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I'm sooooo sorry that I've taken so long to write this!! I've been so busy, like you wouldn't believe!! I'm graduating soon, so I've been focusing on my studies and what I'm going to do after I graduate. And then so many different ideas keep a' coming to my head…so I've been majorly distracted. Also, when I was first starting to write this story, I was depressed and going through some hard times myself, so it was easy to write sad things…Now, I'm not so depressed and I've been putting off writing this chapter because I didn't want to feel sad…But nonetheless, this chapter is FINALLY here!! Please, enjoy!!!

Chapter 14:

"Beautiful"

It was so cold today. I took deep breathes as I walked to the docks. It was soon, I could tell. It was getting harder to walk and even to heave my chest as I breathed in and out. Please, God, if there is one, let me at least say goodbye to him. I won't be able to rest unless I do. Somehow though, as if someone was pushing, I felt myself getting closer and closer to the docks. Maybe someone was out there looking after me after all.

I'm so glad I met Yoh…He is so special…he doesn't even realize it. My hope is that he does realize it. He has the potential to live a great life, and I hope he does. I hope he realizes that he doesn't need me, or least realizes that I will always be with him. Just like I realized that my family was always with me.

I wish it wasn't like this. Not long ago he lost his best friend…and now I will be leaving him. Why? Why can't I ever be happy? But like Mrs. Hino said, everything happens for a reason…I must remember that.

I saw Yoh's silhouette through the fog, sitting on the very same dock he fell off of. I felt relieved as I walked closer. I will be able to see him…everything does happen for a reason. I took a deep breath as I approached him. I must be strong. I cried and accepted my death while I was with Mrs. Hino. It was my turn to be the strong comforter. If I showed him I was afraid, it would just make everything crumble.

As I got closer, I heard him mumble to himself.

"What are you doing up so early?" I asked as I was now standing behind him.

He quickly turned to look up at me. He had bags under his eyes…did he get any sleep?

He stood up very quickly, "Anna! What are you doing here?"

I suppose he was referring to me being here instead of at the hospital. "I told you I can't stay in that mad place."

His face saddened and was full of concern, "But…Anna!"

"Here, I got this for you," I didn't want to dwell on reasons why I wasn't at the hospital…I just wanted to get out what I wanted to say before it was too late. I gave him my brother's necklace decorated with three bear claws.

"Thank you," he said slowly as he put the necklace on. "I have something for you too. It was my grandma's, but she said it would be good if I gave it to you." He then handed me a beautiful white beaded necklace. "It's supposed to be 'lucky' because it has 108 beads on it."

I put the necklace on and looped it a few times so it wouldn't be so long. "Thanks, Yoh." I gave a small smile as I stared at the pure white beads. I was a little surprised that we met here and got each other gifts. But something else was on my mind, "How did you do it?"

"Do what?"

"I could've sworn I hit the water after that attack," I looked at him while thinking of yesterday's events. The last thing I remembered before passing out was the cold water hitting me. "You said you couldn't swim."

"I can't, or I mean, I couldn't, or I don't know," he sheepishly scratched his head. He was just as confused as I was. "I got scared and jumped in after you. I don't know how, but I think that somehow Amidamaru helped me swim to shore. That doesn't make sense does it?"

I gave a little smile, "It makes perfect sense. He was watching out for you." Something I would hope to be doing for you, Yoh.

The smile he gave was sad; it was almost not a smile at all. I wish I could make him smile.

"Last night I asked him so many times to help you."

Again I was reminded that I was going to die. Whether Amidamaru was watching over me or not, my death was inevitable. "…Yoh…"

Suddenly I felt Yoh's strong, warm arms wrap around me. At first I was startled, but I felt so safe and secure in his arms, as if that's exactly where I needed to be.

"Please……Anna……don't leave me…Promise me you won't…!"

"But Yoh…I……" Damn it! Why does this have to be so hard?!! I can't tell him I can't! I don't have the heart to!! I…in a matter of minutes I won't even have a beating heart! Please, Yoh…don't make this hard……What do I say? What can I say?

Suddenly a memory popped into my mind. It was the day before my eighth birthday, my mom was asking me what I wanted for my birthday, and I replied that I wanted nothing, just my family. Then, my mom asked me if I was scared. I didn't answer, but she knew I was.

"Anna…" my mother said as she stroked my hair with her soft hands, "Don't worry, I will always be with you, and you'll always be with me."

"But how's that?" I asked as my eyes were about to overflow with tears.

"Because I'm in your heart, and you're always in mine," she softly said as she wiped some tears from my eyes.

"But the doctor said that when you die, you leave your body," I looked at my mother with confusion plain in my face, "Isn't the heart part of your body?"

My mother chuckled and tucked a stray strand of hair behind my ear, "Yes, your heart stays here with your body. But whatever is in the heart is also in your soul."

"So," I tried to make sense of it all, "My soul will have a problem just like my heart because whatever is in my heart is in my soul?"

Mother chuckled again, "No, your soul will not have a problem. My point is I'll always be with you, whether I die first or you die first, as long as I'm in your heart, we will never separate."

"As long as I'm in your heart, we will never separate," I repeated softly as I put my arms around Yoh tightly, "In that sense, I promise I will never leave you."

"I don't want to let you go," he whispered as he pulled me in closer.

"Then don't…" I closed my eyes tightly as I felt his tears on my shoulder…I'm sure soon he will feel mine. I tried to squeeze tighter to him, "Don't let me go."

"Never…" I believed him. He would never let me go.

I felt a tugged on the back of my chest, almost like someone was tugged at me saying "It's time to go." I knew it was time, and I was glad, because I didn't feel any pain. I got my wish, I got to say goodbye to Yoh. I hope he realizes how precious life is. I hope he realizes that I would not be able to rest in peace if he died. And not just me, I'm sure Amidamaru wouldn't be pleased either.

The tugged got strong and I quietly said in my mind "Not yet." I wanted to linger in his embrace just a little longer. "Please, please let me stay, just a big longer…You must know that I haven't led the most fortunate of lives…so please…just a bit longer?"

I didn't know who I was begging, be it God, the devil, or Death itself…I didn't care. I would deal with the consequences later…as long as I got just a little bit more time.

"You have until the rain."

I smiled slightly; I was satisfied with that answer. I was in no position to be calling the shots here, so as long as I got a little while longer, I would not complain.

I was happy, really, I was. I was dying living a fulfilled life. Sure, there was a lot I didn't get to do, but I was able to save a person's life. I was able to help someone live, and I was able to love. Really, what more could I ask? I hated life. I was always at rock bottom, thinking my life was meaningless, meant to die before I hit puberty. I was surrounded by death and life seemed to have no meaning at all. But here I am now, bringing meaning to someone else's life, who in turn, brought meaning to my life. Life wasn't full of hate now. Life had so much more meaning, and I was glad to live through it, as little as it might've been.

Flashbacks came into my mind: Mother, Father, Touya, Faust, Eliza, Mrs. Hino, Toshi, Hao…Yoh…

Yoh will always be there in my mind and I will always love and watch over him. I was looking forward to it. Just because I was dying didn't mean I wasn't going to live on. I was going to be there in Mrs. Hino and Yoh's heart watching over them.

Even though I was no longer to exist in a living fleshy body, I was happy to live in a beautiful memory; a beautiful dream. I wouldn't truly die, and with that, I'm satisfied.

"What do you think would be the best way to die?" I whispered suddenly.

"In my sleep, that way I won't feel anything."

"I used to think," I almost laughed at my 'best way of dying'; "that jumping off the highest mountain would be the best way."

"Why?" I heard the confusion in his voice.

"Because as you're falling, you get to see all the beauty in the world." I remembered the time when I was younger that I contemplated whether I should jump off the tallest building in town at sunset, that way I could remember beauty before I died.

"But it would hurt in the end." And that's what stopped me when I was younger, and I'm glad it did.

"Yes," I weakly replied as I felt a few sprinkles on my head and a slight tugging on my chest. My eyes started to water as I knew the time was closer than I thought, "So I thought of a better way to die."

"How?" I heard the reluctance in his voice as I felt his arms hold me tighter.

"In your arms." I felt so warm. It didn't feel like I was dying now. Yoh was so close, so comforting, definitely the best way to go. I'm glad that this moment will be my last memory. It was definitely more beautiful than an orange-and-purple sunset.

"…Anna…" I felt the sprinkle starting to get harder, starting to drizzle. "…I love you…"

It was perfect.

I couldn't be happier.

Tears started to escape my eyes. "I love you too…" I got on my tip-toes to whisper in his ear, "I will never regret meeting you……Remember, I saved your life for a reason…"

The drizzle turned to rain and the tug on my chest got so strong I couldn't take it anymore. I said what I wanted, and I felt how I wanted. I Let Go and it was beautiful.

My death was my cost of living and for a while there, I almost wasted it. I almost wasted the life my parents gave me and worked so hard to keep. Even my brother made sure that I was safe and that I lived my life, even though my life was not meant to last long. So many people fought for me to live, and I'm so glad that in the end I was allowed to return the favor and save Yoh's life. And in that, I found love, and truly realized the point of living before I died.

I lived and loved…and it was…beautiful.

End.?

Yes, no? What do you think, should I end it there? It kinda sounds like an ending…but you don't really get to hear what happens to Yoh…though…that's kinda hard to explain in a POV story…I was originally planning to continue…but I wasn't sure if I should. Do you think I should continue or just settle with an epilogue like I did in "The High Cost of Living"? Please let me know what you think!!!

Sorry if this chapter wasn't what you were hoping for…if you are displeased, I will try to re-write it!! The problem with this chapter is I wrote this chapter all within like an hour or two without thoroughly thinking it through…I just read the chapter in the original fic and improvised from there…so I really hoped you liked it!! Please review and let me know what you think!!! Until Next Time

Ja ne