A cloaked figure ran through the forest pushing or slicing branches and twigs that got in their way.
'So close…'
The person jumped a small cliff formed by fallen trees to land on rough black boots, the cape settling down over their figure, before it began to fly in the wind again as the person resumed their swift pace.
'Almost…'
~~
He stood up, alert. Someone was coming… fast, he didn't know what intentions this person had but it was better to be prepared, his boat swaying gently in the jungle sea he approached the line of trees, weapon out and ready.
He felt his muscles tense as he observed the vegetation where the strange noised were the loudest. He saw a flash of brown and red and gasped as the figure suddenly came into view, stopping abruptly seeing him armed, breathing heavily. His weapon clattered to the damp forest floor. As all he could do was stare.
Two years. He knew it was real… he knew it had happened, he told everyone it wasn't a dream… no one remembered, but he never gave up hope, he stood there frozen in place, the catch of the day dropped and forgotten on the floor next to his swallow, and the forest animals oblivious as to what was happening still chattering away noisily as he stared in front of him.
It had been two years… since that 'day', the one that had changed his life, the day he heard someone calling for him on Opassa beach… someone he knew… someone he had loved, someone who had promised to find him… no matter what…
Someone who was now standing before him, a smile on her face and tears running down her cheeks, still trying to catch her breath. the person he promised never to give up on… the person that held his heart.
~~
She was a bit out of breath having practically run almost all the way from here to Arni, but her heart would surely explode is she didn't see him soon. As she suspected, he was a bit surprised to see her. She smiled at the look on his face and looked him over, he had grown.
~ "Serge? Who would like to know?"
"I'm... a friend of his... can I speak to him?"
"Um... he's not here at the moment, he went fishing and should be back in a bout a half hour if you would like to wait... would you like some tea?"
"No thank you... is he going to dock here in Arni?"
"No, he doesn't like to fish here, he goes to the sea south of the Hydra Marshes, west of the Archipelago, says there's more over there."
"Thank you!" she ran out of Serge's little hut, leaving Marge a bit confused but it didn't matter now, she had actually found him, found a way to make it back to El Nido... he was only a few miles away and that would not stop her when she was so close. ~
He no longer wore his red bandanna, but replaced it with a black one, simple with no designs. He wore a loose grey shirt she had seen pirates wear with a lace up front, although who knows where he left the lace, under it she could see the same black shirt he wore under his vest when she met him. Also his shorts were replaced by loose sea blue pants, although his boots were the same. He looked different, but his eyes... his soft innocent deep blue eyes... would never change.
At first she was scared, she thought he wouldn't remember her as she had been warned by Schala that everyone would forget their adventure, but seeing the look on his face, the glow in his eyes… she knew, he still remembered, he still loved her. That's when her tears started.
~~
He stood there, staring at her for the longest time, taking in every detail, the way her eyes scanned him, the tears that made her eyes twinkle before rolling silently down her cheeks, he had never seen her cry before. It was almost mesmerising, watching the crystalline droplets make their way down her smooth factions, then slide softly down her cheek line, and finally fall silently to the ground. The way her body relaxed as she caught her breath. every movement she made… she was so beautiful.
A brown cloak pulled over her beautiful golden hair open in front and cascading down her back. underneath it the familiar short red skirt, only now adorned with a white lining of waves, and instead of her normal white shirt and red top, she had on a black top that hugged her upper body and tied at the back of her neck. Instead of her rough brown gloves she now had black ones, similar to Orlha's revealing only her fingers. She took her right hand to her chest, unbuttoning the cloak and pulling it off her shoulders, letting her long golden hair flow down her back. she now wore it loose, only two strips of hair tied at the back to keep it out of her face.
He watched as she chuckled slightly, wiping her moist cheeks. Then she turned to him and smiled
"Hi mate…" she said in a cracked voice "remember me?"
It felt wonderful, to hear her voice again, slightly changed, but to hear those simple word again, made It hard for him to breath. She had found him… she had kept her promise… somehow… she had done it… she was here before his very eyes… she was real…
He cut the distance between them as fast as his legs would carry him, she dropped the cloak and her bag of luggage to the ground and opened her arms for him. He took her into his chest and embraced her tightly, lifting her off the ground, wanting to take her in. he heard as her sniffles became sobs and hiccups and felt her arms tighten around his neck and back.
She was really here… it wasn't a dream… he felt her soft bangs brush against his face, felt the weight of her body in his arms, the soft smell of cinnamon she had always carried, the way her arms almost desperately, clawed at his back, neck and hair. And he just stood there, with her in his arms. Never wanting to leave her again, but wanting her to become a part of him, as she no doubt already was.
"I… I told you… I would find ya… didn't I? No matter what… I promised you…" she said in a cracked voice between sobs. He held her tighter
"I missed you for so long… so much…" he said in her ear
He heard her sniffle once before she giggled "Enough of this sappy stuff now…" she said wiping her face "It's not like me to cry like this… besides we can't stand here and weep all day. and not that I'm uncomfortable but my feet ain't touching the ground…" she giggled softly
He couldn't care less, she was with him and that was all that mattered, nothing could have made him happier. He smiled at her and let her down till her feet were on the floor again. She smiled up at him and took a delicate finger to his face brushing away a stray blue bang behind his ear..
"Good to know… you still give a damn…" she said smiling
he pulled her in his embrace again and let her scent flood his senses, she didn't object but looked up to him with misty eyes. He closed his, taking a hand to her hair and pulling her in, feeling his body tingle when their lips met.
She deepened the kiss and let tears flow down her cheeks, dammit what love could do to a person. She pulled away with a solemn expression on her face, then set her head against his shoulder
"I missed you too Serge… more than you can imagine… that's why I'm here… that's why I made it…"
"I never doubted you… I never forgot you… but waited for your return… I never stopped loving or believing in you…"
She nodded "Love can do stuff to ya… it can hurt you… make you happy, even kill you…"
Serge nodded "Or make you live another day… what do you think kept me alive…?"
She smiled… since when had he become so romantic? The occasion called for it…
"I love you Serge… now and forever…"
"Always…"
~~*°*~~
~Owari~
A/N: ugh! Sap and mush! What has gotten into me? Just take note that I wrote this after seeing the end, and well even though I was spoiled… I was still a little disappointed *sobs* what S/K fan wouldn't be?! I mean…… arrrrrggggg!!!!! But hey!!! Serge didn't forget! Cuz Leena thought he was crazy talking about Terra Tower and what not ne????????? ^^ *hope* so I got inspired and wrote this, the last Untold story I'm posting *cough cough* I hope… and I hope you enjoyed this meaningless little fic! Thank you soooo much for your support and great reviews!! *sniff* I'll never forget you!!!
^^ hehehe… for those of you who care… I have a little fanart of this chap the kiss that is, buuuut, it's too big!! I can't post it! Does somebody know how to compress an image?! If so please tell me how in your review, it's one of the few fanarts that I really like! So please tell me! ^^ arigatou again! And Sayonara for now………