The Devil Inside Ch25

[Shinobi]

Notes: The last ONE! Yay! What can I say? It's been a blast. So what are you waiting for? Read away!

and stuff



The Devil Inside
Chapter 25

?Wha-where?? Crispin Daniels groaned as he came to. He felt stiff and his mouth was dry as cotton. He looked around blearily and saw lifeless gray metal walls. A persistent beeping made him turn his head. At his side was a electronic monitoring device. It took him a few minutes to realize he was lying in a bed and the monitor was set on a stand next to him. On the other side of the bed was another stand with a empty pitcher and a well thumbed paperback.

?What is that?? He tired to reach the book but lacked the strength to do so. His hand flopped back to his side. He starred at the book long and hard and eventually the letters on the spine appeared less fuzzy. The title was in French.

?Where am I?? The question sapped what little strength he had and Crispin stopped looking around. He starred at the gray ceiling and realized it was a bulkhead?. Like one found on a naval vessel, or a submarine. ?What is this place?? He croaked out loud.

Eventually weariness overcame him and Crispin fell back to sleep.

**

Sometime later, a loud crash woke Crispin up. He heard voices speaking but by the time he opened his eyes he saw no one. He looked around confused and was about to call out when he realized a figure was kneeling on the floor next to his bed. Crispin tried to peer down but the gesture was unnecessary. The figure stood back up holding an empty pitcher. He stared in amazement when he recognized the figure. ?Captain??

Tessa gasped in surprise when Crispin spoke and nearly dropped the pitcher she had picked up from the floor. ?Cpl. Daniels.? Tessa stammered. ?I?m sorry. I didn?t mean to wake you.? She sat the pitcher back on the stand before she dropped it again. ?I?ll inform the doctor you?re awake.? She turned to go.

?Wait!? Crispin wheezed. When he had Tessa?s attention he asked. ?Where am I?? He was still very confused.

?You?re in the intensive care unit on the Tuatha de Danaan.? Tessa tilted her head at him. ?Are you alright Cpl?? Her cheeks reddened in embarrassment as soon as she asked. He was clearly anything but well.

?Intensive care?? Crispin starred dumbfounded at Tessa. Her second question passed right over his head. ?Why would?? Crispin trailed off as he recalled the firefight in the ravine. How he emptied his clip into the chest of the last of Kaname?s kidnappers and was simultaneously shot in return. He reeled as the memories rushed back in.

Tessa looked around with a frown. She saw no medical personal nearby to inform of Daniels change in condition. A man in his delicate state should be monitored at all times, even if he is a traitor. She overlooked the fact a medic had come running when she knocked the pitcher from the corporal?s bedside stand.

?What happened?? Crispin asked the distracted Captain.

?What?? Tessa blinked at the bed-ridden man. She paused at his pallid complexion but reminded herself that he looked much healthier than in days past. ?Oh, yes.? She finally remembered what he had asked.? You sustained multiple gunshot wounds. To the shoulder and chest. You?ve been asleep for ten days.?

?That?s good to know?? Crispin paused. ?Ten days?? At Tessa?s nod he continued. ?Anyway, I mean what happened? At the ravine?? As he spoke Crispin became agitated and began to sit up. ?Kaname! Is she safe? Did Sagara get her out?? He asked desperately.

?She?s fine.? Tessa placed her hands on the corporal?s shoulders. He looked ready to climb out of the bed. ?Sagara got her out. Sgt. Weber and Sgt. Major Mao found the two of you.? Crispin froze at her words and Tessa used the chance to push him back down. ?Now lay still. You?re badly injured and shouldn?t strain yourself.?

?Is everything alright Captain?? The on duty medic came running when he heard shouting. He stopped and starred at the conscious Crispin.

?Yes. Everything?s fine.? Tessa assured the medic. She stepped back from the bed-ridden Daniels and turned toward the medic. ?Please inform the Chief Medical Officer her patient is awake.?

?Yes ma?am.? The medic hurried to follow Tessa?s order.

?Safe?? Crispin licked his chapped lips. He starred at nothing as Tessa nodded. ?She?s safe?? He looked at Tessa uncertainly.

?Yes, corporal. Kaname Chidori is safe.? Tessa smiled sadly at the desperation in the mechanic?s eyes. She patted his hand comfortingly. ?Thanks to you and Sgt. Sagara.?

Crispin closed his eyes and sighed. The relief he felt was indescribable. If he had been present Crispin could have kissed Sagara. As he relaxed the other half of Tessa?s explanation clicked into place. ?Mao and Weber found us??

?Yes. That car you detonated alerted their search team to your location.? Tessa explained. ?When they reached the site they found three dead Marines and you badly injured.? Tessa smiled warmly at the corporal. ?They located Sgt. Sagara and Ms. Chidori half an hour later inside the cave complex the ravine lead into.? She decided to forgo mention of Ms. Chidori?s wounds.

?That?s makes sense.? Crispin nodded at the captain?s explanation. However, something she said didn?t add up. ?Three Marines?? He finally asked. ?Not five??

?No, not five.? Tessa grimaced. It galled her to think two of the men responsible for this escaped. Worse, if Lt. Cmdr. Kalinin was correct than those two were the masterminds of the kidnapping in the first place. Tessa feared the threat to Kaname?s life was far from over. ?Two escaped.?

?Great.? Crispin groused but was not too upset by the news. Kaname was safe. That?s all that mattered. After a while it occurred to Crispin the captain was likely the only person on board who actually visited him. ?Thanks.? He muttered in embarrassment.

?Excuse me?? Tessa blinked at the mechanic.

?Thanks for visiting Captain.? Crispin tried to smile and failed spectacularly. ?I-I appreciate it.? He looked away.

?Oh, you?re welcome.? Tessa starred at her clasped hands. An uncomfortable silence settled over the two. Casting about for a way to break the silence Tessa spotted the paperback on the stand next to the picture. ?Oh, I returned your book.? She nodded at the stand.

?You did?? Crispin starred at the book. He could read the title clearly now. Discours de la M?thod Pour Pien Conduire sa Raison et Chercher la V?rit? dans les Sciences. By R. Descartes. Or more simply The Discourse on Method. It was considered an instrumental work in applied geometry. ?Hey, that is mine. I forgot all about it.? He laughed weakly at the last.

?Well, a lot?s happened since then.? Tessa smiled. ?You loaned it to me almost five months ago, before?.? Tessa trailed off as she realized what she was saying.

?Yeah.? Crispin frowned. ?So what happens now??

?Now that you awake. You?ll be transferred to one of our permanent medical facilities. When you?ve fully recovered, your?? Tessa hesitated and pushed on. ?Your tribunal will begin.?

?I see.? Crispin starred at the ceiling. ?So that?s it then.? He thought. Why did they even bother to save him? So he could rot in MDC? Crispin snorted at the thought. Everyone (himself included) would be happier if they had just left him to die in that ravine. As he lay there feeling sorry for himself a thought occurred to Crispin. He was privy to a lot of Top Secret information. About TDD-1. The ARX-7. The Whispered.

?They?re not going to let me go are they?? Crispin finally asked. ?I know too much.?

?I?m sorry.? Tessa said. The corporal was right. Mithril could not allow someone, a criminal no less, walk away with knowledge of the Whispered or the organization?s greatest secrets.

?It doesn?t matter anyway.? Crispin sighed.

Tessa was about to reproach him for talking like that when the Chief Medical Officer walked in.

?How is everything Captain?? The black woman asked Tessa.

?Fine. Thank you.? Tessa turned to the Medical Officer. ?I?ll leave you to your patient doctor.? She smiled at Crispin, ?Take care Cpl. Daniels.?

?Sure thing Captain.? Crispin whispered tiredly.

**

Tessa starred miserably at the deck as she exited the infirmary. She was upset after talking with Cpl. Daniels. Upset at herself. She was the Captain. The welfare of the ship and its crew was her responsibility. She had worked with Cpl Daniels extensively to complete the Tuatha de Danaan and on the X-7. While they were never close, she felt confident in saying they knew each other well enough.

She knew about Cpl Daniels?s sister and how much she meant to him. When he returned from his last leave he said nothing about what had happened. He had been more taciturn and withdrawn, but she noticed no difference in his behavior. And yet she should have!

If she had realized Cpl Daniels was not well. She could have insisted he speak to one of doctors or even the Flight Surgeon. He wouldn?t be in this position, and Ensign Novello and the others would not have been hurt during the lance corporal?s rampage.

Tessa bowed her head and fought back her tears. Cpl. Daniels was her failure. She should have done something. He, Ensign Novello and the others paid the price for her lack of foresight. That was unforgivable!

?Captain? Are you alright?? A British accented voice asked in concern.

?Commander Mardukas.? Tessa looked up in surprise. She detected the briefest look of concern in her second?s eyes when he repeated his question. ?I?m fine. Thank you.? Tessa was pleased her voice didn?t quiver as she spoke. ?I?m sorry to have kept you waiting.?

Richard Mardukas waved away her concerns. ?Don?t worry about it Captain.? He studied the silver-haired girl a moment. ?You know there?s nothing you could?ve done.?

?E-excuse me?? Tessa stammered.

?Blaming yourself won?t change anything.? Cmdr. Mardukas starred at her with a ghost of a smile. ?I know the road you?re traveling. Going over the possibilities. All the could haves and should haves.? He shook his head sadly. ?You run your mind in bloody circles until you drive yourself crazy. And in the end, it doesn?t change anything.?

?But.? Tessa allowed her misery to show. ?It?s my responsibility-?

?To the ship and the men UNDER your command.? Mardukas finished for her. At her confused stare he sighed. ?What?s done is done. Daniels made his choice. Nothing you, I, or anyone can do will change that. His choices brought us where we are now. Where he is now. And he will pay for those choices. The best you can do is understand what happened and try not to make the same mistake again.? He paused. ?He?s only one of four hundred men and women on board. Your duty lies with them.?

?Yes Commander Mardukas.? Tessa blushed in embarrassment. ?I-your right. I shouldn?t let it get to me.? She glanced up shyly. ?I?m sorry. I didn?t mean to disappoint you.?

?There?s nothing to apologize for Captain.? This time the Englishman did smile. ?What you?re experiencing is a problem all good commanders have had to deal with at some time or another. A test of a leader?s mettle if you will. And if I may say so. I think you?ve done well.?

?Thank you Commander Mardukas.? Tessa smiled at the rare compliment. ?I won?t disappoint you!?

?I know you won?t.?

**

Crispin starred at the ceiling of the infirmary. It had been two days since he woke and was moved out of ICU. He felt a lot stronger now and spent the majority of his time bored out of his skull. He had reread the book the Captain had returned twice already. And that was mainly to brush up on his French. It was good to keep in practice. Maybe he should learn Pashto. The language that old apothecary and Sagara spoke.

?Hey, get me a dictionary.? Crispin said to the MP sitting at the end of the medical bay. Now that he was in stable condition he had a guard 24-7. It was kinda funny. They were worried about a convalescent raising hell. Crispin smirked at the thought.

?Get it yourself!? The MP snapped. He was tired of injured man?s baiting. The worse thing was there was nothing he could do about it.

?Yeah, right.? Crispin snorted. ?Look at me dumbass! If I could, do you think I?d ask a thick headed lummox like yourself??

?Why you!? The MP stood and stalked over to Crispin.

?Is there a problem?? A stern voice asked form behind.

The MP whirled and stiffened at the stern visage of Lt. Cmdr Andrey Kalinin. ?NO sir!? He snapped to attention.

Crispin snickered.

?Glad to hear it.? Kalinin strode into the medical bay right up to the foot of Crispin?s bed. ?I?d like a word alone with your prisoner.? It was not a request.

?Yes sir.? The MP hastily beat tracks out of the medical bay.

?You sure do keep them on their toes don?t ya Old Man?? Crispin laughed at the MP?s retreating form.

?You?re hardly in a position to be laughing corporal.? Kalinin pointed out.

Crispin stared at the tall Russian. ?Yeah, I know. No need to rub my face in it.? Kalinin continued to stare and Crispin added. ?Sir.?

?I?m only reminding you of the gravity of your situation corporal.?

?Okay I got it. Thanks.? Crispin groused. After a moment of uncomfortable silence he finally asked. ?So why are you here? We both know it?s not to see if I?m feeling better.?

?Candid as always.? Kalinin gave a tight smile.

?One of my better qualities.? Crispin grinned and laughed. The laugh faltered when Kalinin remained silent. ?Look if it?s about that stupid report I was a little distracted.? Crispin muttered. ?And if you?re here to chew me up about ignoring orders?.? Crispin frowned. ?Well you can blow it up your ass. I told you I wasn?t one of your bootlicking commandos.?

?I?m not here for either of those corporal.? Kalinin ignored the young man?s petty insults. They only hurt Daniels and both men knew it.

?Then why are you here?? Crispin scowled. He was getting annoyed.

?I came to apologize.?

?What?? Crispin starred wide-eyed at Kalinin. ?How??

?I used you corporal.? Kalinin bowed his head briefly. At the corporal?s obvious confusion he elaborated. ?I knew how you would react if Ms. Chidori?s life was in danger. I counted on it. And you did not disappoint me.?

?I-what are you saying?? Crispin?s mind reeled at Kalinin?s words.

?Why didn?t you tell anyone about your sister?? Kalinin asked instead.

?That?s nobody?s business! Especially yours!? Crispin snapped and turned away. His entire body radiated anger.

?Look at yourself corporal.? Kalinin spoke softly. ?The rage and horror. We both know it?s there. I counted on it. I knew if you were presented with a situation of? similar circumstances then you would bring your considerable intelligence and fortitude to prevent the same thing from happening.?

Crispin clenched his eyes as anger and despair washed over him. ?You?re lying. You didn?t need me. So why?? He whispered the last.

?On the contrary corporal. Your foresight, technical expertise, and stubbornness was a contributing factor in Ms. Chidori?s rescue.? Kalinin looked away. ?I won?t pretend to understand your pain. But I imagine it was not dissimilar to what I experienced when I understood what it meant to be one of the Whispered.? Kalinin shook his head sadly. ?No one deserves that.?

Crispin said nothing.

?If I had the resources, I would?ve assigned three Special Response Teams to guard Ms. Chidori. Unfortunately that was, and still is, not possible.? Kalinin confessed. ?Yet everything changed when our Intelligence agents learned what happened to your sister during your last leave. They informed myself and the Madam Captain immediately. I imagine they thought it relevant to the case being built against you.? Kalinin stared at Crispin?s hunched form. ?But I saw something else. It was an opportunity. Further resources could not be diverted to protect one girl, even a potential Whispered, but you? You were expendable. So I used you. And you exceeded all my expectations.?

Crispin turned back to Kalinin. ?I really was your puppet all along wasn?t I?" At Kalinin?s nod he turned back away. ?Fine, whatever. You?ve apologized. And your conscious is clear now. Happy to be of service. Now go away!?

Kalinin nodded. ?As you wish.? He turned to walk away but stopped after three paces and turned back. ?We?re traveling on a north east bearing a little over 100 miles off the southern coast of Japan.?

?That?s nice.? Crispin starred at Kalinin in confusion. ?Why tell me??

?I imagine we can send and receive signals from as far as Tokyo for the next hour or so.? Kalinin pointed out innocently. He seemed to have not heard Crispin. Kalinin starred at the display next to Crispin?s bed. ?I see the intercom system for your bed has a cellular phone built into it. I should speak to the medical officer about that.? Kalinin turned on his heel and walked away.

?Huh?? Crispin looked to the intercom system just to the right of his head. As the commander said there was a phone built into ithe console and it looked to be in perfect working order. ?Wait!? he called to Kalinin?s back.

?What is it corporal?? Kalinin did not turn around.

?Why?? Crispin asked nervously. ?Why are you doing this??

?We all stumble thru life corporal.? Kalinin turned back to Crispin. ?You?ve just stumbled harder than most.? Kalinin quickly left the medical ward.

Crispin stared incredulously at the departing Russian. After a full minute passed he realized the MP had not returned. Crispin?s eyes turned to the phone at his bedside. He stared at it a long while and snorted. ?Whatever! Like I give a shit!?

**

Kyouko Tokiwa inspected the blouse she held with a critical eye. With a sigh she shook her head and tossed it onto a growing pile of clothes behind her. She picked up another one she had laid out on her bed and began to look it over. She was supposed to meet Kaname in less than two hours.

A week had passed since her best friend had been released from the hospital and Kaname had spent most of that time with her father and sister. Kyouko was going to meet Kaname and her family for dinner. It was her first time to actually meet them and she wanted to make a good impression. So she was searching her entire wardrobe for the right outfit. With a sigh the bespectacled girl threw the blouse over her shoulder and picked up another. It wasn?t going very well. She couldn?t concentrate.

Her best friend was safe and all was right with the world. Kyouko knew she should be happy and she was, but something was missing.

?Cris?? Kyouko sighed and lowered the blouse she was holding. She was worried about the American. No one had heard from him since he disappeared into the streets of Naha. The worse part was no seemed to care. Not even Sousuke.

The dark-haired boy claimed he knew nothing about Crispin?s whereabouts. He was clearly lying and Kyouko had never wanted to beat someone so badly before in her life.

Kyouko stiffened when she heard the ring of her cell phone. It was probably Kaname. ?Where is it?? The girl looked around but didn?t see her phone. She starred at the pile of discarded clothes and realized the ringing was coming from underneath. ?Eek!? She tossed clothes all over her room and finally found her phone.

?H-hello.? Kyouko gasped for breath as she answered. She waited but heard no answer. She looked at the phone to see if she had a connection. She did. ?Hello?? She asked again. ?Is that you Kaname?? When she got no answer Kyouko frowned and moved to hang up.

?Hey.? A faint voice answered.

?Hello?? Kyouko said again. ?Who is this?? She was really confused now.

?Sorry to bother you.?

She could hear what sounded like the voice moving to hang up. Kyouko?s eyes widened as she recognized the voice.

?Cris!? Kyouko cried out happily. ?Is that you??

?Yeah it?s me.? Crispin said lamely.

?Thank god you?re alright! I was so worried.? Kyouko was ecstatic, and she couldn?t talk fast enough. ?Where are you? What happened? When will you be back for class??

?I?I won?t be coming back.? Crispin interrupted.

?Wh-what?? Kyouko stopped. ?You have to. What about school??

?School?? Crispin laughed bitterly. ?School?s the least of my problems.?

?What do y-you mean?? Kyouko?s lower lip began to tremble.

?I mean exactly what I said!? Crispin said in a harsh voice. Realizing what he was doing Crispin took a deep breath and tried again. ?Like I said. I can?t come back.?

?W-why not?? Kyouko sank to floor as she clutched the phone.

?Kyouko? I? Crispin starred up at the ceiling. There was only one thing he could say. ?I?ve done things. And I have to go away. For a long time.?

?What things?? Kyouko asked. Her stomach twisted painfully and tears pooled in her eyes.

?Bad things.? Crispin confessed. ?I?m not a good person. You-?

?NO!? Kyouko yelled and sobbed at the same time. ?Don?t say that. It?s not true!? She sniffed.

?Kyouko it?s-?

?No it isn?t!? Kyouko cried. ?How can you say that?? Kyouko sobbed the last. ?You?re not a bad person.? Her voice cracked. ?You did so much for me. Y-you kept your promise. You saved Kaname! Just like you said you would.? See pointed the last out desperately.

?I didn?t save Kaname.? Crispin sighed. ?That was some American-?

?Don?t lie to ME!? Kyouko yelled. ?Kaname says she doesn?t remember what happened. Sousuke insists he doesn?t know anything about her rescue. But I can tell.? Kyouko paused. ?It?s a lie. I?m not stupid. I saw you two that night. I know you saved her. I know you did!?

?I-I?m sorry.? Crispin said. ?I can?t?? He trailed off.

?Why?? Kyouko begged. ?Why do you have to go? Why can?t you tell me? Why can?t anyone tell me what?s going on?? Kyouko started sobbing and vainly tried to hold her tears back. ?I?m sorry. I shouldn?t.?

?Don?t apologize.? Crispin tried to console the girl. ?Y-you?re right to be upset. But you have to believe me. It?s better this way. Better for you. Better for everyone.? He paused while Kyouko sniffed and blew her nose. ?I shouldn?t have called. Your upset because of me.? Crispin smiled bitterly. ?Something I?m pretty good at.?

?No, I?m glad you called Cris.? Kyouko whispered. ?I was worried about you.?

?Y-you were?? Crispin asked. ?She must have been the only one.? He thought sourly. ?Why?? He finally asked.

?Yes I was.? Kyouko gave a watery laugh. ?I li?I think your nice.?

?You do?? Crispin was amazed.

?Yes I do.?

They fell silent.

Crispin cast for something to say. ?I think so to.? He blinked at how that sounded. ?You! I think you?re nice too.?

?Thanks.? Kyouko giggled softly. She starred at her phone and finally dared to ask the question she feared the answer to. ?Will you ever come back??

?I don?t know.? Crispin confessed. ?Not anytime soon. That?s for certain? He felt a heaviness in his chest as he spoke. He starred up at the bulkhead of the Tuatha de Danaan. He had no idea what he hoped to accomplish by calling Kyouko. Common sense said not to call, but he had to talk to her again. It was some kind of compulsion. Now she was upset and he couldn?t even tell her why she was being lied to by her best friend. God, he was a jerk!

?Cris are you there?? Kyouko broke the silence.

?Yeah I?m here.?

?I wish?? Kyouko took a deep breath. ?Can you tell me where you are? Please??

?I-sorry. I? Crispin pasued in his apology. He starred up at the bulkhead of the Tuatha de Danaan blankly. The name. Something about the name tickled a memory. ?That?s it!? He thought.

?Kyouko!? Crispin sat up in excitement. ?Have you ever been to Ireland??

?Ireland?? Kyouko blinked at the shift in topic. ?No.?

?It?s the home of the Celts- or the last vestige of them or something!? Crispin voice picked up energy as he spoke. This was perfect!

?Cris, you?re not making sense.?

?You know Celtic mythology?? Crispin asked.

?No.? Kyouko was confused now.

?I can tell you about it. If you want.? Crispin grew hesitant. What if she didn?t want to know?

?Okay.? Kyouko agreed. ?You can tell me.? She didn?t understand what Crispin was getting at, but she was happy to hear whatever he had to say.

?The current people of Ireland aren?t the islands original inhabitants.? Crispin explained. ?The current Irish are descendants of the Milesians, a Celtic tribe from Spain, who conquered Ireland and drove the original populace underground.? Well that wasn?t exactly right but close enough for his purposes. ?Understand??

?Yes.? Kyouko agreed.

?Well these underground folk were highly skilled in science and agricultural and art. Big things in those days. They were a lot better at it than the Milesians. So much better that the Milesians held them in awe for their skill and wisdom. To them these underground folk were mighty magicians.? Crispin pasued for emphasizes. ?They called these people the ?Tuatha de Danaan.?

?I think I?ve heard that name before.? Kyouko said in excitement.

?I?m not surprised. Their pretty famous.? Crispin explained. ?Tuatha de Danaan means ?the people of the goddess Dana?. To the Milesians, the Tuatha de Danaan were like gods. Not bad for a conquered people, eh??

?Yeah, I guess so.?

?Ah, but listen.? Crispin smiled as he spoke. ?After a time the new rulers began to rely on the Tuatha de Danaan. And eventually the Tuatha de Danaan became deified and passed into legend.? Crispin paused. ?It was said that they lived in a magical world: a world without grief, without sorrow, without death, without any sickness, without debility.?

?That sounds nice, but do you really think-??

?I?m not finished.? Crispin cut off the girl?s question. ?They lived beneath the earth, unseen. But they watched the people of the world. And they despised those things they lived without.? Crispin took a deep breath. ?So when the world turned dark and injustice ruled, they would return to the surface. They fought to uphold justice and righteousness.?

?They traveled a long and lonely road. To follow their sense of duty, and to put the wrong things right. You see, they made a promise that the people of the world would be safe and happy.? Crispin sighed as he finished. Kyouko was silent and he chuckled lamely. ?I guess it is kind of silly, isn?t it??

?No I-? Kyouko sniffed. Tears rolled down her cheeks as she listened. ?Are they? Do you mean like?? She asked in a rush. ?Are they like the people who saved Kaname??

?Yeah.? Crispin felt his chest swell in pride at the girl. She understood. ?I guess you could say that.?

?I don?t think it?s silly at all.? Kyouko breathed.

?So,? Crispin licked his lips and rubbed his palms on his bed sheets. ?So you understand what I mean then?? He asked hopefully.

?Yes. I-I understand.? Kyouko smiled. ?Thank you. For everything.?

?I should be the one thanking you.? Crispin said and decided to do so. ?Thank you. For believing in me. I appreciate it. A lot.?

?I believe in you.? Kyouko sighed. ?I always did.?

?Hey, have you taken any new pictures?? Crispin suddenly asked.

?Yeah.?

?If you don?t mind.? Crispin asked hesitantly. ?I?d like to hear about them.? He heard a sharp intake of breath and then nothing. ?Kyouko?? Did they get cut off?

?Okay!? Kyouko?s voice rose to a feverish pitch as she talked about the pictures she took. She talked and talked without pause or taking a breath.

Crispin leaned back and listened.

THE END.

[pilot03]

Awwww. That was great. I really do hope you come out with that sequel, but don't pull a George Lucas on us!!! I didn't want the story to end but I'm happy I got to finish it. Thanks for your hard work!!

[Eden]

Well, all good things must come to an end some time. *Sigh!*

That was great! I'm glad that I found it and had a chance to read it before it went to the bottom of the jolly 'ol fanfic pile.

I think that I want to second the motion for a sequel, but I'm not sure if that's a good idea or not. I mean, this fic was written so well with a great start and finish that anything else might ruin it! We can't let anything ruin the fic!

Anyways, just wanted to say congrats on the fine peice of work, and hope to see what else you can do!

Till next time,

~Eden

[darkbane]

nice ending for a good -- and long and detailed -- story

hey good job, when's the next one?

[necowaffer]

*sniff* What a sweet ending. It really is a good ending. Crispin and Kyouko talking on the phone was such a bittersweet scene. It makes me wonder if they'll ever talk to each other again or if that is their last conversation.

I hope you write more.

[AngelOfDeath]

Mmm. ::sits back to enjoy the feeling of finishing reading and savors the ending::

Ok! Enough of that!

I encourage, prod, beg, and any other descriptive words for you to make a sequel and soonish! Pllleeeaaassseeee.

Your FMP fiction sense is acute and wonderful and to deny us more would be a darned shame!