Paving the Way

[Heraklion]

When Shizuma wakes and looks at her PDA she finds "1 new message" in the upper left corner. She opens the menu and sees it's from Steve. She hesitates and looks at Leo who was still asleep, slowly she gets up and walks out onto the hallway and listens to the message.

'Shi-Shizuma... This is Steve... I... I would like to thank you... for everything. It's strange, but when you're nearly dead... You realize about the stupid things you've made in your life... About things you would like to correct... About things you would never wanted to happen ... ... ... I failed you, but you still helped me... Gallia thing, remember? I didn't thank you for that... Maybe this is what I deserve for being a jerk with you... Well, actually I never was a Bretonian loyalist but... I was scared of being prosecuted by my own people... but you taught me an important lesson... I... I hope you live happily with your new family in... Gran Canaria... Also, your 15 millions... Trafalgar... Ask there... Goodbye.'

As the message ended a couple of tears roll down her face. Even though she realized he would never hear her reply... she still recorded one. "Steve... you'll probably never hear this... and I wish I told you this when it still could have mattered... You were like the brother I never had... I'll miss you... Nee-san..." Just before she stops the recording she breaks out in tears, she sends the recording and walks outside, standing in the backyard... staring at the sunrise... 1 hour... 2 hours... 3 hours... she lost track... when a couple dark clouds appeared she walked back inside.

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