Saying Goodbye....

"Are you ready, Ayane?" Mae shouted from downstairs at the Refugee center... Today was not the best day ever... Ayane was going back to Japan. She had known this day would have to come eventually, but... Still, it didn't make it less painful now that it was here. "I'm coming! Just a sec!" Ayane's voice trailed down the stairs, as small grunting noises were made. Packing really was a tough thing. Especially when you had packed enough clothes and what not to live here for as long as she had. After a minute or two, Ayane eventually came down the staircase, trudging the heavy Trunk with her. She really was leaving huh?


Ayane asked carefully, stopping right in front of Mae with a worried expression on her face. "I... I just don't want you to leave..." Mae bit her lower lip lightly, looking away from Ayane's rubidian gaze. She really was leaving, huh? Time had gone so fast, it caught Mae completely off guard. But she knew deep inside that this was for the better. Ayane couldn't end up getting involved with what was going on here... The girl had already been in danger once. And that was one time too many.


Mae nodded slowly. "I guess... But that doesn't make this less sad." She was going to miss her friend... "Hey, come on now, you're making me feel bad! And besides, weren't you going to meet up with Sharaku after this? Then look forward to that. You can't go to him with that attitude." She was right... But that didn't necessarily mean it was going to be an easy thing... "Anyway, let's go. The cab's waiting outside already. Hehe, I can hear his impatient honking." Ayane laughed hearfully as the two slowly walked out the doors and to the cab that would take them to Azores Station. When they arrived there, they took the subway train over to Penecia Island, where the airport was located. The whole time, Mae couldn't tear her eyes away from Ayane. She was going back to Japan... This was the last time Mae would see her... for a good long while at least.

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"Well... Here we are..." Mae looked at the enterance to the airport. She had been here twice before. Once to pick up Ayane, and the second time to meet up with her mother. For the first time, she was here to see someone off... "Alright, Alright... let's see here... Gate 14... That way." Ayane looked contemplatively at her map of the airport before they took off towards the designated gate. The flight was due in 20 minutes, so the two girls took off running over to their destination.


Mae said quietly, looking at Ayane. "Yeah. This is it... I'll miss you, Mae..." The two girls hugged eachother friendly in unison. "I'll miss you too... Stay safe, alright?" Mae gave her a somewhat wry smile. "Hehe... I'll try. Now take care, you hear? I'll see you in october, alright?" Mae nodded, looking at her friend for what would probably be the last time in a long while... Those pigtails eventually dissapeared behind the door to the Aircraft, all Mae could do was stare out the window in complete disbelief. Her friend was really going home... Now, more than ever, Mae needed to stay strong. She had to keep on fighting. For Ayane's sake. So she could keep her promise to come back... And that... Was a promise she wasn't going to break, No matter what.