Forgotten
Serenade at Midnight
Author's Notes: Ok, this fic is almost done! This is the LAST chapter. And it's happy! I just feel all warm and fuzzy. If you're nice, I might make a sequel. Maybe. I hope you like it! Oh, and here's to last chapter's reviewers!
samuraiduck27: Yeah, it sucks to be sick. I hope you get better soon! Thanks for being such a loyal reader through this whole fic. You rock!
Asaake: Yeah, there was a lot to chapter ten. Thanks so much for reading and reviewing; I hope you enjoy the final chapter!
ladyYoko: Thanks for reading and reviewing! It means a lot to me. I'm glad that you like the story.
And so, here it is. The very last chapter of FORGOTTEN.
On the fifth, just like I promised.
Enjoy!
DISCLAIMER: I don't own Yu Yu Hakusho or the song "Iris."
Millions of tiny stars glittered sweetly in the midnight sky, and Akiko stared up at them all from the balcony of her room at the safe house. She took a deep breath, inhaling the fresh night air, as she allowed her mind to drift to thoughts of the past three months' events. In twelve weeks she had gone from life as dirt to almost princess. A slight smirk played across her graceful features as she drew her dark navy robe closer around her shoulders. Quite a change. From victim to whore to the embodiment of purity. 'Oh well,' she thought heavily. 'I guess I'll get used to it eventually.' A heavy sigh escaped her lips, and she leaned on to the balcony's railing, humming softly to herself.
Memories flooded her mind as she continued to hum the little tune. Memories of a dark past, deceit, revelations… love? She shook her head to rid herself of the confused ideas running about her head and, yawning, drew her tune to a gentle close, turning around and returning to her room. Once she sat down on the bed, she pulled the covers above her nose, so that only her softly glowing emerald eyes could be seen above them.
"Hn. After all those things Koenma said about you, I thought you'd at least be able to carry a tune," a mellow baritone voice mocked without any real malice.
Gasping in surprise, Akiko sat up and turned to the exit that led to the balcony from whence she had just come. Once she saw the speaker, however, she smiled in relief and chunked a pillow in the direction that the voice came from saying, "You almost scared the living hell out of me, you know that?"
Hiei stepped out of the shadows, a slight smirk playing across his face. "Sorry," he replied, shrugging. "But someone had to let you know that a tone deaf cow has more perception of pitch than you do."
Scoffing, Akiko rolled her eyes sassily. "Right, like you could do any better."
"You'd be surprised," Hiei said, arching an eyebrow and sitting down next to Akiko on the bed. "What were you doing out there anyway?"
Akiko shrugged. "Just thinking."
"Care to elaborate?"
"…Not really."
Hiei studied her carefully for a moment, watching her avoid his eyes. "You're scared, aren't you?"
She looked at him sheepishly. "Overwhelmed, more like."
Smiling softly, he nodded. "Why don't you lie down? You look like hell."
"Gee, thanks," Akiko retorted sarcastically as she fell back on her pillow.
For a moment, they sat in silence, taking in each other's company until Akiko spoke up.
"Hey Hiei?"
"What?"
"Are you going to leave?"
Hiei gave her a sideways glance. "Yeah," he said softly.
"Soon?"
"Yeah. Soon."
"Oh," she responded softly and with the faintest note of sadness. "Sing me a lullaby."
He gave her a quizzical look. "Sing you a lullaby?"
"Yeah."
"How 'bout no?"
"Aw… please?"
"No."
Akiko gave a sniffle. "Alright," she said softly, turning away from him. "You don't have to." She curled herself into a tight little ball, still sniffing.
He looked at her tightly curled form, and sighed. "Fine, fine. I'll sing you a lullaby. But you'd better not tell anyone that I did this, or I swear I'll hunt you down and gut you myself."
Smiling innocently, Akiko turned back to Hiei and curled up beside him, her head resting on his chest. "Okay, I won't tell."
"Close your eyes and try to sleep, alright?"
"Yeah."
Still thinking 'I can't believe she talked me into this,' Hiei began softly singing softly to the tune which he had heard Akiko humming.
And I'd give up forever to touch you
'Cause I know that you feel me somehow
You're the closest to heaven that I'll ever be
And I don't want to go home right now
Akiko gave a quiet yawn and snuggled closer to Hiei, who, though he still rolled his eyes, draped an arm protectively around her.
And all I can taste is this moment
And all I can breathe is your life
'Cause sooner or later it's over
I just don't want to miss you tonight
By now, he knew that the girl was asleep: her breathing was slow and even, and a peaceful look graced her soft features. How anyone would miss the fact that she was an angel…. He smiled softly at her petite form and, stroking her arm, continued the lullaby, even though he thought she could no longer hear him.
And I don't want the world to see me
'Cause I don't think that they'd understand
When everything's made to be broken
I just want you to know who I am
And you can't fight the tears that ain't coming
Or the moment of truth in your lies
When everything feels like the movies
Yeah you bleed just to know you're alive
And I don't want the world to see me
'Cause I don't think that they'd understand
When everything's made to be broken
I just want you to know who I am
And I don't want the world to see me
'Cause I don't think that they'd understand
When everything's made to be broken
I just want you to know who I am
And I don't want the world to see me
'Cause I don't think that they'd understand
When everything's made to be broken
I just want you to know who I am
Small rays of moonlight drifted into the room through the balcony window, and, though part of him wanted to stay in the picturesque scene forever, Hiei pulled himself off of the bed, being careful not to wake Akiko. He set her head down on the pillow and brushed stray strands of her auburn hair out of her fair face, and ambled quietly over to the door, still softly singing the last few lines of the lullaby as he left the room
I just want you to know who I am
I just want you to know who I am
I just want you to know who I am
As the door to her room slid silently shut, the girl's lips turned up in a faint smile as if the lullaby was echoing in her dreams.
Author's Notes: Aww… wasn't that sweet? Oh, I bet you can't guess what Akiko means? Give up? It means Iris! Thoughtful, no (though I think the name refers to the flower and not to the part of the eye)? Any who, that was my first really fluffy chapter, so I hope it was good! And I really hope that you all enjoyed this fic; I know I enjoyed writing it (minus the painful writer's blocks…)! Special Thanks to all those who read this fic and kept hounding me to finish and to my reviewers:
demonchild22
Kurama'sfoxykitsune
Samuraiduck27
Suntiger
Taylor
darkXdemon15
random chick
Asaake
Black Hanyou Rahvin
ladyYoko
And, of course to my dear friend Moojuice Nne for helping me through the (numerous) rough spots with this fic and always being so optimistic!
All right, now here's where I need you guys to respond. Do you want a sequel? If you don't want it, I won't write it, so TELL ME!
Hope to hear from you!
Oh, and check out my latest fic, "Prisoner of War."
It's been real,
Sheepchi