Ruby (Now Completed!)

[Chapter 12]

Len surfaced beside Teto, breathing in the crisp, night air like she was. He hadn't seen the surface for months, and he felt a wave of relief wash over him. He had done what he had promised. He had escaped, with the beautiful girl he was so fascinated with by his side. He and Teto were snapped out of their thoughts by Mat.

"Well, guys," he said, as if they had simply finished a day of school, "now's the time I leave you. Got some people I need to catch up with after five years. And Ruby, I don't believe I've thanked you yet, for saving my life. Should we meet again, I'll owe you one." He grinned at Teto.

Teto grinned back, feeling slightly elated.

"Ah, all in a day's work. I have to thank you, too. Without you, there's no way we would've gotten this far. I do hope I see you again someday." 

Mat simply nodded in reply.

"Sayonara, my friends." Was the last thing he said, with a nod toward Teto and Len. Then, he turned on his heel and broke into a run, vanishing around the alley corner. Teto turned to Len. She was grinning, but her smile showed sadness.

"I wish Piko were here," she said, tearing up a little. She lifted up the ruby pendant around her neck, gazing at it longingly.

"He is here," Len said, stepping a little closer. He gently pushed her hand to her chest, over her heart. "He's in your heart."

Teto glanced up at him, her tears starting to spill over and run down her cheeks. She couldn't resist a weak laugh.

"I've heard that line in movies so many times," she said, choking on her words a little.

Len chuckled a little as well.

"I know, but that's all I had." That caused them both to laugh a little harder.

"But still," he said once they had calmed down, "I'm sure he'd be so proud and happy right now."

Teto nodded.

"Yeah, he probably would."

Len glanced up at the sky, which now was filled with thousands of glowing stars.

"Hey, look up at the sky," he told her. She obeyed, tilting her head up to look.

"You see that star there? The really bright white one?" He asked, pointing to a big, bright white star a little ways in front of them.

Teto nodded.

"Yeah," she replied, beginning to dry her tears.

"That's Piko, looking down on us right now. He's probably so happy for you." Len said, remembering what his mother told him about the stars when he was upset about his grandfather's passing.

Teto looked back down on him, a smile on her face. She giggled.

"Hey, did your mom tell you about that too?"

Len nodded, laughing.

"So you don't believe me, I take it?"

Teto stopped laughing, but she still smiled at him. In the past couple days, she had really seen the good side of Len. He had let her cry on his shoulder, instead at laughing at her weakness like she thought he might've done. She also found it sweet that he was trying his best to comfort her now.

"No, of course I believe you." She replied.

For the first time in what seemed like years, Len genuinely felt happy. He felt as though the weight that he had carried on his shoulders for the past few months that he was with the Project was lifted, and he could finally breathe. To make it better, the girl who had started out hating him, had finally opened up to him. He wanted the time they spent before they separated forever to be well-spent.