Before The End

Valiance

As the sun slowly disappears, we all make our way back to the Sanctuary. Very slowly due to a certain someone.

"This is the longest walk ever." Kenji complains, holding his knees.

"It's not any longer than the other times you walked here." I sigh, waiting for him as everyone else walks past us. He stretches out his back and looks at me.

"Wait. Nazeera, can you fly us back?"

I shake my head, "I'm not bothered."

"Pleaseeee." He whines, pulling my hand.
"We'll get there quickerrr."

"You are acting childish."

"Pretty please with a cherry on top?"

"Did you really think that that would convince me?" I cross my arms and he shrugs. I turn back and continue walking until I hear a fake sob.
Wow.

Kenji straightens his back and sniffles,
"You wouldn't help me in my time of need? I thought we had something special."

"Kenji, if you don't shut up right now, I will make you."

"Ooh." His sad facade is gone and he smirks,
"I kind of want to see that."

I pinch the bridge of my nose, keep myself from laughing or punching him.

"Fine." I sigh, moving closer to him and wrapping my arms around his waist. "I'll fly us back."

Kenji's face brightens but I shoot him a look,
"If you do something annoying, I will let go and watch you fall to your death."

"You're so cute." Kenji replies, tapping my nose with a smile. 

I roll my eyes and launch us into the air. To his credit, he does not scream or talk.
Once we're high up, Kenji asks me to lower us slightly down for a second. I'm curious to see what he wants so I drop us gently until we can see the roads again.

What Kenji wanted to do was shout "LOSERS" at his friends as they trudge up a hill.

With his hand enclosed in mine, I land us on the roof of one of the Sanctuary tents. He stomps down and grins at me widely.
"Have I ever told you how amazing you are?"

I jump off of the roof, hearing the murmurs of life from inside the tents.
"Has anyone ever told you you're a suck up?"

Kenji chuckles, climbs down himself. Somehow slips, and he lands on his back.
I tilt my head, stare down at him. He jumps up and clears his throat,

"Sorry I was just checking out the...durability of the ground."
Stomps his foot, and nods,
"Yup. Very nice ground. Very solid."

"Good to know."
——————————————————————

Birds.
I wake up to the sound of birds chittering. It's enough to make me grin and look out the window.

Two hummingbirds race around in the air, zooming around a little tree that holds many more feathery animals. There's something so peaceful, so pleasant about hearing nature's music. After so long.

My eyes drop to the clock, Ella wanted us up early for her wedding day. Those two are finally tying the knot.
Crazy to think that once upon a time, we were all small kids with unusual childhoods. With psycho parents determined to ruin the world.
Fun times.

An arrow strikes my heart, a reminder that Emmaline's not here. She won't get to see her sister get married and have a happy ending. She will never get a chance to enjoy what life has to offer.
I'll still be here, and she won't.
Emmaline deserves to live more than I do.

Blowing out a breath, I move away from the window.
I collapse on the ground, my back hitting the side of the bed.
Feelings are horrible.
And I was having a good morning too, damn.

My gaze strays to the bathroom door. I clear my throat and look away before I do something stupid.
The bottom drawer of my bedside table is close enough for me to yank it open.

I hate this drawer. Hate looking at it, too many emotions fill the air inside of it.
For a second I stop, only stare at the contents.
Then I carefully pull out a stack of photos.

There's not many, I found just a few to bring with me from Asia the first time. Feeling the tears flowing, I admire each one.
Emmaline, Haider and I.
Riding bikes with Ella and her.
The three of us baking a cake, a bored Warner in the corner watching.

I feel the mattress above me shift as I sift through memories and moments I will never forget.
Well, not anymore.

"Naz?" Kenji calls out my name and I'm pretty sure if I answer my voice will come out all broken.
Footsteps clap on the ground as he rounds the bed and stills when he sees the mess I am right now.

"Aw hey." He drops onto the ground next to me, encircles an arm around me. Kenji wipes my face and I take a deep breath, trying to recollect myself.
He holds me closely as I continue through the pictures.

I don't know why I do, it doesn't exactly lift my spirits. But I smile, remembering each memory as clear as day now, and they are something I don't want to let go of.

Sighing, I twist my head to look at Kenji. He gives me a sad smile, kisses my forehead.
I'm glad I have him.

He nods at the next photo,
"Isn't this J?"

I follow his eyes and see the next picture is one of Warner and Ella. Huh, I didn't know I had more of them.
"Yeah. I'll give this to Warner."

I tuck that one into my pocket and sigh.
I'm happy that they're officially going to be married, that there's nothing stopping them from being together.

Carefully, I put all the pictures into one pile again and shove them back into the drawer.
I'm about to shut it completely, when I notice the chain.
My hand involuntarily lifts it and I stare at the blood coated gold for a moment.

"I took it from his body." I hear myself mumble, not recognising the words coming out of my mouth.
My head has transported me back in Oceania.

Kenji exhales, "what?"

"Ella and Warner were fighting. The world was collapsing. We had no time." I click my tongue,
"It was lying right there, next to my dads brains, and I quickly snatched it off of him before we left."

My brain was in survival mode. We had to grab the other Supreme Kids and get the hell out of there.
One last look at my dad, and I just grabbed it.
A final reminder maybe, I don't know.

Stealing that was probably insane. But whatever.
It's not like my dad will ask for it back.

Putting the chain away and closing the drawer, I hide my face in Kenji's neck. He doesn't say anything, thankfully. Doesn't leave either.

"When do you stop grieving someone?" My voice is quiet.

He sucks in a breath,
"Probably never."

"How reassuring."

Kenji chuckles, tightens his hold on me.
That simple motion eases the tension in my chest.
So effortlessly.
I didn't really think I could feel like this for anyone before.

He brushes my hair with his fingers and I lift my head to look at him. Ebony eyes shine into mine, lips pulled in a soft smile that calms me.

I embrace the rush of feeling I get from him and press my lips to his, a sweet and gentle kiss.
Maybe I don't even deserve Kenji.
But there's no way I'm giving him up.
Whether I'm afraid or not.
I can't possibly love anyone as much as I love him.