Chapter Twenty Five - Final Chapter.

Time went by too fast for their liking, the sun moving from one place to another without them noticing. Jihae had finished his writing around lunch time, the pair laying together on the blanket as they enjoyed the rest of the afternoon together. Conversation was limited, none of them really finding the words to comfort one another. They knew that each other's company was enough, the moment Winter would never forget. It was around 7pm when Winter braved breaking the silence, sitting herself up to look at the man beside her with a sad smile.
"We should get going Jihae, it won't be long until he turns up to take you back to Heejung's place ready for… for tonight" Winter told him, sighing at the end while shaking her head. Jihae opened his eyes, the sadness and longing in them making Winter's eyes well up. Jihae sat himself up, forcing himself to nod in agreement to her as he stood up. He held out his hand, helping her to her feet. They grabbed their belongings, heading back to the house.
"I'll finish this off while you're sorting your stuff out" Winter told him as they stepped into the house. Jihae's lips parted for a moment, a part of him wanting to disobey stubbornly but instead he forced himself to nod. Quietly he headed upstairs to start packing his belongings, hoping that one day he'll return here.

Winter deeply breathed, removing the blue ribbon from her head as she tenderly rubbed her sore ears. She hated her ears being tucked away like that, the material often leaving sore patches if she wore it for several days in a row. She set the ribbon to the side, opening the album to the final two blank pages. Winter already knew what she wanted to write on them, she had spent the last month preparing something. Slowly she wrote, her writing not as elegant as Jihae's as she put down her thoughts and feelings, her experience with him the best she had ever had with someone in her life.
"…no matter where your future leads you always remember that I will wait for you. Forever yours, Winter" the woman finally finished off, placing the pen down on the nearby coffee table. She reread the two pages, knowing that this was all she could do for him now. She set the opened album to her side, glancing at an open letter sent by Jieun only two days ago.

The letter sent to them was short and sweet, detailing that it would be best for Jihae to return back to Heejung's apartment for the night to end the wizard's game. Winter had wondered if Jieun had seen something when looking afar; was he doing this to change the future? He had told her to give him the book on the 1st but by his wording it was unwise for Winter to join them tonight, hinting that his letter should be hidden in the book tonight for him to take away. At the reminder of the letter Winter uneasily stood, walking across to the cupboard door under the stairs. She peered up the stairs for a moment, ensuring Jihae was nowhere nearby to witness what she was about to do.

Quietly she opened it, moving several empty cardboard boxes until she found the locked metal box she wanted, digging deep into one of her pockets to pull out a key. Carefully she opened the locked metal box, pulling out the letter Jieun had given her a while back. She returned the unlocked box to its place, shutting the cupboard door again before moving across the room. Winter peered around once more, the coast clear as she returned back to the album book. A part of her was curious to what the letter contained; as tempted as she was by it she didn't open the envelope. She set the letter onto one of the pages, the envelope still sealed shut. Quickly she snapped the album shut, grabbing the ribbon to tie around it.

At that moment the doorbell rung, Winter's blood turning to ice as she heard the thumping from upstairs stop. She hugged the bound album to her chest, her body starting to shake.
"Jihae!" Winter nervously called out over her shoulder as she walked to the door, opening it to reveal who it was. Her eyes painfully closed, widening the door as she let the visitor inside. As she opened her eyes again their eyes met for a moment, Winter unsure if she should speak or remain in silence. Jieun weakly smiled at her, sensing her troubles. She parted her lips to speak but he held up his hand, silencing her with a shake of his head. Jihae ran himself down the stairs, a bag slung over his shoulders as his heart panged in pain.
"It's time Jihae" an emotionless voice spoke to the silver rabbit, the tone not matching Jieun. Winter didn't breathe a word as she eyed the pair up, the white headed rabbit looking at Winter once more before leaving through the open door. Jihae stood frozen at the bottom of the stairs, his body refusing to move forward. Slowly Winter walked over to him, finding no words to urge him onward. Jihae looked down at the book and then at her, his eyes welling up with tears. He carefully took the book from her, noticing the ribbon tightly tied around it.
"Don't open it until… until you're ready" Winter softly told him, her voice trembling as tears started to roll down her face. Her eyes fell to her feet, not managing to hold her composure anymore. Jihae's heart wildly thumped in pain, the feeling of loss and despair one he remembered well from the past. Carefully Jihae pulled her into an embrace, the grip around her tight as he didn't want to let her go. Jihae's rabbit ears dropped as he heard her start to sob in his arms, the man finding himself crying at the moment with her.
"I'll come back" he managed to murmur in her hair as he kissed the top of her head. They remained in that position for a few moments, finally having the strength to pull away. Jihae leaned down, giving her a kiss on the lips.
"Don't forget me" he softly ordered, the woman wildly shaking her head.
"I'll never forget you" she truthfully said. The pair looked at one another, Jihae letting go of her completely as he walked to the opened door where Jieun waited. The white rabbit seemed pained by the scene but there was a small, true smile on his face. He knew what was to come; he knew that they would be reunited again one day. As Jihae left the house he stopped some distance away, turning around to look back at the sight. Winter forced herself to smile, trying to force confidence that he will be back soon. Jieun must have said something for a look of confusion appeared on Jihae's face, the silver rabbit looking at him. Jihae nodded at his words, his eyes longingly looking at Winter one final time before turning. Winter watched as the pair walked down the narrow pathway that lead to her house, their bodies being lost in the darkness of the night. Winter sighed, reluctantly closing the front door with a heavy heart. She flung herself onto the couch, her head in her hands as she openly wept.

A crack of thunder hunted Winter down as the slender woman grumbled under her breath, the pelting rain attacking her shivering form. Her footsteps were unsteady as she left the scattering city, newly placed Christmas decorations in shop windows fading in the distance behind her. The past two years and five months had been hard for her, the start of November seemingly haunting her more than the previous times but she had fought her way through them. She found herself working back at Classical Chem, the long hours comforting to her as she distracted herself as much as she could. The company had noticed the loss in weight and the reserved personality but when asking Winter had simply shook her head, not wanting to discuss the matter. Winter had made sure to keep up to working standards, she couldn't simply give up on life; Jihae would not have wanted that… Jihae… The woman stubbornly shook her head, her shaking body finally arriving at the bus stop. She waited, her lips sealed together tight as she spotted her bus arriving. The woman tilted her head as she popped onto the bus, the hat hiding her features as she sat herself on one of the seats. The lights on the bus seemed to glare as she tried to look out of the window, the darkened scenery barely seen.

Winter couldn't believe it had been so long since she had seen him face to face… There were still old fashion magazines sitting back at home, the old pictures of Jihae reminding her that he was not simply a dream. Now and again she would find herself popping up in music magazines, her work noticed and questions increasing to where the mysterious model had gone. In all honesty she had little clue to where he was, she had heard no news from the animals since the end of the wizard's game, she hadn't even spoken with Heejung after it. Winter bit back her tears, a look of determination on her face. She had promised to wait; she didn't care how long it took but she would wait for him.

Winter sighed as her stop soon approached, the woman wordlessly exiting the bus as she felt the rain attack her body once more. A low sigh escaped her lips, her fingers sore from the endless recording session she had today. She took several steps forward, a flash of lightening pausing her in her step as she looked in the direction of her house. Up ahead, under the lone light under her porch stood a tall figure, their back turned to her. The figure was dressed in a long black coat, the features unknown to Winter who tried to squint her eyes. Cautiously she approached the figure, a shiver trailing down her spine as she noticed long silver hair beneath the rounded brown hat they wore. Her heart stopped as the figure turned, the bag they were holding dropping to the floor.
"Ji… Jihae?" Winter weakly whispered, blinking several times in disbelief. The male figure seemed to unsurely smile at her as he left the roof of the porch, effortlessly striding over to the shaking woman in the rain. Winter looked up at Jihae's face, the look of unsureness and hope in his eyes as they both halted in front of one another. His features were as strong as they had been years ago, the only difference being that dark circles surrounded his eyes. The man had found little rest it seemed, it was as if he had been endlessly searching for answers.

Slowly Jihae raised his hand to her hat, the woman flinching away for a moment but never moving completely away. A rumble of thunder echoed around them, the sound setting Jihae into motion as he slowly removed the hat from her head. The rain felt comforting as it began to land on her head but her ears never raised, the pair simply flopping down to the side of her head. Jihae's eyes fixed on her rabbit ears for a moment, a light gasp escaping his lips in surprise. Jihae's eyes quickly darted back to hers as if the questions he had were now answered.
"My lady I…" he breathed, his eyes starting to water as he pulled her into an embrace. Whatever pain had haunted Winter since his departure left her soul, the feeling of his touch comforting to her.
"I… I don't remember what happen bu-but I know you was someone special… are someone special…" Jihae breathed in her ear, the woman melting to the sound of his voice. Winter wanted to express her feelings but her voice was lost, her lips quivering.
"I thought I had lost everything… It took years to track down Jieun, the book and letter the only things I had to guide me. He was hidden from my sight for so long but I knew he had the answers I needed to know. Each day I would read pieces of the book, its words confusing at first but as time went on I slowly accepted them. I haven't recovered my memory…" Jihae continued on, taking a small frustrated breath as he pulled slightly away from her, his hand cupping her face.
"…but my heart longed to find you and understand. Each day that went by I found myself reading the book and looking at the photos… We risked so much, not knowing for sure what the future would bring but you still waited for me… why did you wait for so long?" Jihae softly said. Winter softly smiled up at him,
"I made a promise that I would never give up, never forget you… I had faith that you would accept your past, release the guilt within you and learn to love again. If anyone deserves to love then it is you…" Winter honestly told him, her voice fragile and weak. Jihae's features softened at her words, pulling her into another tight embrace.
"I am honoured you waited, thank you" Jihae breathed.

A figure watched the scene from afar, purple eyes filled with mischief as his lips curled into a grin. The mysterious figure had foreseen this event happening, the man ensuring that Jihae and Jieun were split up after his game was completed. He wanted to watch them suffer; he wanted them to feel the pain he had to daily. An image of Heejung came into his head, his purple eyes closing for a moment as he recomposed himself. The wizard grinned, glad that he had got what he wanted but his heart dropped, wondering if one day he would be reunited with the one he desired most. The wizard shook those thoughts away, his purple eyes gleaming as he set them onto Jihae and Winter in the distance. The pair was smiling at one another in the rain, the woman taking his hand to lead him back to the house.
"One day Tucker…" he breathed, his words directed to the female rabbit.
"…one day I'll show you the forgotten night that has haunted you for so long" he continued on. As if by magic the purple eyed man faded away, never to be seen by them again.

Author's Notes: Hello all! I just wanted to say thank you a lot for taking the time to read this story. In all honesty I never quite expected it to be this long but I got a bit carried away and couldn't really stop myself. I was planning to reveal Winter's forgotten memory but decided against it, feeling it was best left out of this series to ensure the story didn't focus on Winter alone too much. If people are interested in reading her forgotten night then I may post it as a short story at some point.

Once again thank you a lot for reading this story, if you're interested in me creating another story based on 'Dandelion – Wishes Brought to You' then please let me know, I'll happily write something on any of the characters. I hope you all have a wonderful day!