I’ll Love You Forever – Chapter 4

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    Eagle’s heart beat at the same time and rhythm as Hikaru’s as their lips gently touched 
each other’s. He was surprised; nothing in the world could have ever helped him predict that 
something like this would happen, especially just after Lantis’s eradication. Still, he believed 
that Hikaru’s heart belonged to Lantis, yet as always, his own told him that he was wrong. 
And to add to that, it just felt… right for both of them the way they were now.
    Hikaru released the kiss, only long enough for both to catch their breath, then locked in 
yet another tight and passionate embrace. Eagle’s hand slowly crept its way to her shoulder, 
then down again to grasp her hand and hold it tightly.
    "Damn those gloves of his…" Hikaru thought to herself, lightly tugging at the ends of them, 
indicating she wanted them off. He let go of the kiss in order to remove his gloves, 
immediately entangling his fingers in Hikaru’s after doing so. She pulled him in for another kiss, 
but was interrupted when something hidden beneath her shirt started glowing. She pulled it 
out, revealing Lantis’s necklace.
    The joyful expression that had been on her face disappeared as she held the necklace 
lovingly in her hand. Her eyes became watery as the feelings she had for him returned all at 
once.
    Eagle frowned. She was almost happy again when Lantis’s memory decided to come back. 
Suddenly, something in his right pocket glowed. He reached down for it, accidentally brushing 
Hikaru’s leg lightly, and took an identical necklace out.
    Hikaru looked at it in shock. "Is that…how did you…?" She reached out to touch it in order 
to confirm to herself that it was actually real and not just her imagination playing tricks on 
her again.
    Eagle nodded in response. He then tapped his necklace twice against hers. For a brief 
moment, there was a brilliant flash of light as the two chains joined together to form one 
golden necklace. It laid itself in Hikaru’s palm.
    She looked at Eagle with eyes that were mixed with affection and curiosity. "What just 
happened?" she asked confused.
    He took the necklace from her, holding it gently in his left palm. "This was the original 
necklace. Lantis had split it into two and had given me one when he was in Autozam. The 
other had obviously reached you," he replied, turning the mirror over. "Read this."
    Hikaru bent over the necklace, straining to make out the tiny letters inscribed in the 
metal. "May the two hearts who own this necklace become one," she murmured, flipping the 
necklace over to look into the mirror. She saw her reflection…but Eagle’s…
    "Eagle!" She bent down in front of him, watching in horror as crimson blood splattered 
onto the ground. "Daijoubu desu ka?"
    "I’m…" he paused for a second in order to cough, "I’ll be fine…" His voice was raspy and 
soft, making Hikaru worry all the more.
    "I’ll go get Clef! He must have some kind of medicine that will make you better!" she 
squeaked. Her voice was high pitched and full of panic as she gave him a quick hug and sped 
out of the room.
    He looked after her as she ran out the door, then fell unconscious.
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