********* (I Love You) Chapter XXIX: Love- A FFXI Love StoryFollow

AUTHOR’S NOTE: Wow...this is definately my favorite chapter to write so far, and also concludes Kasho IV. Sorry it took so long to come out...but I really wanted it to be perfect.

I don’t need to credit the lyrics in this song to anyone...simply because I wrote them. I had the second half written earlier, but I free-versed the first part out of me last night when I was talking to someone...

And it is to that person I dedicate this chapter...for this person truly understands what love really is...

I hope you all enjoy it.

Previous chapters, aki, and Interludes

Part I - Connection (Enishi)

Kasho II - Kodoku (Solitude)

Part III - Reunion (Saikai)
---
Interlude III:
http://ffxi.allakhazam.com/forum.html?forum=10&mid=1120830198339317613

Aki XVI:
http://ffxi.allakhazam.com/forum.html?forum=35&mid=1121087964210903847&num=1

Chapter XVII:
http://ffxi.allakhazam.com/forum.html?forum=10&mid=112135249855718466

Aki XVIII:
http://ffxi.allakhazam.com/forum.html?forum=10&mid=112178502388057946
*****
...To say you love someone...

Is the most difficult thing in the world.
***
Chapter XXIX: Love
***
I chased after Hitomi down to where a large crowd had gathered in front of an lit impromptu stage at in front of the docks. Just as I got there, I assumed that she had disappeared into the mass of people, and I didn’t feel any real reason to try to find her in what I knew would be a futile effort so I just hung in the group’s fringes, just close enough to see the stage, but yet still far enough away that I get too caught up in whatever was gonna happen next.

All of the sudden, the stage went dark and I could barely discern three shadowy figures stepping out from behind a curtain, and then each walking to a different part of the stage.

"Ladies and Gentleman!" a male voice boomed from seemingly out of nowhere, "give it up for our special musical guest tonight..."

It was then that I saw that the hands of the figures on the opposite ends of the stage start to jerk around and move in what I quickly recognized as a third-tier spell formation, but the motions were off just enough that the spell would only fizzle out.

"YOSHIMOTO LUMINE!!!"

The spells went off and fizzled, lighting up the sky in a haze of red and blue sparks that only showed off the slim girl standing shyly in the middle of the stage. She was rather short, her short spiky hair dyed a brilliant blue color and I could see her figure sway gently to some unknown beat playing in her mind as she tightly grasped a microphone in between her hands. She looked down at the ground for a moment before turning her gaze up into the crowd. When she did so, her lips parted, and she let out a small smile that showed off only a few of her pearly teeth before it disappeared.

"There...once were two people who were separated a long ago,
even before the Vana’diel we know today existed, by the sea..."

Yoshimoto spoke quietly, her breathing falling into the microphone a bit heavily as a light instrumental picked up in the background.

"One of them, the guy, could never admit his heart...and when he did, he always messed it up in some way that only widened the gap between him and the one he loved the most. So he put it down on paper, in the hopes that someday, she might read it and understand how he felt. This is his story..."

With that, the music started to pick up, and I noticed that what HAD to be red mages on either opposite of the stage picked up the fizzled magic spellcasting routine also.

Its easy for me to say 'I like you'...
And to talk about love with you
or simple everyday things...

For no reason, I felt a sudden impulse to turn away from the stage and look out towards the ocean...

And out against the full moon, I could see the outline of a girl with long hair sitting away from everyone else, her head buried in her knees as her arms wrapped around her legs.

I just knew...

Slipping away quietly from the rest of the world, I tiptoed my way over to where she was sitting all by herself. As I drew closer, I could hear the choked gasps of a woman trying to hold back tears with all her might but on the verge of failing miserably.

Hitomi...

"Hey butterfly..." I called out softly to her.

She instantly jerked her head around, saw it was me, and then turned away just as quickly.

"Dimitri-chan..." she said quietly.

Not bothering to sneak around anymore, I came up from behind her, and sat down on the dusty ground next to her. "Something wrong Hitomi?..." I asked softly, touching her cheek with the back of my hand.

Off in the distance, the music had grown fainter, but I for some unknown reason, I could still hear it somewhat distinctively.

Yet...its harder for me to say 'I care for you'
To show you my emotions, my tears,
and my smiles...

Hitomi pulled away from my touch with a snap of her head, briefly brushing my face with her hair and forcing me back into a memory of so long ago upon a mountain top...

"No..." she replied with a slight tremble in her voice.

"Okay then..." I said with a trace of hurt in my reply. Even after all this time...I guess I’ll never find out what goes on in her head.

"Well..." she started quietly, slightly turning her head towards me.

Its impossible for me to say 'I love you'
And to talk with you about tomorrow...
And about what could be...

"What is true love, Dimitri-chan?" she finally worked out of her lips.

The question caught me off guard, as it was not what I was expecting from her. I pursed my lips for a second thinking of a reply.

"Well...do you want the truth...or do you want the real answer?" I finally replied with.

I saw a confused look spread across her face.

"...The real answer." she finally answered with, uncertainly clamoring in her thoat.

I wish you would notice me
Every so often wave at me
And once in a while just talk to me...

I stared out over at the ocean, and the full moon that reflected into it. "To me...true love is when someone asks you what is more important...your own life or the life of the one you love...and you say your own life. Then the questioner walks away thinking you are selfish...not knowing that the life of the one you love makes up a lot of your own life."

My fingers traced in the small bits of the sand by Hitomi and I carelessly.

"And to answer the question I know you are thinking of next...I know I’m in love when I can look in a person’s eyes...and the whole world seems to slow down and stop and I find that I am the only one reflected in that person’s eyes...I believe in emotions." I continued quietly.

I grow nervous when you are near
voice quieting, hands shaking...
My soul soaring in the clouds.

I heard Hitomi scoot her body closer over to me, and then lay her head on my shoulder.

"Oh?..." she said, matching my tone.

For some reason...

I felt like opening up to Hitomi.

"Yeah...I am quite the emotional type when it comes to love...I know I have a tendency to react with anger, sadness, passion...before my head takes over. Once, a long time ago...there was a girl that I fell for. Her name was Elayne, and she was quite a sweetheart. Her family was quite nice too, and I loved her adopted father, a man by the name of Gilgamesh. Elayne and I dated for quite a while...but it wasn’t until she cheated on me with another guy that she finally broke up with me...and handed my heart back one full moon."

The wind picked up some making the air drop a few more degrees, and Hitomi clung a bit tighter to me.

Holding you through the night
watching stars go over head
my heart’s fantasy...

"We were just kids then," I continued, "but it still hurt. I closed my heart for a long time...but then...I met someone. She was another hume, whose voice had the melody of a robin, and looks that could easily rival the Goddess."

Hitomi reached up to my face, and wiped away a tear that I didn’t know was even there. I blushed slightly at her gentle touch, and mouthed a wordless thanks.

"But...I messed up when I told her I loved her. I yelled at her for I thought she didn’t care or give it much thought at all. I realized what a stupid mistake I made and I knew that she had forgiven me so much in the past...but I knew she wouldn’t forgive me this time. So I ran away, and joined the Jeuno Guard, where I was happily employed until I met you, and this whole war and Eruntalon Code mess started."

Witty lines and perfect looks
I wish I had those...
Instead, all I have is a romantic soul...

Hitomi touched my cheek this time, and turned my gaze towards her eyes.

"Dimitri-chan..." she said quietly, her eyes gazing into mine.

"Yes?..." I replied just as quietly, finding that I couldn’t take my own eyes off of hers.

She then, without any reason, leaned in towards me slowly, her lips parting...

If I could say 'I love you'...

I felt my eyes closing, and my heart starting to race...

Then maybe...

Her warm breath washing over my lips as we drew closer and closer...

Together we could be...

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Slipping into battle mode (even if I WAS unarmed), Hitomi and I both jerked our heads away instantly toward the source of the noise...and we were rewarded with the sight of different colored fireworks lighting up the nighttime sky.

We both chuckled softly for a moment, both embarrassed about what had almost happened...

And then we both turned to watch the fireworks show together.

Together we could be...

Lovers...

-fin Chapter XXIX: Love

-fin Kasho IV: Suriyoru (Closer)

Edited, Fri Jul 22 10:01:48 2005 by Nightsintdreams

Edited, Fri Jul 22 10:58:53 2005 by Nightsintdreams

Like a fine wine that gets better with age. ^^

Its okay man, no worries. I'm sure Kitty-chan gave you a good smack on the head for that.

We need to meet eventually...now if only we could convince your gf to let you meet me...

And hmm...one of these days, I ought to bring the two Kats that I know play FFXI together ;)