Moonlight Desire

Chapter 24

The moment Lia opened her eyes, everything was different yet so familiar. The fountain in the middle of the plaza, spring flowers blooming and Italian being spoken all around her. She then realized that the place she had spent four years of her life in had disappeared before her eyes.

"Kazuki," Lia called out.

He was no where to be found, but what's more weird was that no one even reacted to her cries for Kazuki. She then started to run to the little apartment her and Monte used to have. She just happened to notice that her old key was somehow still on her. Upon entering, she was immediately met with the cold harsh environment of death. The air around her was chill to the bone, but she looked around to see the remains of what she had left behind. All her clothes and shoes were still here. Monte didn't even try to give anything away. The old note she wrote to Monte that she was determined to live, was still on the end table beside the bed. She went over and picked up her old note.

"I was so filled with hope to live, that going with Kazuki was the only logical thing for me to do at the time." Lia blinked away her tears. "I never thought about the pain it would bring to leave everyone behind. It was one of those situations where I was damned if I do and damned if I don't. No matter what I chose, I could never see any of you again."

Lia then heard the sound of the door being opened. That meant that Monte was home. Lia's heart began to beat faster. She stood up and met Monte as soon as he came into the bedroom.

"Hello," she smiled.

Monte's jaw dropped. He was overcome with so much shock that his legs couldn't move.

"It's been a long time, but I'm alive and well."

Monte then ran into her, bowling her onto the bed as he was overcome with so much joy to see Lia again. He then was able to sit up and just hold her in his arms.

"I've missed you."

"I've missed you too."Then Lia broke the hug and looked up at Monte. "So, how is everyone?" You and my sister especially?

"Silvia is out there living the dream. She went back to Tokyo to study the language more."

"That's amazing," Lia thought. Then she began to think that they would be able to speak Japanese to each other someday.

"The language has been quite challenging though," he said. "She has been doing what she can so she can speak it someday."

"I can imagine," Lia replied. "Isn't it one of the hardest languages to learn?"

They both laughed softly in agreement. Then Monte gave Lia a warm smile.

"I feel like this is a dream," Monte said. "There's so much I want to ask you that didn't make sense the night you went to the hospital."

Lia's heart sank as she braced herself for what he was about to ask her. She couldn't tell him about Kazuki and the existence of aliens.

"This note you left for me. It's the reason you're alive isn't it?"

Lia's heart began to pace a little faster than normal. She took in a deep breath before attempting to explain it to him.

"Yes," Lia nodded in agreement. "I forgot how much detail and desperation I put into that note."

"You've been with him this entire time," Monte rushed through that sentence before Lia could even explain herself. "I followed you that night."

Lia's face turned white. "You what?"

"You're not very sneaky," he explained. "I know you and I saw him too."

"You saw him," Lia cut him off. "How much did you see?"

"I saw the entire incident with those two low-lives when you tried to go look with him."

"My life was on the line," Lia hissed. "Do you think I just wanted to die?"

Monte gripped Lia's arm with angry being to boil. "Did you really think you would find him in the middle of the night?"

Lia, ripped Monte's grip from her all but too easy. "Don't touch me like that." Both were shocked at Lia's newfound strength. "I'm sorry."

"For the record," Monte began to brag. "I was about the set those guys straight for trying to lay a hand on my wife." He chuckled. "But, that's when I met him. He stopped me from charging in, saying I would only get myself killed. Turns out he was right. Didn't know those guys had a knife on him but, just what is he?"

Lia shook her head. "I can't tell you that."

Monte sighed. "I think I deserve an explanation of what happened."

"You do, but I can't tell you this. Can you live with that?"

"I don't know Lia. I spent the last four years of my life believing you were dead and all of a sudden you appear right before me."

Lia placed her hands on Monte's shoulder, attempting to comfort him. "Look, I'll try to tell you what you need to know. Can you tell me more first, about him?"

Monte took in a deep breath. "He told me to enjoy my last week with you. It was creepy how he would have known that. I went to the hospital with him to check you in, but he left before I could ask him any questions. But Lia, are you here to stay?"

Lia shook her head. "I don't think so. Besides, I don't even know how I'm here." Monte's face filled with disappointment as he looked down. "But I'm alright now."

The two continued to catch up on their lost time and talked just like old times. Once the sun set, Lia said her goodbyes to him and parted with a warm hug. One that made her consider her feeling for Kazuki and her love for Monte. She wondered if she was making the right choice, but she knew she wanted to live. Once the moon has risen, Lia ran back to the fountain. She noticed she ran faster than any human could run. It was as if she were driving over a hundred miles but she had complete control. Once she was there, she noticed a small girl with long white hair over at the fountain.

"What is it you want to do," she asked.

Lia scrunched her eye brows. "What do you mean?"

"Would you rather return home or continue the life you have with Kazuki?"

"I don't know who you are and I shouldn't be telling you that."

"You will tell me," the girl cut Lia off. "Because I'm the only one who can award you your power."

"What does that have to do with anything," Lia interrupted.

"Do you remember what you were doing before coming here?"

Lia remembered back to her training with Himeko and Kazuki. They were hard on her but, they showed her how much they cared for her.

"You must make your choice." The girl's words were cold as ice. Lia missed her family here but, never seeing Kazuki or Himeko again felt more devastating to her.

"I want to see Kazuki again."

"Hm?" The girl teased.

"I really miss my family here, but I can't deny the life I have with them now. He saved me from death. There's much more I want to live for with him."

The girl smiled. "Excellent choice. There's a dangerous power I want to give you."

Lia's eyes widened. "Dangerous?"

"Your power will be more defensive but, there is a special offence ability to it. It will be able to reverse any injuries or sickness."

"It sounds nice," Lia said. "That doesn't sound dangerous at all."

"But," the girl continued. "It can also bring back the dead."

"A power that can reverse death," Lia asked.

The girl smiled. "Yes, but you will be responsible for training your power. I can't tell you all it's abilities. But before I go, have a new sword made for you and you must name it Kiryoku.

After the girl said that, Lia began to leave that world. Her eyes opened to find that Kazuki has been by her side waiting for her to wake up.