In Search for Kindred Spirit

Final Chapter: A Promise for Better Things – Part 1

The little girl sat on the stairs, arms crossed and legs drawn up to her chest, watching as the two men below loaded some packages and equipment onto the SUV parked just outside the front door.

"Are you sure about this, Dicky?" One man asked the other.

"No, I'm not," The little girl's father replied, "But what I do know, is that I need answers. I need to understand, and this is the only way."

"Amelia is dead," The other man said, putting his hand on his friend's shoulder, "You should let her go…Lara needs you…she's only nine for crying out loud."

"Which is why I need you here, in London," Her father sounded determined, "I need you to keep an eye on her while I'm away."

"Think twice my friend," The other man pleaded, "I beg you! That place is cursed and you know it!"

"A cursed place hides many secrets, Roth. I know this." Her father sighed. He then continued to explain, "And you and I both know Amelia. She was a fine pilot. I refuse to believe she could crash on such a fine weather. There was a foul force at work, lurking somewhere beneath those mountains. It wanted Amelia's cargo. It was calling for it. It was calling for the sword."

"The sword of Excalibur…" The other man muttered…

This was followed by an extended pause, as both men fell silent. The little girl had little idea what they were talking about. All she knew was that she had lost her mother, and now she was about to lose her father too. Her heart was thumping. Her palms were sweaty. She wanted to cry, but she held back.

"I have now gathered three shards of the broken sword…" Her father broke the silence, "The fourth and final shard still lies with Amelia in the mountains. I need to find them. It is the only way I will ever understand."

"Dicky…we searched that place clean three years ago and never found her. What makes you think it will be any different this time?"

"Because last time, we didn't have the other shards, and now, I have all the remaining ones." Her father explained with a grave tone, "They will lead me to her. I can feel it. They will want to be found."

"You are playing with supernatural forces," The other man shook his head, seemingly resigning to his friend's decision, "and as your friend, I can only hope you know what you're doing."

The little girl watched as her father finally turned to her and slowly walked up the stairs. Each step he took brought a heavy ache to the girl's young soul. She knew what was coming, and she was afraid. She wished it would not happen, yet it was inevitable.

When her father was at her side, he knelt down so that he was face to face with her. "Lara, Daddy will be gone for a while. Be good and listen to Uncle Roth, okay?"

The little girl bit her lip, shivering. She fought fiercely to hold back her tears.

Her father gave her a kiss on her forehead, "Daddy loves you, Lara."

At this, the girl stood up and angrily pushed her father away. "YOU LIAR!" She yelled, "Why do you have to go?! Why do you have to leave?!"

Her father was stunned silent. With mouth ajar, he tried to say something before the little girl interrupted him.

"I hate you! I hate you I hate you I hate you I hate you!"

The girl turned and stormed up the stairs to her bedroom and quickly locked the door, sobbing as she did so. She could no longer hold back her tears.

Those were the last words she spoke to her father. She never saw him again, for he never returned from his trip…

Lara slowly opened her eyelids, staring at the ceiling through her wet eyes as she lay on her bed. The room was dark except for some faint light coming through the window from the streets outside. She made no effort to dry her tears. It had become an all-too-common occurrence these days. The same dream that had haunted her past now kept coming back almost every night.

She sat up, casting her eyes on the figure sharing her bed. Sam appeared to be sleeping, her chest heaving gently as she breathed.

Yamatai had left a scar on both of them…a scar difficult to heal even after all the physical ailments had subsided. Since then, they had mutually decided to sleep together, in the hope that at least sharing the same bed and each other's warmth could bring some sense of comfort back to their aching souls.

Lara took care not to disturb her companion, as she stood up and got off the bed. She went and sat down at her study table by the window. As she gazed at the silvery moon hanging in the far away sky, her hand absent-mindedly reached for the jade she was wearing on her neck. She softly caressed the piece of jewellery with her fingers, feeling the two words engraved on the gem stone as she did so. She found herself taken by a sense of melancholy as those two words soon brought back memories of a distant past…

It was not long ago that Roth used to take her on hiking trips. And during these trips, he would often attempt to regale her with stories of her parents. Lara used to hate these stories, and only tolerated them because she liked being with Roth otherwise. She never really used to pay much attention, but now she wished she had.

When her mother died in the plane crash, she had grieved terribly, but growing up she had thought of it as nothing more than an accident. She had never believed her father's absurd claims that something else had killed her mother. Despite Roth's effort to convince her otherwise, she had remained cynical, and had gone through her formal years thinking of her father as an obsessed lunatic who had abandoned his daughter in search for his deceased wife simply because he couldn't handle the truth…

She had grown up resenting her father. What initially started as a desire to follow her parents' footsteps into archaeology, later turned into a compulsory need to prove his father wrong as Lara fiercely pursued an interest in ancient history and artefacts to ascertain that they were just that, history and artefacts, and nothing more…

But if Yamatai had taught her anything…It was that things that appeared to be supernatural could very well be real…

The island had scarred her…but it had also given her a harsh, yet valuable lesson…

A lesson that now compelled her to evaluate the truth behind her parents' disappearance…for otherwise she could never forgive herself for those last words that she had said to her father…

"Same dream again?" A voice interrupted Lara's thoughts.

She turned around and noticed that Sam had sat up.

"Yes," Lara nodded, "Sorry, did I wake you up?"

"I wasn't sleeping," Sam shrugged, as she wrapped the blanket around her shoulder, "Heard you mumbling in your sleep. Want to talk about it?"

Lara sighed. She climbed back onto the bed and snuggled in with Sam, sharing the same blanket. "It was the same as always."

"Sweetie, I know I've said this before, but you need to relax and take things easy," Her companion replied, as she put her hand on Lara's, "What happened back then wasn't your fault. You didn't know."

"I know, but still…" Lara trailed off…

"You're flying to Nepal tomorrow morning," Sam cut her off, "you need a good night's rest, so don't think too much about it."

"I don't know what I'm going to find there, Sam." Lara sighed, slightly apprehensive as she once again began to analyse, "According to Roth, my parents were searching for the four broken shards of an ancient sword. My mother found one in Tibet, and she was flying over the Himalayas to meet up with my father in India when her plane crashed. My father and Roth both searched hard but never found her body or the shard, only the plane itself."

"I know," Sam made a face, "You have told me the same story many times."

Lara looked at her friend, chuckling softly, "Sorry Sam, I won't bore you again with the details."

"It's okay, I was just teasing," Sam returned a smile, "If it makes you feel any better, then please carry on. I want to hear it."

Lara slumped her shoulder, "Alright…I…I suppose I'm a bit scared…" She took a pause, glancing at her friend who was listening attentively, before she continued, "Roth mentioned that when he and my father were searching for my mother, they encountered some…supernatural…and haunting phenomena in the mountains…I used to dismiss it as myths but now…"

"Lara," Sam took both Lara's hands, "If you're scared, then don't go. You don't have to do this."

Lara forced a smile, "Thanks Sam, but I must. If it were your father, you'd do it too."

"Hah!" Sam rolled her eyes and slumped back onto the bed, "Who cares about him? I don't think I'd even notice."

"Sam…" Lara pleaded, putting her hand on her friend's shoulder, "He is your father…."

"Yeah, so?" Sam snorted, "I don't think he even thinks I'm his daughter."

Lara sat there watching her companion, whom by now was breathing a little rapidly. She had a scowl on her face, but beneath it, Lara could also see sadness and disappointment. "I'm sure things will get better if you talk to him and let him know how you feel."

"You think? Okay then, let me think about it!" The sarcasm in Sam's tone was obvious. "Why the change of topic anyway? I thought we were talking about your dream?"

"They're not unrelated, Sam," Lara leaned closer to her friend, and as she did so, her fingers began to gently brushed Sam's raven hair, soothing her, "I don't want to see you follow my footsteps. I don't want you to leave it too late to sort things out between you and your father. I don't want you to have any regrets, as I do now."

"Well I went to Tokyo, didn't I? I survived that crazy island to go back home, only to find that my father actually didn't have time for his daughter!" Sam continued to sound forceful, although Lara could notice a thin veil of angry tears behind her eyes, "He couldn't find time to even spend an evening with me, not even when I made the effort to cook dinner myself. He was always absent, always tending to his business. I left without saying goodbye, and he never even called! To him, I'm just invisible. Obviously he has better things to do than care for his daughter!"

"You know…" Lara spoke softly, as she continued to caress her companion's hair, "I used to think the same about my father."

"Lara, it is not the same."

Lara lay down on the bed and pulled the blanket over. She wrapped her arm around her childlike companion and snuggled close, chuckling as she did so, "Give him a call, Sam, and tell him you love him. You might be surprised."

"Hmph! I doubt it!" There was a playful tone in Sam's voice, as she pulled Lara's arm tighter over her body. The anger seemed to have left her as she embraced Lara's physical warmth.

Lara took solace in knowing that, as both girls decided to go back to sleep.

It wasn't long before Lara began to hear a soft snore coming from Sam. Lara herself though, found it very difficult to sleep again, and she remained awake throughout the rest of the night.

As she listened to her companion's gentle breaths, she found herself at ease with the degree of comfort they had in each other. It was certainly something she cherished, as even best friends usually couldn't get so comfortable with each other's physical touch. It was clear that Lara and Sam shared something else…something more…and their experience in Yamatai had only pulled them even closer.

Lara found herself smiling as she tried to think of a word that could best describe their relationship…

Soulmate…

Yes…That would be the most appropriate word…

They had been more than just best friends for many, many years. Sam often liked to refer to herself as the Yang to Lara's Ying. That always amused Lara, although she was quite sure Sam didn't even understand the exact meaning of Ying and Yang herself. What was true though, was that throughout the years Sam had always provided unconditional support and encouragement for Lara. And for that, Lara would forever remain grateful.

She remembered how Sam always tried to cheer her up with various mischiefs whenever Lara felt too stressed out by her study or work. She remembered Sam's patience when Lara had asked her to practice spoken Japanese together. And she remembered how Sam was always filming footage of her on the Endurance because she wanted to help Lara get the credit she deserved when their work got published.

For her part, Sam had always been an appreciative person too. There was this one time when Sam had told Lara that she wanted to study film making. Apparently her choice hadn't been too well received then, especially by her own father, despite him being in entertainment industry himself. Lara, of course, tried her best to encourage Sam with her kind words, and bought Sam a new video camera to cheer her up. Sam had been overjoyed, despite the video camera being a modest model at best. Sam being Sam though, was also quite prone to exaggeration. She often talked of how Lara's gift had helped her make a life changing decision. Lara was just happy that she liked it.

Then there was this other time when Sam had baked Lara a cake for her birthday. It was the first time Sam had ever done any cooking in the kitchen. Lara was quite thankful for her effort, even though the cake tasted a bit funny. Lara remembered vomiting once or twice after eating the cake, and feeling terribly guilty about it. Sam though, was even more apologetic and spent that whole night crying and saying sorry. To be fair, Sam had worked very hard and improved her kitchen skills a lot since.

Then there was Yamatai…ever since their escape, there had been hardly a day spent when Sam didn't lose her usual playfulness and, in the most serious tone that could be expected of Sam, thank Lara for rescuing her from the cultists on the island.

All these trains of thoughts made it ever so hard for Lara to bear when the night finally passed and the sun rose to signal the coming of the following day.

Lara got off the bed as lightly as she could, and went about her morning routine. She changed her clothes and packed away the few last items into her luggage, all the while trying her best not to wake her companion.

Fortunately, Sam was quite a heavy sleeper. As Lara finished her preparation, she gazed at her companion still snuggling up on the bed. A sense of longing made its way into Lara's heart, as she found it hard to leave her best friend behind. She knew she would miss her terribly, and worry sick about her, and she had to fight against the urge to wake her up and tell her these, because she knew if Sam was awake, then saying goodbye would be even more difficult.

In the end, Lara must do what she had to do. She took a piece of paper and scribbled some words on it. She then left the note on the study desk, hoping that Sam would at least find some comfort in a short, written goodbye.

Lara then left, closing the door behind her. And as she made her trip to the airport, she frequently found herself having to dab away the tears forming in her eyes.

Sometimes…it is only when you part ways that you realise just how important a person is to you…and how much they mean…

Final Chapter: A Promise for Better Things – Part 2

It was late morning before Sam woke up. With her eyelids still feeling heavy, and her mind muddled, she fumbled around in the bed, yearning for Lara's warmth and trying to grab onto her. It was only then she realised that her best friend had gone and the bed was now empty.

She forced her eyes open and sat up. A sudden sense of emptiness made its way into her heart as she looked around the quiet room.

"Lara?" She found herself calling aloud. Sam knew that Lara had left, but she still couldn't help but feel disappointed when no one answered.

As she got off the bed, she noticed a piece of paper on the study desk. It appeared to be a note that Lara had left her. Sam sat down on the chair and began to read it.

It was probably Lara's idea of a short note, but in truth it read like a huge essay. The whole page was covered with neatly written words. Most of them were really just overly detailed instructions on trivial stuff such as when to take out the rubbish bin, where the new washing detergents and toiletries were stored, when to pay the bills and so on and so forth, but the last part caught Sam's attention.

Sam, I will be gone for a while. I'm not sure when I will return, so please take care of yourself. I will call you once I've reached Nepal. Until then, if you run into any difficulties or have any queries, simply refer to the notes above and you should be fine. Also, promise me you will call your father. I don't want you to make the same mistake I did. Don't leave anything to chance. Do your part and leave no regrets. If you're facing any obstacles, remember, the key to everything is knowing that all you've got to do is just keep moving.

Keep in touch,

Lara

Sam shook her head, smiling as she did so. Lara probably thought she was providing some sort of wise advice before leaving, but sometimes she could be so poor at words that even her written note sounded a bit awkward. It was actually quite funny, because Lara's tendency to nag on and on about the most boring stuff often made her feel more like a mum than a friend, even though she was actually a year younger than Sam herself.

Regardless, Lara's parting advice had somehow worked, because it was now lingering in Sam's mind. She glanced at the cordless phone sitting at the corner of the desk. It suddenly looked like such a heavy object, as Sam began an internal struggle whether or not to pick it up.

Should she heed her best friend's plead and call her father? Should she try to make things right with a man who never cared? Should she try it again, despite previous efforts that always ended up in failure? Should she even care anymore? Did she even want to reconcile with a man whom she had grown to resent?

Yet despite all that had happened and everything that had been said, it was the will of an earnest daughter that triumphed. Sam found herself feeling a little surprised, as her hand glided over the desk to pick up the phone and dialled the number back home…the number to her father…

Her heart started to palpitate and her chest tightened as she listened to the dial tone. What would she say? How would her father react?

She didn't have time to think however, as the call was soon picked up by someone.

"…Dad?" Sam found her voice trembling.

There was no answer from the other end.

"…Hello?" Sam tried again.

"What is it?"

The stern voice from her father startled her, and instantaneously, whatever that was left of Sam's courage evaporated with it. A familiar trepidation soon grabbed her as she found herself lost for words.

"Hurry up. I am in a meeting."

Sam swallowed an audible gulp. She could feel droplets of sweat forming on her forehead, and her neck, and her chest. And she hated herself for it…She hated herself for being so easily intimidated…But still…above all else, she felt sad…sad that she could never feel comfortable in the presence of someone who was supposed to be her closest family…

"…I…I…" Sam stuttered. She bit her lips. Like Lara had said, she owed it to herself to leave no regrets. She must try her best, and be brave, "…I just wanted you to know…that I'm sorry…I'm sorry for never listening to you and your teachings…I'm sorry for always spending your money…I'm sorry for being an embarrassment to our family…"

There was only silence from the other end.

Sam found herself choking, as a lump began to form in her throat. Her voice was unsteady, but she continued, "…But most of all…I'm sorry mum died the day I was born…I wish I could somehow bring her back with my own life…but I can't…and I'm sorry…I'm sorry I disappointed you…I'm sorry I'm not the daughter you wanted…"

Still nothing from her father…

Sam could now feel the hot tears streaming down her cheeks. Her vision had now blurred. "…I really just wanted you to know…that you're my dad…and I love you…and I'm sorry I haven't done enough for you to love me back…"

Her lips quivered, and she forcibly wiped away the tears with her sleeve. Her heart sank when there was still nothing coming from her father. Sam felt she had done all she could, and if it still wasn't enough, then perhaps it just wasn't meant to be. She took a deep breath. A sad smile formed on her face, as she found herself resigning to yet another failure…

"…Goodbye…" She was about to hang up when her father interrupted.

"Wait, Sam."

Sam froze on the spot. Her eyes widened a little, "Yes…Dad?"

"It was not your fault. The fault…was mine…"

The tears that had been dried earlier now threatened to flood again, as Sam listened attentively. It was the first time ever that her father had acknowledged any responsibility on his part for their frosty relationship.

"…I am sorry, Sam. I have not been a good father. The truth is, you reminded me so much of your mother…and as you grew older, the resemblance grew even stronger…I cannot look into your eyes without being reminded of how I lost your mother…and the grief I have suffered ever since…but this is not your fault…It is me who have not been strong enough. Forgive me, Sam, you are everything a father could ask of a daughter. I am proud of you, and I love you."

Sam wept openly, as she listened to the longest, most personal talk her father had ever given her. All those years of misunderstanding…of resentment…of anger…and of bitterness…it didn't matter anymore, because she loved her father…and her father loved her…and that was all that mattered at this moment…

"Dad…" She sobbed, "…Can I come to see you again in Tokyo?"

"Of course you can," Her father replied gently, "This is your home…and you can come home anytime you want. I promise this time I will not leave you to eat dinner by yourself again…"

"And I promise I'll cook you a nice meal…" Sam nodded her head. She continued to sob uncontrollably, but the joy was now obvious in her voice. "I won't hold you any longer. You should go back to your meeting."

"…You are right…I should go…Sorry, Sam. When you come back, we will sit down and have a nice talk. I promise you."

"Sure, Dad…" Sam could not remember the last night she said the word "Dad" with such fondness, and this made her really happy, "I'll be seeing you soon."

"Yes, Sam. See you soon."

And with that, they hung up the phone.

Sam took a deep breath, her lips curving upwards into a wide smile. She almost laughed aloud. A heavy stone in her heart had just been lifted. She leaned back onto the chair and arched her back, stretching her arms above her head.

Lara was right…Lara was right all along…as she always was…

Sam then made her way to the kitchen to make herself something to eat. As she sat at the nook chewing her toasts, her eyes wandered around the apartment. It felt very quiet today. The elation that had formed earlier from her reconciliation with her father was suddenly gone, and she once again found herself feeling depressed. There was a sad melancholy in the air, and the same mood was reflected in Sam's heart. There was a void somewhere that could not be filled, a sense of loneliness that had developed much more sooner than Sam had anticipated.

She was already missing her best friend…

As she gulped down her last piece of toast, she began to recall the good times she had shared with Lara. Rather than best friend, Sam would like to think of Lara as more like her soul mate. The truth was, Lara had always provided unconditional support and encouragement for Sam. And for that, Sam would forever remain grateful.

There was this one time back in high school when Sam decided that she wanted to study film making in college. At the time, all her families and friends were indifferent to her choice. Some were even skeptical. But not Lara…Only she spoke kindly…or tried to speak kindly of Sam's decision. It was typical of Lara to be quite poor at words of course, but Sam remembered feeling a little disappointed that even her best friend's words of encouragement were quite bland and clichéd. Sam was really hoping for something more inspiring…something that could help her put away all her doubts. Things became even more frustrating for Sam though. In the month that followed, Lara took up many more extra shifts in her part time jobs, and she just left Sam to ponder about the future by herself. During those nights, Sam would often wait until very late in their apartment for Lara to return so she could ask for some advice, but every time Lara would just come home knackered from her work. She would just slump onto her bed and start dozing off. It got to a stage where Sam started to feel angry and was about to confront her friend, when suddenly one day, Lara came home with a present. Sam remembered bursting into tears when she unwrapped the present to reveal a kick ass video camera inside. She remembered feeling very touched that Lara had made the effort to pick up all those extra shifts to buy her this very special gift. Of course, Lara being Lara, always tried to underplay its importance. But that very same night, Sam made up her mind, once and for all, that she would pursue a career in film making.

Then there was this other time when Lara baked Sam a cake for her birthday. Sam was of course very moved, and not wanting to be outdone, she attempted to bake Lara a cake herself when it came to her best friend's birthday. She remembered seeing the funny look on Lara's face when she first tasted it. She remembered feeling a little insulted. However, upon sampling the cake herself, she realised that her cake had in fact tasted, for a lack of better word, absolutely shit. She remembered Lara gulping down the whole cake as if on a mission to prove it edible and to make Sam feel better. She remembered begging for Lara to stop. That evening, Lara got so sick and vomited so violently, that she had to spend the night in the hospital where they pumped bags of fluid into her body…on her birthday no less. Sam herself spent the night at Lara's bedside, crying her eyes out and apologizing and praying to whatever higher powers there might be to spare her best friend's life.

Lara had always been the introvert to Sam's extrovert. They were like the perfectly matched Ying and Yang. Even Lara herself agreed. Sam could never understand why Lara always thought of herself as some sort of outcast in school and college. Lara might be a bit shy and quiet, but she had the face of a supermodel and a tremendously well-proportioned body. She was every boy's wet dream. Humility might be a virtue, but sometimes Sam felt Lara had taken it a bit too far for her own good.

Lara's modesty wasn't just limited to how she felt about herself. She actually refused to spend a single penny of the vast wealth left behind by her parents. At first, it was because she hated her father and everything associated with him. Then after Yamatai, it was because she felt that she had wronged her father and didn't deserve her inheritance. Henceforth, the only times she spent those money were for charity and when she gave some to Reyes recently.

This was reflected in Lara's modest possessions too. She wore very simple clothes and never indulged in luxuries. She drove a very old Daihatsu hatchback. Nevertheless, she remained fiercely independent. She stayed in Sam's condominium but insisted that she pay the rent. She also used to work multiple jobs to support herself through college and refused Sam's financial help, a resolve that was very much admired by Sam.

And then there was Yamatai. No words could ever express Sam's appreciation of what Lara had done. At times, it overwhelmed her just to think that Lara had braved storms, fire and thunder to save her, not to mention the hordes of burly men she had had to overcome. In truth, Lara did what no other men in this world could've ever done. Her deeds had surpassed every man that Sam had ever known or dated.

And it was because of this gallantry that Sam found herself, for better or worse, increasingly attracted to her best friend. She could not help it, and she would not even dare to think about mentioning it to Lara. She tried to tell herself that it was just a crush born out of gratitude, and that it would eventually fade, but with each passing day, her feeling had only got stronger.

And now that Lara was gone, it suddenly became so clear to her that her feelings had been genuine, because as she reflected on these past events, Sam found herself missing Lara terribly. They had never been separated for more than a week since they became best friends many, many years ago. Knowing that Lara would be gone for possibly months was painful to bear. Lara always had a special place in her heart. Sam realised that now, because Lara's absence had created a numbing void that could not be filled.

Sam stood up from her chair. She once again picked up the phone and this time, she dialled Lara's number, hoping to catch her before she left for overseas.

Her heart sank when it went straight to voice mail.

Sam then tried ringing again, and again the same thing happened.

She then put down the phone. She began to feel a tingling in her spine. Lara was right. Lara had always been right. She should not leave anything to chance. She should not leave herself vulnerable to regrets. Love was a powerful word. It was that one word that shattered her frosty relationship with her father and opened the door to reconciliation. And yet, after all that had happened, all that had been said, and all that she had felt, the biggest regret would be if she had never told Lara that beyond gratitude, beyond friendship, beyond everything else, she loved her best friend the most, more than anything else in this world.

Lara has to know this…she needs to know this…

That was what Sam told herself. Lara must know. The endurance was the closest thing to a family that Lara had, and she probably thought that she had lost her family and home with the ship's sinking. But that was not true. It was not true at all and Sam must let Lara know, and she must do it before her best friend embarked on her dangerous journey. Sam must let Lara know that she still had someone to call a family, and a place to call home.

I will be your family…I will give you the home you need…

With those thoughts in mind, Sam dialled Lara's number one more time.

And once again, it went to voice mail.

Damn it…

There was only one option left. Sam looked at the clock. She didn't have much time left.

Sam then hastily took her car keys and raced downstairs to the car park. She cringed slightly as she jumped into the expensive Porsche she had recently bought to spite her father. It was a good thing that she did though, because speed was what she needed right now.

"Let's hope you're as fast as they say you are," Sam spoke as she turned her keys at the ignition.

The engine roared into life.

Final Chapter: A Promise for Better Things – Part 3

Lara looked at her watch, then at the departure screen. An announcement had just been made. It was time for her to board the flight. She stood up from her chair, put away the magazine she had bought due to her phone's flat battery, and picked up her hand luggage, consisting of only a single back pack. She swung it over her shoulder and headed towards the boarding counter to join the queue.

The trip would be a long and arduous journey, and not just the flight. What awaited her at the Himalaya mountain range was still an unsolved and, in all likelihood, a very dangerous mystery. Nevertheless, she knew what must be done. There would be no turning back now.

She stopped in her track when suddenly an all-too-familiar voice called out at her. A familiar voice that sounded painfully sweet and welcoming to her ears…

"Lara! Lara stop! Wait!"

Lara turned her head. She watched, partly astonished, partly amused, as a frantic looking Sam forced herself through large swathes of crowd in the distance not too far away.

It didn't take long for Sam to reach Lara though. Despite huffing and puffing and almost struggling to breathe, she appeared elated and ever so relieved as she quickly pulled Lara into a deep hug, with both her arms wrapping firmly around Lara's neck and back.

"Lara! Oh my god you're still here! I thought I was too late!" Sam blurted. Lara could almost detect a sob in her best friend's voice. She chuckled softly and hugged her back.

"Sam what are you doing here? What's going on?"

Lara then attempted to release the hug and push Sam away. It was then she felt Sam tense up and before she knew it, Lara found herself being pulled back into an even stronger hug by her companion.

"No! No Lara don't let go!" Sam cried, "I don't think I can say what I'm about to say to your face!"

"What?" Taken aback by a pleasant surprise, Lara could feel her own cheek burn in anticipation as a thousand thoughts flashed through her mind about what Sam was going to say.

The world seemed to stop as the two girls stood there embraced in silence. Sam appeared to be hesitating and struggling for words and Lara could almost hear her mumbling to herself.

"What are you saying Sam?" Lara asked, her own voice trembling a little.

"Shit…H-How should I put it…?" Sam muttered, before taking a deep breath, "Alright…here goes…Lara…I'm terrified of losing you."

"You're what?" Lara asked again.

"I'm terrified of losing you." Sam repeated, "This trip of yours…I know it's dangerous. I also know you're capable and strong, but I'm worried. What if you don't come back? That thought scared me…"

"Sam…"

"No Lara…let me finish while I still have the courage…" Sam pleaded, "I listened to your advice…I called my father and told him I loved him, and you were right, Lara. He said I could go back to Tokyo. He said he was sorry and that he would spend more time with me from now onwards. And that made me realise…that there is still one other person in this world…who has stayed by my side…supported me and encouraged me through good times and bad…protected me when I was in danger…saved me when I was kidnapped…and yet…I have never told her how much I love her…"

Lara began to find herself breathing rapidly. Her heart started to race. Her palms grew cold and sweaty and her legs felt weak. Sam's words, though, were like music to her ears, and as she listened to her friend's revelation, nothing else seemed to matter anymore. Suddenly, her world only consisted of herself and Sam. She wrapped her arms ever so firmly around her companion, appreciating her every word.

"Lara…I…I love you…" Sam's voice was soft, but sincere, "God…I don't even know if I deserve to say that word…I've said it before to friends I'd only just met in the pub…friends who never even noticed I'd been gone during Yamatai…I've said it to relatives I see only once or twice a year…hell I've even said it to boyfriends whom I ditch only a week later…"

"It's okay Sam, I-" Lara began before Sam cut her off again.

"And when I said it to you…I don't even know what it means…Love as a friend? As a family? Perhaps something more…?" Sam started to choke, her voice throaty and Lara could feel something wet on her neck where Sam's eyes were, "I'm sorry Lara…I'm sorry I always make a mess of everything…I just want you to know…that you're my favourite person in this world…and I hope we will always be together…"

Lara felt her own eyes watered a little too, as she nodded, "I know, Sam, you're my favourite person in this world too…"

They stood there quietly hugging each other for a while longer. Lara took her time enjoying the peace and warmth of her companion, inhaling the fragrance coming from her hair. She found herself wishing that this moment would never end. Eventually, it had to though, and it was Lara who took Sam's shoulder and pulled her from the embrace.

Lara gazed at her companion, noticing the lovely blush on her face.

It was Sam who spoke first, "So…umm…what happens now…?"

Lara bit her lip, as she suddenly found herself facing a difficult decision. Clearly Sam wanted her to stay, but should she stay in London and embrace her newly elevated relationship with her companion? Or should she proceed as previously planned, travel to the Himalayas to solve the mystery that took both her parents' lives?

Sam seemed to have noticed her hesitation, "Stay, Lara. You don't have to go. You don't have to do this." She repeated the same words she had said the night before, only much more earnest.

Lara stared into her companion's brown eyes, and the sincere hope beneath them. A lump began to form in her throat, as she now realised what her father had gone through all those years ago when he took the decision to leave a young Lara behind and travel half way across the world to find her mother.

All of a sudden, she finally understood the pain her father had had to suffer, as she now found herself facing a similar situation. Should she leave a loved one behind to redeem the memory of another? And as she pondered, her last words to her father resurfaced in her mind…

I hate you…

Those were the last words she had said. She had wronged her father…a wrong that could never be righted again…and that was why she needed to understand, to learn of the truth…She knew what must be done…

Lara decided to be honest with Sam. "You know, Sam, a wise man once said to me…that sacrifice is a choice you make…and loss is a choice made for you…up until now, I've only known about loss, but not sacrifice…I'm sorry, but I must do this, because otherwise I would never truly understand the meaning of sacrifice…the same sacrifice that my father had to take when he left me to find my mother…"

Sam took an audible gulp, her brows softened and the sadness evident in her eyes as she listened to Lara.

Lara continued, "All these years, I've resented my father…doubted him like everyone else. I hated him for believing in the supernatural, but now I know he was right…he was right all along and I've wronged him. I've tarnished his memory for being so naïve…That's why I must do this…to find out what happened…to make things right…to redeem myself…and to honour my parents' memories…"

"If that's the case then let me come with you!" Sam blurted, as she took her own boarding pass from her pocket and showed it to Lara, "See? I got the ticket too. I bought it just to get pass the security gate so I could catch you here."

Seeing Sam's sincerity pained Lara's heart even more, but she remained resolute. "No Sam…that wouldn't be fair on you…I don't know what I'm going to find in the Himalayas…"

Sam looked disappointed as she casted her eyes downwards, "I know…I don't want to be a burden to you again…"

Lara took her companion's hands, "It's not that…I just can't bear the thoughts of putting you in danger once more after what happened on Yamatai. If you're here, then at least I know you're safe…"

Sam, however, did not appear convinced and still looked very sad. By then, the airline had made a final announcement calling for all passengers to board the flight. One of the air stewards was also hurriedly gesturing for Lara to go. Time was running out.

"Here," Lara unhooked the jade piece she had been wearing on her neck. She took Sam's hand and put it in her palm, "Take this…I want you to have it."

A smile broke on Sam's face, "You're giving me the piece of jewellery I used to mock?"

Lara cringed, as she remembered how Sam had always commented that the jade looked too old and too unfashionable on Lara's neck, and how Sam was always pressuring Lara to ditch it for something more catchy. Despite this, Lara had never removed it. She had been wearing the same piece since she was very, very young.

"My mother gave it to me when I was four," Lara explained, "That's why I'm always wearing it."

Sam's eyes widened, and she appeared guilt ridden, "I-I'm sorry Lara, I never knew…"

"It's okay, I never told you." Lara smiled, "I hope you find in it the answer you're searching for."

Sam took the jade by both hands and looked closer. For a while there, she appeared confused, until she finally found the two words engraved on the jewellery.

-Most Beloved-

Her eyes watered, her brows softened, and her lips quivered. She looked back at Lara through glassy eyes, nodding, "Thank you Lara. It means a lot to me…" She then fastened the necklace and wore the jade on her neck, "I will keep it with me at all times until you come back."

Lara chuckled, "I thought you said it looked old and unfashionable."

"Not anymore," Sam had a cheeky smile on her face, "This thing is never coming off me again."

It was then the air steward once again motioned for Lara to board the plane, and this time it sounded as if his patience was wearing thin.

Sam looked at Lara, "You sure you don't want me to come?"

Lara's heart ached again once more. Parting with a loved one was always difficult, particularly with someone she cherished above all else. But she had to remain resolute, "Yes, Sam. I need you to stay here. I need to know that you're safe."

"Okay…" Sam appeared resigned, "I'll stay then…but be careful out there…promise me you'll come back."

"I promise you, Sam," Lara said, smiling, as she took Sam's hands, "I promise I'll come back."

"Good. I'll hold you to that." Sam nodded.

Lara laughed softly, "When have I ever not fulfilled my promise?"

"You've never," Sam replied, her face suddenly serious, "But this promise is more important than the others…much, much more important…even more so than the one you made me on Yamatai…I don't want to lose you, Lara."

Lara's face turned serious as well, "I know." She then pulled her companion into a deep embrace. "I promise I'll return…and Sam…thanks…for everything…"

As one journey ended, a new one began. Lara parted ways with Sam at the airport, but their spirits would forever remain intertwined. Regardless of the dangers and perils she would have to face in her new journey, Lara now had a new motivation to live through them all, to battle against the odds, to triumph against enemies both mortal and supernatural. Just like Yamatai, she had a reason to survive, except now she knew what the reason was. Then, as now, it had always been about the one person she loved above all else. Lara understood that now.

She will embark on a new journey…

She will redeem herself and right the wrongs of her parents' memories…

And one day she will return…

She will return to a promise…

A promise made to the one she cherishes the most…

A promise…for better things to come…

End Note:

I would like to thank everyone for reading this, especially those who took time to review. Your words of encouragement make me really happy. The message I tried to convey via this fic was that family and friends are the most important things in life. Despite this fic's insignificance, I would still like to dedicate it to those who have lost their loved ones. The mood in this fic was inspired by a piece of beautiful music called "Reminiscence", from the game "Chrono Cross". Once again, thanks for reading.