Kaseki emerged from the rubble, holding his arm. He walked with a limp and an amber fluid running down the side of his face. He felt his body growing weak. His vision blurred as he fell to his knees. He watched as a silhouette of a person approached him.
"Xiaowei..." he called out in a faint breath, "... What's my power level?" And he fell face first into the grass, unconscious.
It was a bright day, just like any other. Kaseki was sitting in the cockpit. "Yuna, dear, I get it. I got this, you go enjoy yourselves." he said to his daughter. She was skeptical of his father taking control of a ship he never piloted before. Kaseki insisted she and the guild of Nox Animus go out on their beach party. It was a week before she received the package from Kaseki containing the Heartchip of Codemaster. She had been freaking out as Rhodes explained the terror and chaos she once caused before. But just as Kodai was, they both lived in an alternate timeline.
So Yuna decided to release her stress and go on a massive party with the whole guild. She also made it as an excuse to be with Daemon. Kaseki didn't mind, he just wanted to feel important for a little bit. He drove the ship to the beach and dropped everyone off. This was the beginning of his trip.
After Mizuko reluctantly put on his swim trunks and got off the ship, it was just Kaseki and Xiaowei left. They waved good bye to their daughter and "family" and flew off.
"Let's go see Dragon Fang." she suggested. "It'll be a nice welcome to Yuna when they all teleport back to the ship." She said with a smile. She looked over to Kaseki and smiled. Somehow, this time was different. Kaseki smiled back and veered left, directly to the forest that Dragon Fang was hidden within.
They traveled in near silence for the next half hour. The only words they said to each other was, "Hey, look at that!" or "I haven't seen that before!" At least until Kaseki opened his mouth.
"So I guess this is our first date." Kaseki said. The second he said his last word, he regretted it. He grew white and as a ghost and felt a cold sweat arise to his face... but he had no need to be nervous. Xiaowei laughed, "Perhaps if you were the one I was looking for, then maybe this would be a date." Xiaowei blushed at the thought. It had been years since she saw her lost love, and she could barely remember his face. "I know," Kaseki assured her, "There is no one for me, but my first." Kaseki held back the memories of a girl he met over 2 million years ago. She was daughter to unknown deities, and held the curse of immortality. She would never age, or at least, she would never die of natural causes. "It's funny now that I think about it, Kaseki." Xiaowei began, "We stuck together so we both wouldn't be alone. So we would have someone to help us find our lost love." She let out a small giggle. Kaseki smiled as he continued to pilot the ship.
"True love lasts forever." Kaseki said, looking over at his companion. "... and forever is as long as you make it." Xiaowei's eyes were fixed on the horizon. She hadn't heard those words since she left her home world through the Portal of Time. Could it be? They both looked onward, searching for the tree they had called home. The answer sat before them.
"Kaseki, Xiaowei isn't my real name..." She shifted her eyes as she held back a tear. "That family gave me my name when I could recall my identity." Kaseki glanced over to see the pain in her eyes.
"It's been a long time, my love." He smiled. His mission was complete. "Who knew that I had you all along." Kaseki was complete. He found his lost love. He walked over to her to comfort her. Xiaowei silently sobbed in Kaseki's arms. "Remember dear, just like you told me. You'll never have to be alone. I'm here. I'll always be here..." He lightly kissed her forehead, "This time I'm not letting go. I'll never let time come between us again."
Kaseki reached into his pocket. He pulled out the ebony satin box. He held onto it forever, just like the scarf Xiaowei made him so many years ago. He dropped to his knee and opened the box. Inside was a single ring, a dark metal ring. It was nothing more than the "Ironbark Band", the one Kaseki handcrafted for his lost love. "Xiaowei, will you marry me?"
The girl stopped crying to look at the plant man directly in his eyes. She tackled him for a hug. It was the best day of her life. "Of course." She hastily grabbed the ring and put it on her right ring finger. And in a moment, returned back to Kaseki's arms. "I love you Xiaowei." Kaseki said. Xiaowei looked up at Kaseki. She smiled and glaced back out toward the window.
Strange, when were they flying so low? Where did that tree come from?
Oh wait...
Xiaowei picked up Kaseki and rested him on his back. "It'll be okay..." she muttered. She looked over at the destroyed ship. It was gone, the Leviathan was gone. Everything that ever was... was gone. "They'll be back soon..." she muttered as he sways back and forth. There were few survivors of the city of Noximus. The bodies littered the ground. Residents of Dragon Fang trickled out of the homes. There wasn't many, but few. "It'll be okay..." Xiaowei said as a river ran down her cheek.
"... They'll be back soon... It'll be okay..."