********* (I Love You) Aki XLIV: Yuubae- A FFXI Love StoryFollow

AUTHOR’S NOTE: Sorry it took so long. I finally got sea and sky, and I think I can complete this story now in a way that will stay true to both of those storylines...

Previous chapters, aki, and Interludes

Part I - Connection (Enishi)

Kasho II - Kodoku (Solitude)

Part III - Reunion (Saikai)

Kasho IV- Suriyoru (Closer)

Part V- Secrets (Hiou)
---
(Chapter XXXVII)
http://ffxi.allakhazam.com/forum.html?forum=35&mid=1124889122641444604&num=1

(Aki XXXVIII)
http://ffxi.allakhazam.com/forum.html?forum=35&mid=112531765691425700&num=6

(Chapter XXXIX)
http://ffxi.allakhazam.com/forum.html?forum=35&mid=1125492417125977233&num=1

(Aki XL)
http://ffxi.allakhazam.com/forum.html?forum=35&mid=1125587395136231979&num=1

(Chapter XLI)
http://ffxi.allakhazam.com/forum.html?forum=35&mid=112601910239257410&num=0

(Aki XLII)
http://ffxi.allakhazam.com/forum.html?forum=35&mid=1126096464286792422&num=0

(Chapter XLIII)
http://ffxi.allakhazam.com/forum.html?forum=10&mid=112679356434765491

(Interlude VII)
http://ffxi.allakhazam.com/forum.html?forum=35&mid=112723096942476100&num=2

(Interlude VIII)
http://ffxi.allakhazam.com/forum.html?forum=35&mid=1127836402233395524&num=0
---

Bonus Story: Rainfall Memories

…For Mikaru.

Please don’t hate me.
***
Aki XLIV: Yuubae
***
I had never witnessed a Church funeral service before, and frankly, I never wanted to attend another one.

Even my own.

All during this time I was fidgeting in my seat, desperately wishing that I could get up and take one more look at the tattoo on Elayne’s side. Just from this distance I could barely make out the shape of a phoenix, surrounded by a red and yellow fire, that swallowed up part of her abdomen on her prone state.

By the time that the Cardinal had finished all the pomp and ceremony, night had well fallen over Bastok. The arched cast-iron lamps hanging over the streets were all lit, with the only sound one could hear was the rustling of people as they gathered up their belongings to get out of their chairs and file past Elayne to pay their final respects, and the sound of the water from the nearby fountain splattering against the sides of the cermet walls. I slipped out of my seat, being careful to be at the very back of the line to file past her body, so that I would have enough time to get a good look at her tattoo.

...I swear...

The viewing took almost as long as the damn ceremony itself.

By the time that it was my turn to view her, everyone else had pretty much left, and I could tell that the sky was nearing dawn. I pushed my way past all the flowers, the scents flaring up my allergies slightly, until I finally got to her. I could see her body in detail, and strangely, the first thing I noticed was something that I think I missed earlier.

An aura of peace surrounding her body.

My eyes trailed down her body, finally settling down on her tattoo. The pheonix came quickly into sharp focus, and the more I stared at it, the more complex the lines that made it up suddenly became. They bled into each other, flowing into different colors that were just subtly different shades. I could plainly tell that it was quite a masterpiece, on par with anything that even the great Tavnazian landscape artist Angelica could paint. Somehow, unexplainably, I KNEW that this was it. That somehow, someway, her tattoo was what I was searching for.

Her fingers were still cold.

Her fingers?

Dimly, I realized that my hands hand clutched Elayne’s dead hand between them, and were gently rubbing her fingers, trying to warm them up. It was just a small thing, but it reminded me of so many years ago, back when we were a couple during the long Bastokian winter...

I guess the past is hard to let go of.

With that thought, I jerked away and let go of her hand, letting it flop down unevenly next to her body. I suddenly felt guilty about my carelessness, and repositioned her hand back into its proper position, mirroring her other one.

"She’s pretty, isn’t she?"

I heard a small voice from next to me, and I turned to see a small mithra girl looking up at me. She had white hair and markings on her face, that were barely concealed by her black rimmed glasses. There was a green sketch pencil tucked behind her left ear, and I could make out what appeared to be a sketch pad beneath her left arm.

I smiled down at the girl mithra.

"Yes...yes...she was. She was one of the most beautiful women I had ever known. It’s a shame she died so young...she deserved happiness." I didn’t try to baby down my language for the girl, hoping that she could pick up on my words. I then motioned to the sketch pad underneath the girl’s arm.

Maybe I can borrow her paper and pencil and sketch for myself that tattoo...my drawing skills suck, but it’s the best I’ve got to work with.

"What’s that you got there?" I asked.

She blushed as deep of a red shade as mithras can blush, before swaying side from side shyly.

"My drawings...," she trailed off.

"May I see them please?" I held out my hand, palm up towards her.

"I guess so..." the girl handed her sketch book to me, and as I flicked through the pages, I could see drawing after drawing of galkas in various states of being, from sitting to standing to eating even. They were quite good, and even just glancing at them, I could tell that they were easily on par with the tattoo.

This girl’s got talent...

Hmm...I wonder...

"Excuse me, but do you do commission work?"

I could see that the girl was taken slightly aback.

"Umm...yes...I guess...what do you want me to draw?" she asked, with a slight awe in her voice.

I pointed at the tattoo on Elayne’s side.

"That. Get every ounce of detail in, and feel free to use color. Do you think you can do it?"

The mithra adjusted her glasses and peered at the phoenix.

"I think I can...want me to start now?"

I only nodded my head.

"I’ll pay you more if you manage to finish by tomorrow, and it still matches this tattoo perfectly."

The mithra gave me a thumbs up, and nodded with a wide smile. "Okay!," she said enthusiastically.

I quickly gave her the address of where I was staying, and started to walk back to that place to end my day. But as I approached Elayne’s place, I could see a messenger standing there, waiting for me.

"Excuse me...but are you Commander Dimitri of the Ducal Guard?," he said a bit nervously.

I only nodded warily, desperate to get to my bed. "Former Commander, but close enough. What can I do for you?"

The hume gave me a michevious smile, and pulled out a small scroll from his pocket. It was yellow in color, and rolled out from a center point on either end. It was ridiculously formal, and I wondered what in the hell was going on.

"Dear Dimitri," the messenger read after he cleared his throat, "You are hereby requested by the Archduke of the Grand Duchy of Jeuno to rejoin the Ducal Guard with your former rank and title intact, and all the rights and privileges thereof. Do you accept this position?"

I blinked.

Twice.

"Wha?..." I stumbled out, scarcely able to believe my ears. I grabbed the scroll away from the hume’s hands and read it for myself, all thoughts of sleep suddenly fading away instantly as I did so.

No way...

They want me back...

Oh my Goddess...

I snapped into a military attention position, and gave a sharp nod to the messenger as I then thrusted the scroll back into his hands.

"Yes, sir!" I cracked back, my mind racing forward at a million milms a second, desperately hoping this wasn’t a dream.

The messenger only smiled, and unraveled the scroll a bit further, the paper crinkling as he did so. He cleared his throat once more with a cough.

"You will then report to the Marquisate of Tavnazia within three days, for further instructions. Welcome back Commander."

I felt like...

I felt like that something good had finally happened in my life.

-fin Aki XLIV: Yuubae