~Pucca's P.O.V.~

All I could think about were his very last words:

'The feeling is mutual.

I'm done with you.

Goodbye, farewell, and good riddance.'

I can't believe he would just give up on me so easily.

…Just like I did.

And maybe…

…that was the wrong choice.

No. Get a grip, Pucca. He doesn't love you. He tried to kill you. He wants you dead.

And now, you've got someone by your side, someone who cares deeply for you, someone you know will protect you, no matter what.

And on your other side, you've got someone who has betrayed you, someone who just wants you to die and leave him alone.

You know the right choice, and yet…

…you don't really.

I had loved Garu for as long as I could remember, and I never knew he could be the way he was to this day:

Dark. Cold hearted. Mentally insane.

But somehow, all this time, I've been able to see past all those flaws and love him for the things I've always loved him for:

His kind words. His gentle touch. The sweet smile he rarely ever shows.

His gorgeous green eyes. His long, beautiful dark hair.

His modesty.

His integrity.

His unbelievable level of maturity.

His deep, sincere care for the ones he loves.

All the things that set him apart from other guys.

The things that make him, well… Garu.

My Garu.

The one I gave up on way too easily.

I knew I made a big mistake.

Although, by trying to fix it, I could be making an even bigger mistake.

But I had to do it.

I needed to break these tough chains and get back to my Garu.

Even if I would be forced to shatter someone else's heart in the process… it's only for the best.

We finally reached the lair, and he unlocked the doors. I waited eagerly, trying to come up with the nicest way to word the next thing that was going to leave my lips.

The long, unbearable truth that I've been holding back.

I took a deep breath as the doors opened, and we stepped inside.

"Well," he said with ease, "that went much easier than I thought it would. He surrendered, gave up, and we didn't even have to decease him in the process. Now that he's finally gone, we don't have to worry about him anymore. You and I are at ease with each other. We can love each other all we want, and nobody can stand in our way. Ah, victory sure is sweet, isn't it?"

"Yes… yes it is,"

The longer I waited, the harder it would be, and what had to be done had to be done.

If I was ever going to do it, my time was now.

"Tobe…" I muttered, my eyes beginning to fill with tears, "there's… something I need to tell you… now."

"Pucca, what is it? A-are you okay?"

I swallowed hard, trying to hold back the tears, but they just continued to come out in buckets. "I… I'm fine, but, Tobe, there's something I…" I couldn't get it out. The look in his dark amber eyes, staring down upon me, anticipating for the worst, it hurt me deep down inside.

Why did this have to be so difficult?

"Look, I… I love you, Tobe," I leaned forward and softly kissed his lips, tears streaming down my face. "But… I can't be with you anymore." Saying those last words hit me deep in the gut; I could hardly breathe. But I knew I had to do this.

"Pucca…" he said with a pained expression, "wha… what do you mean?"

"I'm sorry, but… I need my Garu!"

"Oh, Pucca, I, I understa- wait, Garu?! After everything he's done to you? You must be mad!"

"I know, I think I am mad, but… I'm okay with that."

"But, he… he will never be willing to look after your safe-being like I do! He'll leave you to die again, I know it!"

"I'm sorry," I took one last look into his eyes, and I made my way out the doors. Behind me, I could hear him shouting,

"Do as you wish, Pucca! But when he leaves you for dead, I will be the last to know!"

I felt great remorse after this. I almost wanted to go back and undo all my actions, but I knew there was no turning back now.

And somehow, in the right sense… I knew I had made the right decision.

I ran all the way across town, until I finally spotted him sitting underneath a broken tree, his head resting on his knees, a gloomy look in his eyes.

My heart tore in two at the sight, and I knew just what I had to do to make it whole again.

I walked up to him and without warning, I gave him a soft, yet loving kiss on the lips, and I whispered his name. "Garu…"

"Pucca?!" he stuttered, in complete shock. "Why, ah, you, oh… Pucca…"

"Yes?"

He looked down at his feet, blushing greatly, still shocked, and he immediately rushed up to me, pressing his lips against mine in a warm, passionate kiss.

"Pucca…"

"Garu…"

We looked deeply into each other's eyes, seconds before locking into another deep kiss, embracing each other tightly.

I knew this was the right decision.

And I knew it very well…

~Garu's P.O.V.~

It felt so great having her back in my arms again.

It almost seemed too good to be true.

It really was true this time, though.

I knew it would happen sooner or later, even if it took until now, much, much later. But it was definitely worth it.

"Oh Garu, I'm so sorry! I don't know what came over me. I didn't mean to hurt you,"

"No, it's my fault. I'm the one who totally lost it. But I promise it will never happen again, and if it does, just please promise not to kill me too bad, no matter how much I deserve it,"

"But it won't, Garu. You were right. I was way too clingy. If I had just laid off, this might have never even happened in the first-"

"Please, don't blame yourself, Pucca. This was all my fault,"

"No, it was mine!"

"No, it wasn't!"

"Yeah, it was!"

"You know what? If you're going to fight with me like this, then I'm not even sure if I can be around you anymore. Goodbye, Pucca."

I began to slowly walk away, until she grabbed me by the shoulder and stopped me.

"Garu!"

I paused, turned around, and gave her a big smooch on the lips. "Relax, Pucca," I said with a teasing smile, "I'm just messing with you."

She frowned. "You jerk. Don't ever come near me again.;"

Crap.

Maybe I shouldn't have messed around with her like that. Now she hates me again.

As she began to walk away from me, I muttered, "Pucca…"

She slyly turned her head towards me with a devious grin on her face, and said, "Back at ya."

I froze. I could feel my eye twitching in disbelief. "Dammit, Pucca! Why'd you have to scare me like that?"

"Oh, come on, Garu. I had to get back at you somehow," She turned to me and winked. "You know I love you."

I paused, and I relaxed. "You're right. What have I got to worry about?" I grabbed her and squeezed her tight. "Nothing will ever break us apart. Never again. Only time will be our separator, but until that time comes, let's enjoy every minute we have together. Our time is now."

She wrapped her arms around me and whispered, "Now, and forever."

We lingered with each other until sunset, and long, long after that, and we began our forever.

Together.

~Tobe's P.O.V.~

I couldn't move. I just stood there, frozen, hardly even able to breathe.

I felt as though someone had ripped my heart right out of my chest.

I couldn't believe she had left me, and for Garu.

I had no idea how I was supposed to go on.

Like I've mentioned before, a life without Pucca…

…is a life worse than death.

Without even pondering my options, I knew I would go with the easier one, to relieve me of my pain once and for all.

I searched around the lair, and I finally found my sword, and without hesitating one more second, I raised it high above my head and brought it down swiftly, stabbing it through the left side of my chest and all the way through my back.

I waited, and time finally began to unravel.

My legs buckled, and I fell to my knees, bleeding all over the floor, waiting to die.

…

Opening.

Ending.

Purpose.

Reason.

Questions.

Answers.

Anxiety.

Relief.

Problems.

Solutions.

Disappointment.

Hurt.

Comfort.

Issues.

Resolutions.

All the ingredients needed to create a story and its expected happy ending.

The loose ends that finally get tied up, only to be unraveled once again into the start of a whole new story full of many more reasons, questions, answers, issues, resolutions, etc. etc…

That's always the way it goes…

…or is it?

It may seem that way for the most part, but when you take a look through each person's eyes at least once, and see things in their perspectives, you'll start to realize that, in reality, a happy ending isn't always happy for everyone, now is it?

THE END.