations past misdeeds, but had loosened up when Kairos reminded them that he had helped restructure the system.

'I'm sure your mother will come to a decision," Shizuma reminded her lover, finally pulling Blake down to sit on the sand. "Besides, why would you want to stay inside when Leon's learning how to cook?"

Blake shivered and shook her head. "You're right," she agreed, rubbing the back of her head. "It was a disaster when Leon tried to cook dinner for Kairos' thirtieth birthday." She tilted her head back and let the gentle ocean breeze caress her face.

"Happy that you decided to skip the doctor's appointment to spend time with me?" Shizuma asked, tracing light patters on the back of Blake's hand.

Blake cocked her head to the side and regarded Shizuma with a frown on her face. "I had to skip the check-up because you wanted to spend time with me," she scolded her lover.

Shizuma pouted and lightly shoved Blake. "So you're not happy then?" She sounded disappointed. Her long platinum hair that danced with the breeze was shorter, having been trimmed to fall until the middle of her back. When not at work, Shizuma frequently kept her hair down. She explained that it made her feel like an ordinary person and not a famous celebrity.

"Not really," Blake replied, grabbing a fistful of sand and letting it drain through the spaces of her fingers. "I heard on television that the Crowell actor had just been accused of being gay," she told Shizuma with a smirk. "I wonder how'd that happen?"

Shizuma chuckled as she kept her eyes on the crashing waves. "I suppose he was so distraught that the woman of his dreams had refused him for a woman," she guessed. "As for me, the media have known for quite some time that I'm openly lesbian. Perhaps Sebastian thought he would try the other side."

"Good luck to him then," Blake drawled, gently rubbing her eyes over the bandages.

"You're a compassionate person," Shizuma said with sarcasm.

"Should I be compassionate to the person who could have been your husband?" Blake retorted.

Shizuma smiled. "Touché," she replied. "Must you always be so blunt?"

Blake stiffened at the implied insult. "Being straight-forward and blunt is better than dawdling!" she bickered. She had always been blunt and direct when it came to handling things.

"Not all the time, Blake," Shizuma argued back.

The raven-haired woman scowled. "I have never encountered any problem because of my direct and blunt manner!"

Shizuma raised her eyebrows at the claim. "Oh really?" she asked. "What about that time when you told one of Amane's friends from the club that she wasn't cut out for teaching horseback-riding lessons? You made her break down and Amane had to apologize for you!"

Blake turned her face away from Shizuma, the scowl deepening on her face. "It was true! She spent more time flirting with the male riders in their club instead of paying attention to her students!" she huffed out in annoyance. "One of the students almost fell off her horse because that friend of Amane's had forgone checking the length of the stirrups of her students to flirt with Emil and Lorenzo."

"You didn't need to be so harsh!" Shizuma argued back.

Blake turned her head to face Shizuma and continue their argument when she felt fingers press against her lips.

Shizuma withdrew her fingers and placed them against Blake's cheek. "The ophthalmologist was supposed to take your bandages off today right?" she asked, gently running the pad of her fingers across her bandaged eyes.

"Yeah," Blake replied, reaching up, seizing her lover's fingers and bringing them to her lips. "I could always go tomorrow anyway to have him take it off." When a hand gripped the bandages on the side of her head, Blake jerked away in surprise. "Shizuma!" she exclaimed. "What are you doing? The doctor is supposed to be the one to do that!"

"Why wait until tomorrow?" Shizuma asked, taking hold of the bandage's end that had unraveled from her earlier attempt. "I want to see now," she told Blake, her voice filled with desire and love. "I've gone far too long without seeing those eyes of yours." She moved around on her knees until she was in front of her. "Please?" she pleaded, her hands moving towards the bandages.

Blake let out a sigh and seated herself comfortably with one leg bent in an Indian-style fashion and the other half stretched out on the sand with her forearm resting on the raised knee. "Go ahead," she told her lover and waited.

Shizuma began to unravel the bandages carefully. Her hands travelled around Blake's head as the binding thinned. Finally, she got to the last layer. As the ends of the bandages fell to the sand beside them, Shizuma watched as her lover looked up slowly, her eyes still closed.

Little by little, Blake cracked her eyes open. For a few seconds, she only saw the familiar black darkness she experienced in the past. She blinked a few times and the streaks of light broke through the darkness. She continued to blink, her eyes becoming moist after two months of being hidden and unused. Letting out a long sigh, Blake closed her eyes, putting a hand up to keep Shizuma silent. She waited for a full minute until she felt that her eyes were no longer dry, then opened them once more. This time there was no more black darkness in her eyesight. Blinking rapidly, the images before her gradually became clearer and clearer until she could make out the blue seas and white sand before her. She closed her eyes once more, squeezing them tightly together then opened them and saw the alabaster skin, platinum colored hair and those intense amber orbs. She could clearly make out the familiar face of the lover she had not seen for over two years.

Blake smiled, her storm-gray eyes softening as she leaned forward and cupped Shizuma's face in her hands. She pulled Shizuma in for a kiss, gently at first then with more passion. After pulling away, Blake smiled at her lover and wiped away the tears that escaped from Shizuma's eyes. "I will never forget this," she told Shizuma, her fingers still gently roaming over her lover's face.

Shizuma smiled back and sniffled. "Never forget what?" she asked, looking a bit confused.

"The first thing I saw," Blake replied, touching their foreheads together as the ocean breeze picked up and played with their hair and clothing.

The platinum-haired woman chuckled and closed her eyes, enjoying the moment between them. "You're not making any sense."

"You're the first thing I saw…" Blake repeated, making just a little more sense than she did a while ago.

"Hmmm?" Shizuma asked, running her fingers along her lover's callused digits that remained on her face. She felt the vibrations of Blake's deep and throaty chuckle.

"You're the first person I saw after breaking out of my darkness…" Blake said softly, opening her eyes and gazing into those amber orbs with her own silver ones. "I'm content to know that yours is the face I saw at the beginning of this new life. Now… I can truly say that I am alive."

The end…

Hope you've enjoyed reading this story as much as I've enjoyed writing it!

I've certainly reached a peak after finishing this story because it's the first story I've ever completed ever since becoming a member of the fanfiction community 5 years ago.

To my faithful readers, I thank you from the bottom of my heart and I hope to hear from you despite finishing this story.

Alaeri: You'll always be an important person to me. :) you've been there from the start and I really appreciate you for everything that you've done for me, from the reviews to the horse advice! You've been a constant bulwark and I will certainly miss you.

NinjaM: I suspect the epilogue has satisfied you? ;p thanks!

Loorlover: Have you forgiven me yet? Haha! I'd like to thank you too for being one of the readers who have stuck with me from the beginning (putting aside the disappearing acts you made). I am truly flattered that you cried in the last chapter and about continuing the story. Well… I'm not so sure as of now. I do have a few ideas for a sequel, but I'm not too eager to start on it because of a my busy schedule. Tell you what, keep sending me messages and give me ideas about a possible sequel. :) In time, I just MIGHT decide to make one. ;p

Yenyankee: thanks! I'll miss you too dude! Hahaha!

RavenTheBirdSpirit: I'll never forget that first review you sent me! :) Unfortunately, this is really the end of the story. About Finland, well I was suddenly inspired to use the country. I was on an exchange student program a few years back (when I was still a young high school student… hehe). The place was just really beautiful and I loved the forests, cold weather and the snow! Haha! Geographically, it was quite close to London where Shizuma was in the last chapter, so Finland seemed to be just the right place to find Blake again.

For requests, questions and anything else, please feel free to send me a message or leave me a review.

So for now, this is goodbye.