Chapter 17
She awoke in a deep feather bed and could feel the warmth around her. Four days ago, she had felt warm and safe... and alone. Three days ago, she had just been alone.
"Eme-chan..." came a voice from the window that was as familiar to her as her own hand. She sat up and watched him watch the gentle rain that fell outside of her window. Her chest had a dull ache and her muscles were stiff, but other than that she felt fine.
"Clef..." she said softly. He was there, he was safe, he was...... a being of light.
"Eme-chan," he began again, as he turned away from the window towards her. "I'm so sorry..." His voice trembled and he walked towards her. He laid his hand on hers an sat on the bed next to her. "You're the last one I get to apologize to..." He sighed.
"Ano... how long was I asleep?" Emerria asked suddenly. For some reason, she knew it had been longer than four days now since it had started.
"Two days..." he said, a shadow passing over his eyes. "I would have stayed, but I had to give everyone my apologies." He stopped again and sighed. "No one said anything, but I think they understand..."
The door opened and shut. "Clef!" a bright voice shouted. Hikaru bounded in and glomped him. "Everyone is waiting outside..." her voice trailed off as she looked at Emerria. "EME-CHAN!!!!!" her voice resounded off the walls and the door was thrown open. Three other figures clamored to get in and surround the two figures on the bed. Umi, Fuu, and Presia, along with the already present Hikaru crowded around Emerria and looked her over to see if she was still hurt.
"No...No...No...No......" Presia looked over to Fuu, and shook her head. "I think she's okay!"
Fuu nodded but looked at Emerria and Clef. "Ano, I think she still needs some rest though. She was hurt the worst out of the bunch."
Umi smiled at Fuu and moved towards the door. "I'll tell everyone the good news." She grabbed Presia and Fuu by the shirtsleeves, and tugged them outside. Hikaru smiled at Emerria and hugged her gently.
"I'm happy that you are both here..." she said, her eyes glistening in spite of her smile.
Clef nodded. "Yes..." He said softly. "Tell everyone outside that we will be out in a moment."
Hikaru nodded. "I will." She walked towards the door, and left, shutting it silently.
Emerria looked at the shut door, and then back at Clef. "You're being too hard on yourself. You know that you fought the darkness inside of you." Clef shook his head violently, but Emerria continued anyways. "I felt it, even as I fought you. Your true self could not be beat. None of us would be here if your will wasn't that strong."
Clef frowned. "Demo..." He sighed. "I...I..." He looked up at her eyes and tried again. "I tried to hurt you. I tried to destroy you..."
"No, that wasn't you... it was a dark force that wore your face." Emerria pulled him into a hug. "I knew you would prevail... I wouldn't have risked my life for you if I didn't trust you..."
Clef breathed her in... His mind celebrated her light and her scent. "I missed you." he said, muffled into her thick hair. He moved back so he could look at her again. One hand moved around looking for hers, while the other caught her head and pulled her face towards his for a kiss.
Gentle and warm, her mind reeled. Clef's lips were warmer than the first kiss, when her body was shaking from the shock. Now, they weren't a plea, but a comfort.
Outside the door, the same group that had greeted them a week ago stood waiting. Umi had bounced out akin to Mokona and told everyone that Emerria was finally awake. Relief had passed over them, knowing that she would bring Clef out of his funk. No one blamed him for what happened, and watched as two days passed and he drew himself deeper into his depression. He hadn't eaten in those two days, and if he wasn't apologizing to someone, he stood at Emerria's window waiting.
The door creaked open and a pair of sky blue eyes seemed to glisten etherealy before their master stepped out of the shadows with a small smile on his face. Following him, Emerria floated on a cloud of happy burgandy hair and white fabric.
A silence permeated the room before an entire crowd of people decended for an en masse hug.
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