ML C10, P16- "The Promise"

"The Promise" is the sixteenth Part of "Miracula Luxia" 's last Chapter. It was released on 15.06.2020.
== Plot ==
While having an emotional conversation with his dear friend- Akari, Jared remembers the thing that he values the most and fights for. The thing that helps him continue, even in his hardest and darkest moments. The pillar of light that always shines bright and pierces through the everlasting Darkness, showing him that he has a purpose in this life that is filled with shattered hopes and dreams.
== Story ==
Jared enters his room and sees that Akari has been placed on his bed.
Right now, she is laying there, completely unconscious.
Jared shakes his head.
"It's probably from all the blood that she lost."- He says to himself.
He listens to her breathing. From what he hears, it seems to be normal.
"Thank god!"- He whispers and grabs a nearby chair.
Then, he places it near his bed, sits on it and gently takes Akari's hand in his.
"Oh, Aki."- He says- "We both lost so much. So many people. And yet, we still cannot be at peace."
He kisses her hand.
"If only I could take you somewhere else. Somewhere that is better than this mess of a place. You would have been fine. This wouldn't have happened and now... now, I... "
He begins to cry. Tears fall down from his eyes.
"Please, Aki!"- He says- "Please, don't leave me! What you said earlier... that is not right! You are still very important to me. And I do not want to lose you!"
"Please! Stay with me!"
Moments later, Akari opens her eyes and weakly stares at Jared.
"Jared?"- She says- "Why... why did you save me? Why didn't you run away while I was distracting them?"
Jared shakes his head.
"I'm fine!"- He says- "And I wanted you to be fine as well. So, we brought you here."
Akari looks down.
"But.. why didn't you just leave me? I'm not that import-- "
"Don't you dare say that!"- Jared cuts her off- "Everyone is important! Every single one of us is a small piece of this world which contributes for its evolution! And nobody deserves to be taken away from it! Nobody!"
He smiles.
"And you. You, my dear Aki, are a part of my world. My universe. A huge part that will be ripped from my soul if you pass away. A part that will never be resealed, that will always make me a different person who will never change, no matter how hard he tries."
"In other words, you are way too important to me, Akari."
Akari smiles.
"Look at you!"- She says- "You're acting just like the little Jared that I met fourteen years ago. The kid that was always smiling and talking about how he dreams to be a hero, just like his daddy."
"The kid that changed my life for good."
Jared nods and smiles. A single tear drops to his cheek.
"Back then, I was ready to protect you, should anything threaten us. Risk my own life to save you."- He says- "And now, I can see that I did not forget that."
Akari smiles.
"Remember what you promised me back then? When we were just small children?"
Jared raises his eyebrow.
"A promise?"
Akari nods.
"Yes. And I think that you just fulfilled it."
Jared thinks about this for a while.
"A promise?"- He says to himself- "I don't remember promising anything back then!"
Just as he is about to answer Akari's question, he remembers something. A moment from very long ago.
A moment that happened when he was just a child.
"Wait just a minute... "- Jared says to himself- "Now I remember! I remember it all!"
Little Jared and Akari sit on a bench, watching the sunset. Their parents are watching them from a distance.
Jared looks at Akari.
"Aki?"- He says.
Akari turns around.
"Yes?"
Jared turns ruby red and looks into her eyes.
"When we... when we grow up... are you still gonna be with me?"
Akari smiles.
"Of course I will!"- She says- "We'll always be friends, Jared! Friends forever!"
Jared smiles back.
"Aki, I... I want to promise you something.
Akari stares at him.
"Yeeees?"- She says.
Jared stares at the sunset.
"One day, when we grow up, when I become a hero... I will protect the good people here. But, even then, I won't forget about you. So, I promise you this. Even then, when I have to protect many people, I'm still going to think about you. I'm never going to stop. And, should anything try to hurt you, I will make it pay. For trying to take you away from me!"
Akari smiles.
"You do mean that, don't you?"
Jared nods.
"Of course I do!"
The two kids hug, sealing their promise for good.
In the present, Jared's eyes tear up.
Akari stares at him sadly.
"Is everything okay, my friend?"
Jared nods.
"Yes. It's just... I remembered that promise."
Akari smiles.
"I'm glad that you did. Now, what would like to say about it?"
Jared looks up.
"Back then, we were just children. We did not know what we were talking about. We spoke about the things that our parents had told us, clearly not understanding the meaning and weight of a promise. And of being a hero to a whole world. But... that promise... somehow, it made me a better person. Someone who is ready to make a promise, knowing that he will do everything he can to keep it, even if it means... if it means... "
He sighs and shakes his head.
"No. I will not think about that."
He gently takes Akari's hand in his.
"Akari, I will keep that promise. I will protect you and I will keep thinking about you. Every single moment."
Akari smiles, weakly stands up and hugs him.
"I know that you will. You're a man of your word and, if you say that you will do something, you will definitely make it happen. Sooner or later."
She looks at the window.
"But now. Now is not the time for small chat. Now is the time to prepare to fight against Xehanort and his vile forces. You must go outside and show them the force of our friendship! The force that will bring you the desired victory and peace for the world!"
Jared raises his eyebrow.
"But... what about you?"
Akari shakes her head and smiles.
"Now now, Jared. I would love to help you! I would do anything for you, were it not for this wound... "- She says and lifts her shirt, revealing a bandage on her stomach.
Jared remembers that she was stabbed right there by the guards. A bad spot to be stabbed in, but not a fatal one.
He nods.
"Yes. I will go outside and fight Xehanort and his goons without you."- He says- "But that doesn't mean that I will leave you here alone! I am going to tell John to come here and assist you. Protect you in my absence."
Akari smiles.
"I appreciate that."- She says- "Now go. Complete your sacred duty and make this world a better place!"
Jared nods and smiles.
"I will return!"
Akari smiles back.
"Then I will await your return. Stay safe, my friend."
Jared nods and goes outside.
There, he sees John running towards him.
"John? What is happening?"- Jared says.
John stops right next to Jared to take a breath.
"Jared!"- He says- "It's Xehanort. Yes, the real one. Not a hologram."
"He's at the town center. And he wants to see you. Or else... "
Jared nods.
"I see."- He says- "Take me there. I am going to take care of him."
He keeps his hand close to his weapon.
"The hard way."
Jared and John arrive at the town square and see that Xehanort is there.
"There he is, Xehanort!"- John says- "You better not do anything to him, okay? Otherwise, we are going to make you pay!"
The other townsfolk around them nod.
Xehanort sees Jared and smiles.
"Ah, finally. I don't know what took you so long to arrive, but I'm glad that you're here now."- He says.
"Now, shall we begin our talk? The one that might keep your precious Paris from being destroyed by me and my forces?"
Jared does not say anything. He just stares at Xehanort coldly, silent loathing burning in his eyes like a forest fire.
Same for John.
Xehanort nods.
"I'll take that as a yes."- He says- "Now, let the conversation commence!"